View Video Tribute



LAFAYETTE - Beldon E. Fox, Jr. passed away Friday afternoon in Houston, Texas, surrounded by his loving family.

Arrangements are being handled by Martin & Castille Funeral Home's, Southside location in Lafayette, Louisiana.

Pastor Dino Griffin of the Vineyard Church in Lafayette and Pastor Brannon Revel of Golden Acres Baptist Church of Pasadena, Texas will conduct the funeral services.

Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery.

Beldon was born on November 6, 1936 to Beldon E. Fox, Sr, and Clementine Clement Fox in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He was raised in New Iberia and a longtime resident of Lafayette. Preceding his passing he spent the last and two of the happiest years in Pasadena, Texas with his loving and devoted wife, Allison, and step-daughters.

Beldon E. Fox, Jr. is most noted in the business community as President and Chief Executive Officer of The Red Fox Companies.

Beldon was born into the “make it work” world of the oil and gas industry. At the outset,

(still in high school) Fox trained under the tutelage of H.A. “Blackie” Schellstede, himself a legend in the oil and gas industry along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico.

Beldon began working as a yard hand after school, and working for Humble Oil & Refining Co. as a roustabout.

After completion of college, L.S.U. in 1959 with a B.S. in Mechanical/ Industrial Engineering, he moved into the engineering department of The Red Fox Machine & Supply Co. as a registered Professional Engineer in the state of Louisiana.

He led the company forward specializing in general oil field repair with 15 employees and annual sales of $350,000. Fox quickly moved the company into the development and design of drilling related equipment and was named Manager of Operations. Under his direction, innovative new products entered the line. The company became a leader in the design and manufacture of Anchor Handling and Towing Winches. International customers like Dole Pineapple pushed sales to topping quickly into the multi million dollar range.

From here the company began operating from two large physical facilities, one a “state of the art” metalworking facility, the other a 16 acre fabrication yard at the Port of Iberia.

New products under Beldon’s plan for diversification bolted Red Fox into the design and production of Sewerage Treatment Systems newly being required by the EPA and the USCG. The unit so dominated the market that many such systems became known as a “Red Fox Unit.” The market grew worldwide.

At the Port site, Beldon expanded the operation and began fabricating land rigs, coastal barges, posted barges, jack-up and offshore platform rigs, as well as offshore jackets, living quarters and other related equipment.

Vision and hard work continued to move the Red Fox Companies forward into an internationally renowned entity.

Away from work, Beldon Fox was the center stone of his four daughters and created a family unit and bond amongst them like no other.  His unique passion and enthusiasm touched the lives of many people for the better.  He was a benefactor and outright savior at one time of the Ragin Cajun Boxing Club. A life long interest in the sport and a desire to help youngsters kept Beldon close and involved in the furtherance of the lives of these young people.

His reaching out and helping those in need, one to one, made him very special.

He had a deep and abiding faith in God and goodness and he ability to “pass it forward.”

His sense of humor and love of life was contagious. Beldon loved life and he loved people and he exhibited it in everything he did.

His generosity was boundless. His diverse interests brought him into contact with friends in many different circles.  Beldon was comfortable with the company of and accepted as a cherished friend by chefs and kings. He was his own man, he was everyone’s man. Beldon Fox, Jr. was always involved in the activities of his community.

He loved the sport of golf and was good at it.

He was an LSU Tiger fan like no other. He supported LSU athletics with his enthusiasm and his treasure.

Beldon is survived by his wife, Allison Hepner Fox ; his children, Kathlene Ruth Fox,  Allyson Fox Pharr, and her husband Mark R. “Tiger” Pharr, III of Lafayette and their daughters, Alexandra Reese Pharr and Olivia Fox Pharr,; Monique Fox Diaz and her husband Ralph David Diaz, Jr. of Denver, Colorado and their daughter, Celia Lynn Diaz;  Margeaux Lynn Fox of Los Angeles, California, and  three stepdaughters: Lindsey Barrington, Erin Barrington, and Mallory Barrington all of Pasadena, Texas.  He is also survived by his mother-in-law, Mary Hepner, of Bayfield, Wisconsin and many nieces, nephews, and extended family and loving friends.

His parents Beldon E. Fox, Sr., and Clementine Clement Fox; one brother, Robert C. Fox and one son, James Montgomery, who died in infancy, preceded him in death.

Pallbearers will be Tiger Pharr, David Diaz, Dickie Breaux, Phil Mayer, Beau Williford, and Phillip Latiola

Honorary pallbearers include Alton Anthony, Revine Broussard, Dick Barra, Ema Haq, Carroll Desormeaux, Jim Sutton, and Hamilton Shaw.

The Fox family would like to deeply thank the staff and doctors of The Methodist Hospital, Baylor Clinic and Gulf Coast Lung Center.

The family requests that visiting hours be observed Monday, December 14th from 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Tuesday from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.  Services will be held on Tuesday, December 15, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. in Martin & Castille's La Fleur de Lis Chapel.

In remembrance of Beldon, donations should be made to the Ragin Cajun Boxing Club, 303 Macon Road, Lafayette, Louisiana 70506.

View the obituary and guestbook online at www.mourning.com

Martin & Castille - 600 E. Farrel Road, Lafayette, LA. 337-984-2811