LEONARD N. SCHWANTES
April 6, 1943 – Jan. 9, 2023

Leonard Neal Schwantes, of Houston, Tex., died Jan. 9, 2023 following a long series of illnesses.
Leonard was retired from Anadarko Petroleum Company where he served in oil and natural gas
accounting management positions since 1992. He was 79 years old.
Leonard was born April 6, 1943 to Walter J. and Mary Stokes Schwantes in Birmingham, Ala. He
grew up there and later in Austin and Houston, Tex., where he graduated from San Jacinto High School in
1961. He received a bachelor's degree in accounting from the University of Houston and, heeding a call
to the ministry, earned a divinity degree from the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He briefly
served as pastor to a small Baptist church near San Antonio.
Leonard turned to the energy industry in the early 1970s, working in auditing and other roles with
Houston Natural Gas Company. He then joined Gulf Oil Company, where for more than 10 years he
helped develop gas accounting procedures from offices in Houston and New Orleans, La. Following
Chevron's acquisition of Gulf Oil, he opted to remain in Houston and took successive positions with
Transocean International, Sohio and British Petroleum.
His final career move came in 1992, when he joined Anadarko Petroleum, retiring after 15 years of
service. He was associated with several professional accounting societies during his career, while
continuing to serve in leadership roles with local churches.
Leonard is survived by his wife of 23 years, Sue Ann Davis Schwantes; two stepsons, David and John
Elam; a sister, Louise Schwantes Sawyer, and younger brother Ronald Wade Schwantes, as well as
several nieces and nephews.