Mr. Clifford Newton Holmes

Clifford Newton Holmes, Ph.D., a retired Director of Minerals for Phillips Petroleum in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, died of natural causes on July 14th. He was 94. Dr. Holmes was born in Escanaba, Michigan on January 1, 1922 to Gerda and Joseph Holmes. He is survived by his beloved wife of 70 years, Ruth Bradley Holmes, sister, Tynne Karas of Brevard, N.C. and children Alexander of Norman, OK.; Sven of Washington D.C.; Hugh of Hong Kong; Kurt of Tulsa; Madeline of Bartlesville, Alison of Arcata, CA. He was preceded in death by his son Cameron (Kip) of Phoenix, brother Donald of Escondido, CA, and sister Eunice Johnson of White Bear Lake, MN. Following his graduation from the University of Michigan, Dr. Holmes went on to Yale University to receive his Masters of Science, and later a Ph.D. in geology from the University of Utah. He started his career as a geologist for the United States Geological Survey and was instrumental in the discovery of most of the uranium deposits in the United States. He joined Phillips in 1950, moving to the corporate headquarters in 1959. He was chairman of Phosphate Mines Inc., a subsidiary of Phillips. Dr. Holmes was the author and co-author of more than a dozen publications and manuals on geology and oil and gas exploration. Dr. Holmes was a member of the Explorer’s Club in New York City which is reserved for individuals who have made significant contributions to expanding frontiers of knowledge. Following his retirement from Phillips, Dr. Holmes enjoyed golfing, playing gin with his friends at Hillcrest Country Club, and he became an award-winning oil painter, favoring landscapes of the West. An active member of his community, Dr. Holmes was on the Governor’s Energy Advisory Council (1975-1979), a member of the Washington County Excise Board, and an elder at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Bartlesville. Dr. Holmes felt his greatest accomplishment was his family, and was exceedingly proud of his wife, seven children, fourteen grand-children, and three great grand-children. Ruth Holmes is an accomplished linguist and the co-author of a book on the Cherokee language. She was Chairman of the Oklahoma Board of Regents for four year colleges. Alexander (Lex), a Ph.D. is a professor and former chairman of the economics department at the University of Oklahoma, was Secretary of Finance and Revenue for the state of Oklahoma from 1987-1991. Cameron, who passed away in 2013, was Senior Litigation Counsel at the Arizona Attorney General's Office and Director of Southwest Border Anti-Money Laundering Alliance. He was the author of “Organized Crime in Mexico.” Sven was administrative assistant to Gov. David Boren, and later served ten years as a U.S. district judge, the last three as chief judge of the Northern District. He is currently vice-chairman of KPMG, LLP. Hugh, a long-time property developer in Asia, is a Partner at DAC Management LLC, a fund specializing in China where he heads its real estate division. Kurt, a financial analyst, is the Vice President of Alternative Investments at the Bank of Oklahoma. Madeline, is a psychiatric social worker, most recently with Atascadero State Hospital in California. Alison Holmes, a Ph.D. currently leads the International Studies Program at Humboldt State University in northern California where she teaches politics and international affairs. Her most recent book, “Global Diplomacy: Theories, Types and Models”, was published this past spring. A family service was held at Redeemer Lutheran Church on July 18. In lieu of flowers, gifts can be sent to Comforting Hands Hospice in Bartlesville www.comfortinghandshospice.com.

Mr. Clifford Newton Holmes

January 1, 1922 - July 14, 2016