William L. "Bill" Arrington

William L. “Bill” Arrington born in Fort Worth on January 26, 1933 and died on November 11, 2016 at the age of 83 years. The services will be a celebration of life at St. Matthews Episcopal Church, 727 West Browning Avenue in Pampa on Friday, November 18, 2016 at 1:30 PM. Rector The Rt. Rev. Sam B. Hulsey and Rev. Mark Lang will be officiating. His body was cremated and a part of his ashes will be inurned in the columbarium in St. Matthews. The rest of Bill’s ashes will be spread on his beloved Rocking Chair Ranche. Bill attended New Mexico Military Institute where he was an exceptional athlete. He graduated in the spring of 1952. On October 24th, 1997 he was inducted into the NMMI Alumni Hall of Fame at Roswell, New Mexico. After high school Bill had an athletic scholarship at the University of Oklahoma and pledged Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity. He qualified for the Olympics and was sent to the Coliseum in Los Angeles. On December 27th, 1955 Bill married the love of his life, Margareta “Greta” Miller at Saint Matthews Episcopal Church. Bill was commissioned as Second Lieutenant Infantry in the United States Army. After college, he was hired by the Cabot Corporation as a Landman trainee in the oil and gas division in Pampa, Texas. After active duty, he transferred his commission to the National Guard and was promoted to Captain and commanded Company “B” of the 142nd Infantry of the 36th division in Pampa. After Bill finished his eight year obligation, he continued to work for Cabot as a Landman and finished his certification of becoming a Certified Petroleum Landman. After nearly nine years, Bill left Cabot to form his own oil and gas company. Bill was the owner of Rocking Chair Ranche, which maintains a commercial crossbred cow herd and a farming operation raising wheat, milo, corn and alfalfa. He was a member of the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association and served as an honorary Director. He was Chairman of the Board of Gray County Title Company, Inc. Arrington was a Certified Professional Landman; a member of the American Association of Petroleum Landmen, the Oklahoma City Petroleum Landmen Association, as well as the Amarillo and Midland associations. He was a member and past president of the Board of Directors of the National Cowboy Hall of Fame and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He was currently serving on the Executive Committee, was a Chairman of the Nominating Committee and was a member of the Compensation Committee. Bill was past vestry member and senior warden of St. Matthews Episcopal Church, past member and past president of the Pampa Independent School District School Board, being elected for two three year terms, past member of the board of directors of the Pampa Club and the Pampa Country Club, having served as president on both boards. Bill and Greta had two children, William M. “Buck” Arrington and wife Alexia of White Deer, and Melanie and husband Flavious Smith of Fort Worth; four grandchildren, William Lake Arrington II and wife Emily of Pampa, Elizabeth and husband Tyler Holland of Canyon, Hulsey Smith and Peyton Smith, both of Fort Worth; four great grandchildren, Evelyn Grace and William Lake “Tripp” Arrington III and Margareta Aston and George Warner Holland. He was also survived by his twin brother George Arrington of Canadian, Texas. Bill was preceded in death by his parents French and Ollie Arrington; his sister, Ann Arrington Webb; sister in law Jane Arrington; and his wife, Margareta Miller Arrington. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be made to St. Matthews Memorial Fund, 727 W. Browning, Pampa, Texas 79065.