Aubrey Darrell O'Connor's Obituary
Aubrey Darrell O’Connor, was born in Craighead County, Arkansas December 30th, 1938 to Alma Chapman O’Connor and the late Eddie Aubrey O’Connor. He died in Memphis, Tennessee on November 4th, 2011. He is survived by his son, Lawrence Aubrey O’Connor of Austin, Texas, his mother Alma O’Connor Mount of Walnut Ridge, Arkansas and his sister Doris Gill and husband Colbert of Cherokee Village, Arkansas. Mr. O’Connor was an entrepreneur, investment banking executive, farmer and race car driver. He graduated from Hoxie High School in Hoxie, Arkansas and attended variously, Southern Baptist College, The University of Pennsylvania – Wharton, The University of Houston and Arkansas State University. Serving in the Army from 1956 to 1958, his affinity for math and numbers led him to become an E5 cryptographer in what would become the National Security Agency. He was Co-founder, President and Chairman of Hibbard, O’Connor & Weeks with offices in Memphis, TN, Chicago, IL, New York, NY, and Houston, TX. Mr. O’Connor was Co-founder and President of F & O Oil Corporation and Executive Vice President and Managing Director of Government Securities Corporation in Houston, TX. He was also owner and manager of O’Connor Farms in Newport, Arkansas. Mr. O’Connor began racing motorcycles in the Army in 1958 and continued to pursue his passion for speed throughout the 1960s and 1970s racing variously in the USAC, NASCAR and Formula 2 series among others. He competed on such storied tracks as the Daytona International Speedway, Pocono Raceway and Texas World Speedway. He was proud to have served as a Board Member and Special Event Organizer for the Texas Zoo in Victoria, TX from 1981 to 1985. Honorary pallbearers are Colbert Gill, Glen Worlow, Brien O’Connor Dunn, Joe Rocket, Rafael Moreno Turrent, Roy Jones, Andy Udale, Bob Bevill, Bill Morris and John Elkington. The family will receive friends 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, November 6, 2011 at Memorial Park Funeral Home. A memorial service will be held 2:30 p.m., Monday, November 7, at Memorial Park Funeral Home. A burial service will be held at Memorial Park Cemetery in Victoria, Texas on Wednesday at 3pm. Contributions in his memory can be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital in Memphis or any other charities.
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