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The co-op bookstore for avid readers
Texas Wildcatter: The Life Story of William Donald Stephenson, A Texas Oil and Gas Pioneer
William Donald Stephenson, known later in his life as "Mr. Donald," was born October 14,1889 in Waco, Texas . At age 11 he lost the two middle fingers and almost his thumb on his left hand to a dynamite cap blast. At 16 he drove, alone, a team of "Indian Ponies" and a four wheeled buggy 300 miles over unmarked territory from Central Texas to the edge of the "Big Thicket of Texas" swamps. The next 7 years he lived in a tent in the East Texas swampland and in a hotel in Batson, Texas. He learned, from the ground up, and down, the "trade" of an oil and gas field "Driller" and became a "Wildcatter". IIn 1917 he moved to McMullen County 75 miles south of San Antonio where he, his Dad, and brother began searching for oil and gas via their new "company" - the Grubstake Investment Association. They struck both gas and oil. In 1963, at 74, Donald hand wrote a 21 page letter to his grandchildren he titled "Lets Tell A Story" describing his life from childhood thru about age 35. In November 1970 Donald died at age 81 and not as a wealthy man. His letter was never completed, mailed, or known until 48 years later. It was discovered in January of 2018 in his older son's home as it was being made ready for sale after that son, Robert, died at age 88 in Austin, Texas.Throughout Donald's life he took photos or had them taken and wrote pencil notes on their backs to explain who and what they were about. He kept handwritten notes and legal documents all his life. After discovery of Donald's letter his younger son, John, along with John's two daughters researched the family photos, and various documents and books about their family. John then wrote a biographical sketch of Donald's life for the benefit of Donald's descendants and for the benefit of Texas History. This is that writing. It includes a transcription of "Donald's Letter" along with other relevant "Wildcatter" information and photographs, some of which today are over 100 years old. A copy of Donald's handwritten letter is included as an Appendix for historical purposes. --John Russell Stephenson, Colonel (Ret), USAF, MSC; Donald's youngest son
Book Details
- Publisher: Independently Published
- Publish Date: Jul 2nd, 2019
- Pages: 106
- Language: English
- Edition: undefined - undefined
- Dimensions: 11.00in - 8.50in - 0.22in - 0.58lb
- EAN: 9781077471023
- Categories: • Historical