In Memory of Jon Brumley

Distinguished Fort Worth entrepreneur and friend of Texas McCombs leaves indelible mark on UT community

The McCombs School of Business mourns the passing of Jon Brumley, BBA ’61, a visionary entrepreneur, dedicated public servant, and lifelong supporter of The University of Texas at Austin.

“Jon was more than an alumnus — he was an exemplar of leadership and character,” said McCombs Dean Lillian Mills. “Jon exemplified the Longhorn spirit — combining vision, dedication, and generosity.”

Brumley was a lifetime member of the Dean’s Advisory Council, a McCombs Hall of Fame inductee (1998-1999), and a 2011 Distinguished Alumnus of the Texas Exes. His career was defined by bold entrepreneurship and unwavering integrity. Brumley co-founded Encore Acquisition Company with his son, Jonny, and he co-founded XTO Energy, which was later acquired by Exxon Mobil. With seven companies on the New York Stock Exchange, he set a record for the most public listings by any individual.

Brumley was equally committed to public service. Appointed by Gov. Mark White, he chaired the Texas State Board of Education in the 1980s, spearheading reforms in teacher pay, bilingual education, class-size limits, and the “no-pass, no-play” rule. Together with his wife, Rebecca Brumley, UT M.A. ’68, he founded the Red Oak Foundation, which has donated nearly 900,000 books to children and families across Texas.

At McCombs, the Brumleys’ generosity helped shape the future of entrepreneurship education, said Mellie Price, executive director for Texas Entrepreneurship and Texas Venture Labs. “Jon was a humble man who loved to share stories about the people who changed the trajectory of his life. He paid that forward with his passion for education, policy, and helping student entrepreneurs take their first shot at business,” she said.

The Brumleys founded the Brumley Institute for Graduate Entrepreneurship (formerly Jon Brumley Texas Venture Labs), a cross-campus initiative that accelerates startups and transforms graduate students into business leaders. The couple also provided the founding gift for Texas Entrepreneurship and were early investors in Mulva Hall, McCombs’ new 17-story facility.

Their philanthropic reach extended across UT Austin. They founded the Brumley Next Generation Graduate Fellows Program at the Strauss Center for International Security and Law, led giving for Dell Medical School and the Texas Health CoLab, and supported Texas Athletics.

Brumley also served on numerous boards, including those of The Texas Heart Institute and MD Anderson Cancer Center. He was recognized as Fort Worth’s Business Executive of the Year in 2014 and inducted into the Petroleum Hall of Fame in 2011.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on July 15 at First United Methodist Church in Fort Worth, followed by burial at Greenwood Memorial Park and a reception. More details are available in his official obituary.