Ray H. Marr Foundation

Ray H. Marr was an oil and gas executive, engineer, Cannes Film Festival winner, philanthropist, and renaissance man. He was born in 1930 in Fort Worth, Texas. At 91 years old the day of his passing.

Ray earned both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from SMU. He also earned his Ph.D. in chemical engineering from Cal Tech, where he studied physics under Niels Bohr and chemistry under Linus Pauling. Ray was gifted with a capacious intellect and the drive and the manual skills of a production engineer. He used these gifts working in the family oil and gas business.

He taught many a protege to envision, plan, and build in his “backyard shop”—a professional grade facility located on the family’s Preston Hollow estate. With Ray’s direct mentoring and support, many people developed into craftsmen, engineers, artists, and scientists. At SMU, Ray taught engineering, served as a trustee, and funded many scholarships. He gave his time, treasure, and talent to the Winston school; Ray served as a trustee, provided financial support, and even worked with the school on engineering projects to directly engage the students. He also established the Ray H. Marr Foundation to continue his good works nationwide.

Ray was devoted to expanding the limits of human knowledge in many fields. Through SMU’s Institute of Earth and Man he increased mankind’s knowledge of the Earth and Earth’s natural history. Because of this, a recently discovered dinosaur species, Convolosaurus marri, was named in his honor.

Ray was also a world traveler and award-winning cinematographer. He founded Shade Tree Studios, and documented his travels. His films won numerous awards, including the Palme d’Or at Cannes for his film “Life-Death Africa.” Ray was most proud of his 3 Golden Knights from The Malta International Short Film Festival. Supposedly, only one other person in history can claim such an achievement.

Ray was a devoted scouter with The Boy Scouts of America and Circle 10 Council. He spent countless hours at the local, regional, national, and international levels helping young scouts learn, play, and climb the ranks to Eagle. Ray achieved Eagle Scout himself. As an adult, Circle 10 Council awarded Ray the Silver Beaver and the Southern Region of the BSA awarded him the Silver Antelope for his lifelong service.

Ray was also a United States Army Veteran. He was an honored member of many prestigious societies and clubs, including Sigma Chi, Phi Beta Kappa, Brook Hollow Golf Club, The Society of Professional Engineers, The Dallas Gun Club, Les Chevaliers du Tastevin, and The Petroleum Clubs of Dallas, Los Angeles, Shreveport, Lafayette, and New Orleans.