Gary Daryll Compton

COMPTON, GARY DARYLL (1947~) Gary Daryll Compton was born August 12, 1947, in Orangeburg, South Carolina. Upon moving to Texas with his family, Compton graduated from Childress High School in 1965. While attending Texas Tech University, he spent the summer of 1967, attending the George Washington University, School of Business. That same summer, he was also selected for the White House Summer Intern Program. Upon graduation from Texas Tech University in 1969, Compton attended Baylor University School of Law and received his degree in 1971. After becoming a licensed attorney, Compton practiced in Amarillo until he became the Director of the Independent Petroleum Association of America in 1982. An active member of the Amarillo community, Compton served as a member of the Mayor?s Strategic Planning Committee on External Affairs, member and chairman of councils and committees for the Amarillo Chamber of Commerce, and chairman of the Foundation for a Drug-Free Environment for the Amarillo and Canyon Area. In 1989, Governor William P. Clements, Jr. appointed Compton as a member of the Texas Youth Commission. As a member and Chairman of the Youth Commission, Compton oversaw the Texas juvenile corrections system at a critical time in the history of the Commission. Texas was experiencing an explosion of juvenile crime. Under his leadership, the Commission was re-structured to meet the needs of Texas, new leadership was selected, higher standards established, and historic legislative changes were made to ensure effective rehabilitation of youth and protection of the public. Governor Clements also appointed Compton as a member of the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission. Compton was re-appointed to the Commission twice more by governors Richards and Bush. In that position and other special assignments, Compton helped Texas and the rest of the United States develop policies to develop, conserve and protect our natural resources.