Stephen Douglas Tuttle

Steve Tuttle passed away on July 29th after a quick and courageous battle with cancer. Steve was born to Jack and Sylvia Tuttle on August 29, 1947 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. His early years were spent in various small towns in Oklahoma and Texas where his father, who was a chemical engineer for Warren Petroleum, had been assigned. The family eventually returned to Tulsa where they settled into the quintessential American neighborhood of Holiday Hills. With the new LaFortune Park just across the street as his playground, he explored, camped and golfed to his hearts content. All of this time spent at LaFortune rooted a deep love and accomplishment of golf for the rest of his life. Steve graduated in the first class to spend all three years at the new Tulsa Memorial, all of who have remained amazingly close knit to this day. Steve served in the 9th infantry division Military Police in Vietnam and was a Sergeant at the time of his discharge in 1971. After a serious stint in the hospital and recovery period, where he lost a kidney to a rare virus contracted from Vietnam, he eventually returned to finish his degree at his beloved Oklahoma State University. His amazing transformation from the pre-Vietnam 17 yr old to the post-Vietnam serious student was such an inspiring story that in later years the business school asked Steve to speak to young students and young veterans about it. His active involvement in the entrepreneurial program at OSU motivated Steve and Diane to fund the Accelerator center within the Spears School of Business Riata Center for Entrepreneurship. In 1973 Steve started a job in the energy industry that would change the trajectory of his life that he couldn't have imagined. Starting his career at Mapco, eventually leaving and joining NGL Supply in 1979 to continue his career in natural gas liquids trading. Steve and his partners slowly bought out the original owners of NGL, creating and building a company that expanded trading offices, added assets, guiding the company that became a leader in the industry to the ultimate achievement of taking it public on the New York stock exchange after creating NGL Energy Partners LP. His generosity and involvement in numerous organizations throughout the years benefiting others kept him busy and fulfilled. Some of these were the Tulsa Public Schools Foundation Project 13, OSU Athletics, OSU Foundation financial committee, OSU Board of Governors, OSU Spears School of Business, LPG Charity Fund Board of Directors. Steve was honored with OSU Business School 100 for 100, OSU Business School Hall of Fame, OSU Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame. In the past several years Steve has volunteered with the detectives in the Tulsa Police Department's Special Victims Unit, an interest that began all those years ago in the military police. His admiration and respect for these hard working, excellent men and women knew no bounds. He absolutely loved them and wanted to do anything he could to help them do unbelievably hard jobs. His respect for their perseverance and dedication grew everyday. Steve lit up a room with his smile, never met a stranger and always made a person feel special. The number of people he influenced, mentored or befriended is simply too numerous to count. He will be deeply missed by his family and we will continue to laugh at "Stevie-isms" for the rest of our lives. Steve was preceded in death by his parents Jack and Sylvia, his sister Nancy Corgill, and son-in-law Joby Bishop. He is survived by his wife Diane, son Justin Tuttle (Cypress, Texas) and grandson Beckham Tuttle, daughter Natalie Belie (Tulsa, Oklahoma), daughter Lindsey Bishop (Madill, Oklahoma), brother Tom (Gay) Tuttle, brother-in-law Rick (Jan) Corgill, brother-in-law Tom (Carol) Blackburn, brother-in-law Dave (Kathy) Blackburn, sister-in-law Traci (Jerald) Harvel and numerous nieces and nephews. A private graveside service will be held. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the following organizations in remembrance of Steve. Tulsa Police Foundation (SVU), 3701 S. Harvard Ave, Tulsa, OK 74135 tpdfoundation.org or OSU Foundation, Cowboy Excellence Fund P.O. Box 1749, Stillwater, OK 74076-1749

Stephen Douglas Tuttle

August 29, 1947 - July 29, 2025