..."God Ahmighty, Thel, What Next"
In the early 20th Century, the Texas oil boom, sometimes called the Gusher Age, was a time of dramatic change and economic growth in Texas.
After the Gushers, by the 1940's, production stabilized in East Texas, and West Texas began to be more fully explored and the Permian Basin gradually became the top producing area of the state.
The Permian Basin became the Oil Service Capital of the nation as the influx of foreign oil depressed the price of oil and gas.
Santa Rita #1
Management of the petrochemical industry and the discovery of natural gas and it's bi-products of styrene, butadiene, polypropylene, benzene and quantities of synthetic rubber and ammonia kept the Oil Industry booming.
New installation Plants were built along the Gulf Coast and the Houston Shipping Channel.
The Odessa-Midland area was a hub of Oil Service Companies with branches throughout smaller communities like Monahans, Kermit, Ozona, Big Lake and others.
On the 'Rig', he was a Jack of All Rig Jobs from Floor Hand to Derrick Hand.
In the top right picture, Dad and his brother are standing on a site where a 'Pulling Unit' is in operation. This piece of machinery was part of the 'Oilfield Service Industry', which flourished during the 1950's through the 1990's.
As I look at these pictures of Dad as a 20th Mid-Century Texas Oilman, I wonder what he would think about the 21st Century Oil Bidnezz. I imagine he would say....
God Ahmighty, Thel, what will they think of next?
Thanks for visiting Where Bluebonnets Bloom
All photos by Sue McPeak ©reserved
That must have been hot dirty work. I love that last photo. The hat and belt buckle say "Texas," but the rest could be my parents! My mother would never be anywhere without her purse, even on vacations hikes in the woods! Sometimes my dad would end up carrying it.
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