Page 28 - Briefcase - University of Houston Law Center

FORMER HALLIBURTON CEO AND UH LAW CENTER ALUMNUS

THOMAS CRUIKSHANK RECOGNIZES KEY ROLE LEGAL EDUCATION

PLAYED IN SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS CAREER

H Law Center alumnus Thomas Halliburton for which he later also did work. He went on to join the
UH. Cruikshank said he often Halliburton ranks as vice president of corporate development in 1969
employed his legal training as he – a role that set him on the path toward executive leadership.
guided multinational corporation
Halliburton to new heights. Now, Making an impact at Halliburton
at age 90 as he looks back, it’s clear During his time at Halliburton, Cruikshank worked closely with
that the part-time evening law the CEO and spent a year as president of one of its subsidiaries. He
program at UH served him well as returned to corporate headquarters in 1981 as President and became
he built his path to becoming the CEO himself in 1983, a position he held until his retirement in 1996.
CEO of one of the world’s largest He was succeeded by The Honorable Richard (Dick) B. Cheney - who
providers of products and services later served as the 46th Vice President of the United States.
to the energy industry. During his tenure at Halliburton, Cruikshank recalled that having
“A lot of business decisions that a legal and ethical perspective was vitally important when making
UH Law Center alumnus involve legal considerations have business decisions.
Thomas H. Cruikshank to be made when a company “I felt my original assessment that legal education and experience
is operating in 110 countries,” would be a good supplement to my accounting career was proven as
said Cruikshank in contemplating the role his legal education accurate,” he said.
from the University of Houston played in his illustrious 50-year
business career. Cruikshank believes the most notable accomplishment of his
Halliburton team was adjusting to the economic environment of the
Where it all began 1980s. “Those were difficult years in our industry due to a recession
From an early age, Cruikshank knew he wanted to be a Certified that hit our construction business and a drop in oil prices,” he said.
Public Accountant. He started out on that path by pursuing an “As a result, our employment would drop from 117,000 in late 1981
undergraduate degree in economics and business administration at to 47,000 by 1996.” Cruikshank and his team consolidated and
Rice University. While there, he took a course in business law that restructured the company’s many oilfield service units and instituted
convinced him a legal education would be an excellent addition to his a much more efficient operating system. It resulted in a substantial
accounting career plan. improvement in operating profit and a boost in the market price of

At that time, military service was still mandatory, and so Cruikshank the stock.
found himself in a position to be drafted. He made up his mind to In addition to his time at Halliburton, Cruikshank brought his strong
complete law school first and then fulfill his military service. Next business acumen to the Board of Directors for several high-profile
stop on his legal journey was the University of Texas’ Law School, public companies, including The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company,
until he realized that avenue just wasn’t financially viable. A move The Williams Companies, Inc., Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc.
back to Houston landed him a day job with the accounting firm and more.
Arthur Andersen & Co. and he finished his law classes at UH at night. Advice for today’s law students
“! was working all day and going to school at night,” said Cruikshank.
“I was fortunate at exam time because my exams occurred every other One of the most important lessons Cruikshank learned during his
night, so my routine was to work each day and study literally all the practice of law was that it is very much a personal service profession.
night before the exam. Client service was a top priority for him, and he always made it
a point to return clients’ calls as soon as possible to ensure they
True to his word, after he qualified for the bar in 1955, Cruikshank knew he was there for them. He noted this is particularly important
entered Navy Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island. when working for a law firm. If a more structured environment is
It was a busy time because he also got married and began attendance preferred, then joining a corporate or governmental legal department
at the Navy Supply Corps School in Athens, Georgia before being should be considered. Many attorneys also occupy elected offices.
assigned to the Navy Area Audit Office in Los Angeles.

When his time in the service was done, he made his way back to As Cruikshank looks back, he urges those who wish to follow the
legal path to take their oath and obligation seriously, with the ultimate
Houston, in late 1958, to work again for Arthur Andersen & Co. as mission of serving the public good and not just their own interests.
a manager in the tax department. It was during this time that his “The country needs to continue its founding principles of protecting
legal degree became the center of his career, as he joined Vinson & all citizens’ rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,” he said.
Elkins as a lawyer on January 2, 1960. While there he performed some “Nothing else can equal their importance.” ^
services for the construction firm Brown & Root, then a subsidiary of

28 Briefcase 2021