Melvin H. Schmidt

October 6, 1939 - November 22, 2009

Melvin H. Schmidt, of Groves, Texas, went to meet his heavenly father on November 22, 2009 after a lengthy battle with cancer. Melvin was born in DeRidder, Louisiana on October 6, 1939. He attended DeRidder High School, graduating in 1958, where he excelled in sports including football, basketball and track. He then attended McNeese State College in Lake Charles, Louisiana before serving in the United States Army. After being discharged from active duty, he completed his military career in the active reserve with 25 years of service, attaining the rank of 1st sergeant. He retired from the military in 1986 after having attained commendations and completion of Jumpmaster with the Airborne. After his active duty service in the Army, he moved back to the Golden Triangle to seek employment and went to work for the Port Arthur Police Department where he attained the rank of sergeant in the Detective Division. He attended Lamar University, majoring in Criminal Justice. He left the field of law enforcement to work at the Gulf Oil Refinery in Port Arthur starting in the Security Section and later working in the Safety/Fire Section. He took courses in safety and fire protection elevating himself at the refinery to Fire Marshall, Safety/Fire Supervisor, Fire Chief and Safety/Fire Manager. He was employed by Valero as Safety/Fire Manager until the time of his last illness having spent 35 years in the industry. He will be greatly missed by his many colleagues and coworkers. Melvin served in the Sabine Neches Association, both as board member and president, the Local Emergency Planning Committee as board member and chairman, as board member with the Industrial Safety Training Council and the Lamar University Fire Training Board. He taught at the Texas A&M Industrial Fire Training School for 21 years receiving his Master Instructors Certificate from the university. He was preceded in death by his father, Charles H. Schmidt and his mother, Bertha Mae Schmidt. He is survived by his loving wife of 48 years, Beverly Schmidt, his son, Steven Schmidt and his daughter and son-in-law, Stephanie and Mike Boudreaux and many much loved family and friends.