Houston, Max Sherman 95, retired petroleum geologist, passed away on Thursday, May 26, 2016. Private family service. Donations are suggested in memory of Max S. Houston to the Charitable Service Trust or the National Audubon Society. Max was born on June 13, 1920 in Norton, KS, to John Ross Houston and Bernice (Wentworth) Houston. He went to high school in Colby, KS, and, after military service, obtained a BS degree in geology from Kansas State Univ. He served in the US Army Air Forces during WWII, and taught other pilots to fly multi-engine aircraft. Max married Martha Ann Peterson on September 23, 1944 during a brief leave from the USAAF. He came to Wichita in 1949 to begin working in the oil and gas industry, for Atlantic Petroleum, El Dorado Refining, Glickman Oil Co., Okmar Oil Co., and finally Berexco. Max had professional affiliations with the Kansas Geologic Society, and the American Association of Petroleum Geologists. He grew up in and around Colby, KS during the Great Depression and Dust Bowl days, seeing his grandfather's bank fail and his father struggle on a small farm. With this background, he found new horizons and new skills which he applied with great persistence and dedication. This brought him and his employers much success, and helped bring economic revival to Western Kansas as a significant oil producing area. He never stopped wanting to give back to good causes, including the World Wildlife Fund, Audubon Soc., Kansas State Univ. (football fan), and a variety of organizations that help disabled veterans and poor Americans. Max had a wide circle of friends, including fellow members of the Kansas oil community, and very much enjoyed meeting with them over lunch at the Petroleum Club. He enjoyed sharing stories ("swapping lies"), but was skilled at avoiding antagonism if the discussion got into polarized politics. Max was preceded in death by his parents and wife. He is survived by his son, P. Sam (Wichita); daughters, Tasker (Eugene, OR) and Sara Houston (Wichita); grandchildren, Rachel, Rebecca, and Lucas Tublitz; and great-grandchildren, Hazel and Eli Tublitz (NYC).