Copano Energy LLC, Houston, (Nasdaq: CPNO) reports that chairman and chief executive John R. Eckel Jr. has passed away at age 58 on Nov. 13. Eckel had been on a medical leave since Nov. 4 and recently suffered liver failure.

Eckel founded Copano Energy in 1992 and served as president and CEO until April 2003, when he became chairman and CEO.

Prior to Copano, Eckel worked for various energy drilling, service and E&P companies, including E&P company Live Oak Reserves Inc., which he founded in 1986. Before joining the energy sector, Eckel was named assistant vice president, energy finance, for Lehman Brothers in 1978, a company he had joined the previous year as an associate in corporate finance.

Before Lehman Brothers, he was an investment analyst and then assistant director of investments (energy and minerals) for securities investment department of The Mutual Life Insurance Co. of New York.

Eckel also was a board member of the Texas Pipeline Association.

Dril-Quip, Inc., Houston, (NYSE: DRQ) reports that board member Gary L. Stone died on Nov. 7 at age 72 following an extended illness.

Stone was a member of Dril-Quip’s board since June 2001 and was a member of the audit and compensation committees. From 1997 until his retirement in May 2000, he was senior vice president/first vice president with Bank One Texas NA. While at Bank One, he worked in the loan department for oil and gas deals.

Stone received a degree in geological engineering from the University of Utah. He also received an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh.