Houston Technology Center Announces Honoree for "A Celebration of Entrepreneurs" gala: Mr. Raymond Plank - Author and Philanthropist

HOUSTON, Oct. 10, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The Houston Technology Center (HTC), announced today it will honor Mr. Raymond Plank, Founding CEO of Apache Corp, at next year's "A Celebration of Entrepreneurs" gala. This annual black-tie (optional) event honors local entrepreneurs who have made a significant impact in the Houston community. The gala will be held on May 15, 2014 at the Hyatt Regency Houston.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130125/DA48482LOGO)

Founder and Chairman Raymond Plank, 90, retired January 15, 2009, after five decades of building Apache Corporation into one of the nation's largest and highly respected oil and gas independents. Plank graduated from Yale University in 1944 with a bachelor of arts degree. He served with the U.S. Army Air Corps as a bomber pilot in the South Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II.

Following his military service, Plank returned to his hometown of Minneapolis and with two partners formed an accounting, tax and small business advisory service. Through this enterprise, he became familiar with the types of investments then being offered in oil and gas exploration and production. Recognizing that investors' interests in this field could be better served through a different concept, Plank formed Apache Corporation. Apache offered its first oil and gas investment program in 1956.

Under Plank's leadership, Apache has evolved from a company that raised investor funds for drilling into an international oil and gas exploration and production corporation that funds its drilling with internally generated cash flow. Apache has become one of the nation's largest independent oil and gas exploration and production companies. Today, the company operates in six countries.

At an early age, Plank was advised by his father to leave the world better than he found it, and he has embodied that advice as a leader in civic, educational, business and conservation-related activities.

"Sixty years ago, Raymond Plank founded in Minnesota one of Houston's iconic companies.  Innovative in assessing market opportunities and innovative in developing financial vehicles, he built an extraordinary independent oil & gas company through good times and bad.  A World War II Bomber Pilot, Raymond's journey and Apache's growth prove that fact is more fascinating than fiction.  An entrepreneur, a philanthropist, an author and an outstanding member of the Greatest Generation, it is our privilege to bring Raymond Plank back to Houston and to recognize his remarkable life as the honoree at the Celebration of Entrepreneurs Gala this coming May," Commented Walter Ulrich, President and CEO of the Houston Technology Center.

About Houston Technology Center:  Named by Forbes' as one of "12 Business Incubators Changing the World" and  "Ten Technology Incubators Changing the World," the Houston Technology Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is a business accelerator and the largest technology business incubator in Texas, advancing the commercialization of emerging technology companies in the greater Houston area. HTC serves as the nexus of new ideas, technological innovation, and entrepreneurship which works closely with entrepreneurs and startup companies to provide in-depth strategic and tactical business guidance, fundraising advice, and connections to opportunities, allies, and capital. HTC's focus is to assist Houston-based entrepreneurs in energy, information technology, life sciences, nanotechnology, and NASA/aerospace. For more information visit www.HoustonTech.org or connect with HTC on Facebook or Twitter @HouTechCenter.

Media Contact:
Antoine Arbuckle
Director, Marketing & Communications
Houston Technology Center
(832) 476-9235
[email protected]

SOURCE Houston Technology Center