George N. Nelson

Oct 11, 1932 -

Oct 6, 2022

Noted Alaska oil industry leader, retired, George N. Nelson passed away peacefully on Oct. 6, 2022, in the comfort of the Alaskan log home he and his wife built in 1995.

George was an only child, born in Kansas City, Mo., to Claude and Hazel Nelson.

His mother's upbringing in the farming community of Carrollton, Mo., with a strong work ethic was a big influence on George's character and no-nonsense attitude. As a boy, when school was recessed for the summertime, he would go to stay with his cousins Jack and Bobby Smith in Carrollton and participated in detasseling corn, picking tomatoes, the Saturday night movie shows at the theater and Sunday ice cream socials. Indoor plumbing was unavailable at the Carrollton Farm in those early years, and George remembered "I was always the last one to get a bath after Jack and Bobby."

After graduating from N.K. City High School, George earned a scholarship to University of Oklahoma where he earned a Bachelor Science in mechanical engineering and industrial management. He was on the U. of Oklahoma Sooner's football team, coached by Bud Wilkinson, that became the undefeated champions at the 1954 Orange Bowl game.

His goal after graduation was to go overseas and accumulate as much experience in as many positions as possible in the oil fields, which lead him to working in Venezuela, Saudi Arabia and Libya.

In 1977, he was offered the BP position of Prudhoe Bay Field Manager in Alaska for the startup of production from America's largest new oil field. George's strengths were his strong hands-on operations background, technical expertise and straight-forwardness, that was at times blunt and loud, but he said it like it was. Work associates commented, "You always knew where you stood with George Nelson."

In July 1981, he became Vice President and General Manager of Sohio Alaska Petroleum Co. In 1982, he was appointed its first President. He was largely responsible for BP's high profile in many social areas throughout the state. The company contributed heavily to everything from Bean's Cafe to the performing arts during his time at the company's helm.

George was a respected key leader for the oil industry in Alaska and his reputation exhibited honesty and openness to reach his hand across the aisle and work with many different community leaders in Juneau and the Alaska Native corporations. During his tenure in Alaska, he earned a Doctor of Laws honorary degree from University of Alaska Fairbanks and an Executive Management Certificate from MIT Sloan Senior Executive Program in 1983.

In 1989, he took early retirement from BP and he and his wife decided to remain in Alaska during their retirement years.

He is survived by his loving wife, Cynthia Nelson, of over 40 years; son and daughter-in-law, Chris and Juli Nelson of Texas; daughters, Georgianne Boeding and Stephanie Nelson of Missouri; daughter, Amy Nelson of Kansas; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

A special note of gratitude to the Ancora Home Health nurses Amy-Sequoia, Kristin, Cheyanne and Mary, who helped make his final days at home comfortable. A private gravesite service will be held at Mount Moriah Cemetery in Kansas City, where he will receive full military honors and masonic rites.