Paul G. Somerville
Longtime dedicated volunteer Paul Somerville was born in Pennsylvania into a military family, which led to extensive travel as a child. He attended the University of Missouri, where he majored in chemistry and biology and participated in varsity athletics. Somerville began what would become a career in the pipeline industry, working as a laborer during summer breaks from school.
After college, Somerville started his professional career as a quality control laboratory technician for Pecks Products, a division of Consolidated Foods of St. Louis. Soon after, he was promoted to research chemist. After helping obtain three patents for the company, he returned to the pipeline industry and held various field operations positions, both internationally and domestically. He eventually joined a Reading and Bates subsidiary, Associated Pipe Line Contractors, Inc. In 1985, he and several associates bought that subsidiary, of which he is now chairman and CEO. Somerville has been an active leader in various industry organizations, including service as a past president of the Pipe Line Contractors Association and as a director of the International Pipe Line Contractors Association.
Somerville’s involvement with the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo™ began in 1978. He has been an active member of the International Committee since 1978, serving as its chairman from 1992 to 1994. After attending the Show for several years, he joined the Skybox Committee, on which he was rookie of the year, team captain of the high sales team and eventually vice chairman of the committee. Somerville became a member of the board of directors in 1989 and served as vice president/treasurer of the Show from 1995 to 1997. He and his family have been involved as Show corporate contributors, as members of Wagon 4 on the Salt Grass Trail Ride and as champion buyers at the junior auctions for several years. Somerville is also a member of the Tejas Vaqueros trail ride group.
In addition to holding leadership positions in various work-related organizations, Somerville is actively involved with numerous other charitable, civic and cultural organizations. In the academic arena, he serves on the Dean’s Advisory Council at the University of Missouri School of Engineering, Columbia, Mo.
He lives in Houston. His daughter, Courtney, who, according to her proud father, has been a life member of the Show since the day she was born, attends The University of Texas at Austin. His late wife, Kathy, served on the International Committee, was a past chairman of the Ladies’ Season Box Committee and was vice chairman of the School Art Auction Committee. The Somervilles received numerous awards and acknowledgements for their charitable work.
Somerville immerses himself in volunteer work for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo because he enjoys working with the people, counting them among his best friends in the world. He said, “This organization is amazing. Over the years, my wife, my friends and I have had a lot of fun volunteering, and kids are benefiting from that fun!”
