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Thomas Ernst Pawel went to be with his Lord and Savior on Sunday, August 22, 2004 at the age of 78. He died suddenly after suffering a brain hemorrhage, at home, on Saturday, August 21, 2004. Tom Pawel was born in Leipzig, Germany December 20, 1925 to Dr. Ernst and Charlotte Pawel and emigrated to the United States, with his parents, in 1937. Tom arrived in the United States speaking only German a language he spoke with great relish, retaining his native regional accent, throughout his life. He was the nephew of Otto Zuhr, Mayor of West Berlin. He served in the United States Army during World War II and became a U.S. Citizen. A graduate of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Harvard Graduate School of Business, he moved to Texas in the 1950s where he founded Concord Oil Company in 1956. An avid athlete and supporter of athletics, Tom was a generous benefactor to the Modern Pentathlon and regular participant in marathons, triathlons, and 10K races through-out the region including a second place finish, for his age group, in the Combat Medic 10K held on July 24, 2004. He gained recognition as a businessman of vision when he donated 1500 acres of the Briggs Ranch to establish the Texas Research Park. When Citicorp decided to locate U.S. Customer Service Operations in San Antonio, Mr. Pawel was approached for a similar donation resulting in locating those corporate facilities in close proximity. Always thoughtful of his German heritage, Mr. Pawel was selected and served as the Honorary Consul for Germany in San Antonio for over a decade. He was a member of the Board of Directors for the San Antonio Plaza Club and active in numerous professional organizations supporting economic development and the oil and gas industry. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Nancy Ray Pawel; sister, Renate Ronnie Guttman; children, Margaret Pawel Moore, Elizabeth Lisa Pawel and husband Rick Schlesinger, and Charlotte Pawel Jonas and husband James; grandchildren, Zachary Pawel Schlesinger, Margaret Elizabeth M.E. Jonas, William James Jonas IV, Myles Standish Jonas, and Alden Anderegg Jonas. In lieu of flowers, those who wish may send memorials to: Boysville, 8555 E Loop 1604 N, San Antonio, TX 78109; Texas Research Park Foundation, 14815 Omnicron Drive, San Antonio, TX 78245; St. Marys Hall, P.O. Box 33430, San Antonio, TX 78265; or Treehouse Day Program for Autistic Children, 271 E. Lullwood, San Antonio, TX 78212.

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Thomas Ernst Pawel

December 20, 1925 - August 22, 2004