What happened:  Midland bids farewell to one of its stewards. Clarence Scharbauer III, 74, passed away on Wednesday, Oct. 22, in Midland. A 1969 graduate of Midland High School who earned a business management degree from Texas Christian University in 1973, making him the first in his family to earn a college degree. Clarence returned to Midland to lead the Scharbauer family’s ranching, real-estate, and oil and gas enterprises until his passing.

He served on numerous boards, including the Scharbauer Foundation, Midland College Foundation, High Sky Children’s Ranch, YMCA, United Way, Forward Midland, and TCU, bringing a wide smile, a cowboy’s heart, and a commitment to both business and community. His memorial service was held at First Baptist Church in Midland on Monday, Nov. 3, where friends, family, and community members gathered to honor his life and service.

A legacy deeper than the Permian

The Scharbauer’s story is intertwined with Midland’s growth from dusty prairie town to global energy hub. It begins with John Scharbauer, the family patriarch who moved from New York to Texas in 1880 with $2,000, invested in 450 sheep, and, by 1887, landed a ranch near Midland. By the early 1900s, he had shifted to cattle and took full control of sprawling operations across West Texas and New Mexico. His resolve laid the groundwork.

The Scharbauer’s initial success rode on open-range sheep herds, the first Hereford cattle in West Texas, and vast land holdings. Their ranches stretched across five counties and handled tens of thousands of animals. Then, in 1935, oil was discovered on Scharbauer land, and everything changed. Rather than abandon ranching, the family added oil exploration and development to its portfolio.

In recognition of the family’s long-running ranch operations, Scharbauer Cattle Company was inducted into the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame in 2022, underscoring the legacy of five generations of West Texas ranching.

Over the decades, the Scharbauers have shaped the city’s institutions. The original First National Bank of Midland, the landmark Scharbauer Hotel downtown, KCRS radio station, donated land for Midland International Air & Space Port, all stem from early Scharbauer civic leadership. Through oil, ranching and land development, the family became synonymous with Midland’s identity.

Today’s Scharbauer footprint

The story continues in a more noticeable fashion: food production. Midland Meat Company and The Half Acre restaurant, owned by fifth-generation John Scharbauer, reflect the family’s roots in ranching while employing nearly 50 local families. The Half Acre has grown from a food-truck into a brick-and-mortar restaurant and was named in Texas Monthly’s 2025 list of the state’s 50 best BBQ joints.

The business is a family-focused enterprise that brings Scharbauer ranch-sourced beef to the community, a continuation of the family’s land-to-table legacy. Additionally, the Scharbauer Foundation remains a philanthropic hub, supporting education, healthcare, community sports, and economic development across the region.

While Clarence III may have concluded his time, the Scharbauer legacy is very much alive. The family’s motto, “Leave it better than you found it,” resonates in the operations and infrastructure they fund. The Scharbauers have acted time and time again as true investors in Midland’s future. Their deep pride and investment in Midland honors the land, the legacy, and the people who continue to call this place home.