If you are involved in any kind of charitable work in Bartlesville, you are probably well aware of the contributions of the Ambler and Haskell families. From youth sports, to the arts, to social services and downtown redevelopment, these individuals have left an indelible mark on our city.
Lewis and Sharon Ambler lived a block from each other in Bartlesville when they were 4 years old and both of their fathers worked for Phillips Petroleum Company. Lew lived in Des Moines, Iowa from age 4 until age 15, when his father was transferred back to Bartlesville, and Sharon was one of the first people he met when returned. They became high school sweethearts, graduating together from College High School in 1953. After graduating from Washington University in St. Louis, the couple married on June 9, 1956. Lew started law school that same year and graduated from Washington University School of Law in 1959.
Upon graduation, the couple moved back to Bartlesville when Lew accepted a job with Phillips Petroleum Company. The following year, Lew resigned to accept a job as Assistant County Attorney. He was eventually elected County Attorney, serving one 2-year term, and then District Attorney, a position he held for two terms. Lew then entered private practice while continuing to serve as an Assistant District Attorney for several years.
Their community involvement began when Lew and Sharon moved back to Bartlesville. They were both involved with the Bartlesville Jaycees and Jaycee-Ettes, each serving as presidents of their respective organizations. Lew served in many capacities with Jaycees on a local, state and national level, receiving the Jaycee Distinguished Service Award as the outstanding young man in Bartlesville in 1965.
When the children were growing up, Lew coached their Little League teams. He was a passionate baseball fan, having grown up cheering for the St. Louis Cardinals. When he saw a need for a girl’s fast-pitch softball program, he and some other parents formed Blazer Sports. Lew was elected to the Oklahoma State Amateur Softball Hall of Fame in 1977, and the Blazers were inducted into the Bartlesville Athletic Hall of Fame in 2015. Sharon stayed home with the children, helping out with school and traveling with the Blazers team to all of their tournaments. In the late 1960’s she started her home-based business making custom draperies, bedding and accessories, retiring in 2009. In 1985, Sharon joined Service League and worked on many of their community projects. She has served as a docent for the Price Tower for many years.
In June of 2016, Sharon and Lew celebrated their 60t h wedding anniversary with their children, Scott and his wife Martha, of Bartlesville, Julie and her husband Kenny of Southlake, Texas and Wade, of Overland Park, Kansas. They have 6 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. Lew passed away on November 5, 2016.
Scott Ambler grew up in Bartlesville, following his Mom and Dad around to volunteering activities such as paper drives, Sooner Jr. and the Christmas Parade. A proud graduate of Sooner High School, Scott was an avid musician playing in every band he could. He continued his musical career at Oklahoma State University, where he was the captain of the drum line for 6 seasons. Scott met Martha, a marching xylophone player, when the band Director introduced them. Martha was raised in Norman, Oklahoma but was afraid if she attended the University of Oklahoma, her Dad would insist that she live at home, so off she went to Stillwater.
In 1981, Scott and Martha married and began their careers in Bartlesville. Scott went to work for McCrory Associates and later bought the firm, renaming it Ambler Architects. After 35 years in practice, in addition to his role at Ambler Architects, Scott has taken on another challenge as the Executive Director of the Price Tower. Martha has worked with Scott at Ambler Architects for 19 years and worked with Lew Ambler as a paralegal and bookkeeper for 27 years.
Scott and Martha have always been active members of the Bartlesville Community. They played in the Bartlesville Symphony when they first came to Bartlesville and have continued to be active as their careers grew. Scott has served in leadership positions with the Bartlesville Jaycees, Chamber of Commerce, Metropolitan Area Planning Commission, Leadership Bartlesville, Fantasyland, Bartlesville Centennial Commission, Boys and Girls Club and the SPCA. Martha has been a volunteer with the Bartlesville Jaycees, Service League, Bartlesville Symphony Society, YWCA, Phillips Gymnastic Club, Family Healthcare Clinic and the Bartlesville Community Center Trust Authority, where she currently serves as Board President.
Scott and Martha are very proud of their three children, Chris, Kelsey, Cara, and their spouses. Chris Ambler and wife Rachel have a daughter Alexis. Chris runs Ambler Lawn Care while Rachel and Lexi are in a power struggle to see who can maintain straight A’s the longest. Kelsey is a physical therapist at Eldercare and her husband, Austin Kliewer is an employee of ConocoPhillips. They volunteer in the community with Samaritan Counseling and Phillips Gymnastics Club. Daughter Cara and her husband Austin Daniels live in Dallas where Austin works for the Wrigley Company and Cara is an Interior Designer with HKS.
Mark and Debbie Haskell met in a very romantic fashion – they both worked at the same Tom Thumb grocery store in Dallas while in college. They got married in May 1976 shortly after graduation and just before Mark started his career with Conoco.
Mark was born and raised in South Louisiana and then moved to the Dallas, Texas area in 1969 when his Father left the oil business and entered seminary at SMU to become a Methodist Minister. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of North Texas and attended the University of Pittsburgh for an executive MBA program in 1989.
Debbie was born and raised in Dallas, attending Ursuline Academy from K through 12 which instilled a passion for service, based on the school’s motto of “serviam” (Latin for “I will serve”). Because they kept moving after marrying, Debbie attended 5 different universities, finally graduating from the University of Houston with degrees in Education and Child Development.
The couple have two sons. Chris, the oldest, was born in Anchorage, AK and currently resides in Austin, TX and has been married for 9 years to Michiko. They are expecting their first child in May. Will, the youngest, was born in New Orleans and currently resides in Bartlesville and has been married for 5 years to Lauren.
Mark’s career took them to 7 locations in the US (Houston 4 times) and 2 international assignments in London and Jakarta. Mark held numerous positions in finance and accounting, strategic planning, information technology, Human Resources, project management, logistics, and procurement in a wide variety of corporate and operating environments. They moved to Bartlesville in 2002 when Conoco and Phillips merged. Mark worked in Upstream Financial Services, IT, and Human Resources Shared Services in Bartlesville, and retired on May 1, 2012 after 36 years of service.
Based on their faith, family and experiences, they have both been life-long volunteers, and this plays a key part of their relationship. Mark and Debbie attend St. John’s church.
Mark is a founding member and the current board Chair for Main Street Bartlesville, past president of the Board of Directors for the Bartlesville Regional United Way, vice president of Mary Martha Outreach, and also serves on the board of Passages, a Houston-based drug and alcohol residential treatment center for women.
He has been a life-long volunteer, receiving the ConocoPhillips Chairman’s Individual Life Time Achievement Award in 2011, to recognize his career-long commitment as a volunteer as well as the Valuing All People Award in 2000 for his global work helping develop people of all different backgrounds.
Mark has led the planning committee for the last 10 years for All That Jazz, which raises money to support the Westside Community Center in Bartlesville; serves as the Co-Chair of the planning committee for Ghost Walk, the signature event for Main Street Bartlesville; serves on the planning committee for ShamRockTheVille, a 5K that raises money in support of Mary Martha Outreach; serves on the Special Event Committee for OK Mozart; in addition, he is involved in fundraising events for numerous other local non-profit organizations with Debbie.
Since their arrival in Bartlesville, Debbie has been a board member of the Bartlesville Choral Society, EmployAbility, and OK Mozart. She is also an active volunteer for numerous other organizations including Price Tower Arts Center, Mary Martha Outreach, Westside Community Center, Give Back America, Polar Plunge, League of Women Voters, and International Women’s Group.
After living and traveling extensively, they have decided to retire here and love Bartlesville – the people, the rich heritage, the variety of arts, the ease of living here, and the great potential it hold.
Sponsorship and ticket information is available from the Foundation at 918.337.2287 or online at https://bartlesvillecf.secure.force.com/events/CnP_PaaS_EVT__ExternalRegistrationPage?event_id=a0yi0000002Zfmw
