The Lovington Daily Leader carried this headline in its August 27, 1959 issue, "Intense Blaze Burns Heater at Phillips Buckeye Refinery." We remember being awakened early that morning and told we needed to evacuate the area because the gasoline plant across the road was on fire. Some event had ignited a fire at the Lee … Continue reading Fire at the Buckeye Gasoline Plant
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Humble City
The community of Humble City is located about five miles northwest of the edge of Hobbs on Highway 18 at the intersection with West Alabama Street. It took its name from the Humble Oil and Refining Company. Humble Oil was founded in 1911 in Harris County, Texas and also gave its name to the town … Continue reading Humble City
Oil Discovery In Hobbs
The first successful oil well was completed around 1921 and the first successful gas well was completed a year earlier, but the Midwest State No. 1, spudded in 1927 using a standard cable tool rig and found oil on June 13, 1928 at a depth of 4,065 feet is considered to be the well that … Continue reading Oil Discovery In Hobbs
Jack Danglade
Frank Jack Danglade was born November 4, 1898 in Jasper County, Missouri to Frank Henderson Danglade and the former Bertha Mabel McKittrick. He married Jessie June Price in 1920 and the couple had one daughter. Danglade and his wife had first moved to Texas in 1924 due to his wife’s poor health. The couple lived … Continue reading Jack Danglade
Oil Discovery in Jal
On March 7, 1939, the Jal Flare contained an article that recounted the first oil wells in the area. The first discovery well was a wildcat, the Rhodes #1. Drilled in 1927 by Donley Brothers it produced a gas and sweet oil well that flowed mostly gas and some oil. It was quickly followed by … Continue reading Oil Discovery in Jal
Col. C. D. Woolworth Dies
Col. C. D. Woolworth Dies in San Angelo Friday. Prominent Lea County Oil and Cattleman Dies After Illness Of Several Months. Col. C. D. Woolworth, widely known politician and prominent cattle and oil man, died Friday night, October 28th at 10:30. He was receiving treatment in the Shannon hospital in San Angelo, Texas at the … Continue reading Col. C. D. Woolworth Dies
Harold L. Runnels
Harold Runnels was born May 17, 1924 to Elbert Dewey Runnels (1898-1969) and Stella McCutcheon Runnels (1898-1964) in Dallas, Texas. Dewey, his father, had grown up in a farming family living in nearby Kaufman, Texas. By the 1920 Census, Dewey and Stella had married, Dewey was working for a tractor company and they were living … Continue reading Harold L. Runnels
Old Lea County, N.M. 