The Benedum Oil Field and Townsite
(About 9 mi. East)
Field named in 1950 by the Texas Railroad Commission in honor of Michael Late (Mike) Benedum, 1869-1959, who devoted 69 years of his 90 years to the oil business,and won fortune and fame as "The Great Wildcatter"
His work began in 1890. With a partner, Joe C Trees, he discovered or developed oil fields in Illinois, West Virgina, Louisiana (The Great Caddo Field); The Tuxpam in Mexico; deMares in Colombia, South America; and in Texas the Desdemona, Big Lake, Yates, East White Point, Susan Peak and Benavides.
Discovery of Big Lake Field (1923) On University of Texas land tapped the great wealth of the Permian Basin, which opened in 1920 with a small discovery. Alford No. 1 original well in Benedum field (later reclassified as a gas field), was completed Jan. 4, 1948, at a depth of 12,011 feet by Slick-Urschel Oil Co., under a partnership agreement. The field later benefited by dedication of Benedum Townsite.
The "Great Wildcatte" was an oil pioneer whose work enriched one of the world's large constitutional permanent university funds. Revenues from oil and gas operations give Texas the largest permanent public school fund in the world.
Marker can be reached from U.S. 349 south of Farm to Market Road 1555.
Courtesy hmdb.org
