Jeff Sparks grew up in Midland and served on the Midland City Council from 2010-2018. He attended Midland’s public schools, graduating from Lee High School in 1979. He attended the University of Texas at Austin, where he graduated with a B.S. in Petroleum Engineering in 1983.
After graduation, he returned to Midland where he and his wife Val have reared their 4 children- Jarrod, Joshua, Justin & Kristina. They now have eight grandchildren. Jeff and Val attend First Baptist Church of Midland where he also has served as a Junior High Sunday School leader for over 25 years. Jeff enjoys singing in the First Baptist Church choir and has done so for many years.
Jeff has been a Registered Professional Engineer in Texas since February 1988 and is the Chief Operating Officer at Discovery Operating, Inc., a family owned oil & gas business. He is the regional VP of the Permian Basin region for Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA). Jeff is also Chairman elect for the Permian Basin Petroleum Association (PBPA). He has served as the chairman of the Permian Basin Petroleum Pioneers (PBPP) and is a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE). Jeff has served on the External Advisory Committee for the Petroleum & Geosystems Engineering Dept. at the University of Texas at Austin and currently sits on the Engineering Advisory Board also for UT Austin. In 2017 the Permian Basin chapter of the Texas Society of Professional Engineers honored Jeff with the Engineer of the Year Award. The University of Texas at Austin Cockrell School of Engineering honored Jeff as a Distinguished Engineering Graduate. Jeff is a board member of the America Energy Association (AEA).
Jeff served as the “Nation Chief” in both the local YMCA Indian Guides and Indian Princess organizations while his children were going through the program. He also served as an officer in band & football booster clubs at Midland High. Jeff serves on the board of Live on Stage-Permian Basin, a nonprofit that brings professional live entertainment to the Wagner Noel Performing Arts Center at a nonprofit ticket price.
Jeff is proud to be a part of a legacy of professional engineers. His father Don L. Sparks has been a Registered Professional Engineer in Texas since 1969. Jeff’s son Jarrod has been a Registered Professional Engineer in Texas since 2014 and his son Joshua received his seal in 2016. All four men have received Engineering Degrees from The University of Texas at Austin.