He accepted a visiting professorship in petroleum engineering at Texas Tech University from 1954-55, his wife's alma mater. His wife's health with rheumatoid arthritis deteriorated and a move west to a different climate was required. His love for Sooner football continued throughout his lifetime. During his tenure at OU, he and Louise attended all of the winning streak games of football legend Bud Wilkinson. In 1947, he accepted an assistant professor position in the School of Petroleum Engineering at The University of Oklahoma in Norman, where he subsequently served as chairman of the department and stayed until 1954. During World War II, he was an equipment manufacturing engineer for Convair Aircraft in Ft. oil companies, The Texas Company and Shell, as a petroleum engineer in exploration and production, living in California, Texas, and New Mexico. He married the UNM Engineering Queen, Louise Smith, from Hobbs, NM in 1938. He continued his education at The University of New Mexico, receiving a mechanical engineering degree in 1937. Howard graduated from Albuquerque High School in 1933, where he was drum major of the marching band and assisted with the running of movie equipment at the Kimo Theatre while in high school. They moved to Albuquerque because his mother had tuberculosis and his father worked as a machinist for the Santa Fe Railroad. He was born on Apin Oxford Junction, Iowa to Frances Dusanek and Fred Benischek. He is survived by his sister Vicki Goebel, his nephews Cedar and Ian Goebel, his ex-wife Susan Wright Goebel, and numerous Texas cousins.BENISCHEK, HOWARD WILLIAM Howard William Benischek, often called "Benny", passed away on Jin Albuquerque, NM. Don was preceded in death by his parents Morris and Virginia Goebel, and his artist brother Rod Goebel. A September trip to the Gila is planned by his hunting buddies, with Don in hand, to celebrate his memory. Don has requested his ashes be scattered in the Battle Saddle, his favorite hunting spot in the Gila Wilderness. Don was a perfectionist, a master of his craft, and his work was much sought after. These skills developed into art, and he combined his love for wildlife and keen dexterity into becoming an award-winning taxidermist, operating a small business out of his garage. Influenced by his mother's creative homemaking and his father's mechanical engineering and fix-it skills, Don could conceptualize and make almost anything with his own hands. The stories of his adventures afield could fill volumes. Don loved New Mexico's wild places and explored the state from border to border. He had many hunting companions and anyone who shared a camp with Don learned a great deal about their quarry and how to be successful in the hunt. Don spent all of his free time developing these skills, making his own archery equipment and tying his own flies for fishing. Don worked at Groves Archery of Albuquerque as a teenager and he became very proficient with bow and arrow, winning many tournament trophies target shooting, and bagging much game as a devoted bowhunter. Family camping trips and scouting introduced him to the outdoors. To say this was his passion only touches the surface. Death took this gentle soul much too early at the age of 55. He was a native Albuquerquean, and always vowed to never live anywhere but in New Mexico. GOEBEL, DON ALAN (1957-2013) Don passed away at his sister's home on the morning of June 29, 2013, after suffering a long illness.
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