In Memory of Jon Brumley

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

Jon Brumley, BBA ’61, was a visionary entrepreneur, a dedicated public servant, and a lifelong supporter of the McCombs School of Business and The University of Texas at Austin. He died on July 2 in Fort Worth at 86.

“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 Texas Exes Distinguished Alumnus in 2011. His career was defined by bold entrepreneurship and unwavering integrity. He co-founded Encore Acquisition Co. with his son, Jonny. Forbes magazine named the two men entrepreneurs of the year in a cover story in 2005.

“It is hard to imagine how lucky I feel to have gotten to build a company like Encore with my dad,” the younger Brumley said. “I got to learn from the best.”

Brumley also 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. The board’s vice chair was Rebecca Dawson Canning, M.A. ’68, his future wife. They worked together, often in the face of hostile opposition, to implement the changes.

Together, they also 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. The Brumleys founded the Brumley Institute for Graduate Entrepreneurship (formerly the Jon Brumley Texas Venture Labs), a cross-campus initiative that accelerates startups and transforms graduate students into business leaders.

 “Jon was a humble man who loved to share stories about the people who changed the trajectory of his life,” said Mellie Price, executive director of Texas Entrepreneurship and director of the Brumley Institute for Graduate Entrepreneurship. “He paid that forward with his passion for education, policy, and helping student entrepreneurs take their first shot at business.”

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. 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, who never retired, 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.

He was born in Pampa, Texas, but grew up in Austin where he could hear the bells of the Tower from his family home. All three of his children went to UT, along with several grandchildren.

Take Action

Inspire the next generation of innovators with a gift honoring the Brumley Institute for Graduate Entrepreneurship.