Mewbourne devoted a significant amount of his time, effort, and resources to helping young people pursue an education or career in the energy industry. A graduate in petroleum engineering from OU, Mewbourne contributed millions of dollars to endowed faculty positions and student support to the university.
He served as the first chairman of OU’s School of Petroleum and Geological Engineering advisory board. His gifts to the school include the Curtis Mewbourne Professorship in Petroleum Engineering, which when created in 1982 was the first endowed position for both the school and the College of Engineering, and a $6-million gift, made in 2000, which endowed faculty positions, student scholarships, and enrichment activities. In recognition of his longtime support, OU named the Mewbourne School of Petroleum and Geological Engineering in his honor in 2000 and granted him the Doctor of Humane Letters in 2002.
When the College of Earth and Energy was formed in 2006, bringing together the School of Geology and Geophysics and the Mewbourne School of Petroleum and Geological Engineering, Mewbourne stepped up again with his support. By 2007, he had given more than $20 million in donations, and the new college was named in his honor as the Mewbourne College of Earth and Energy. He was honored as a Distinguished Graduate and presented the Oklahoma Trailblazer Award for his professional achievement and lifetime commitment to the energy center.
After serving as an officer in the US Army, Mewbourne began his career in the oil and gas industry, initially with Arkansas Fuel Oil Company in Shreveport, Louisiana, and later with the First National Bank in Dallas. He left the bank in 1965 to start Mewbourne Oil Company. Over the years, the company grew into one of the largest privately owned oil and gas companies in the country. He is admired by the many employees who worked for him over the years. In recognition of his service and achievements in the industry, Mewbourne was honored with the Distinguished Service award by the Texas Oil and Gas Association and the Top Hand award by the Permian Basin Petroleum Association.