82R6810 JBA-D
By: Craddick H.R. No. 321
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The distinguished career of a respected oilman is
being honored as William Donald Kleine is posthumously inducted
into the Petroleum Hall of Fame on April 14, 2011; and
WHEREAS, The Petroleum Hall of Fame, which is based at the
Permian Basin Petroleum Museum in Midland, recognizes individuals
who have made outstanding contributions to the development of the
petroleum industry or who have inspired others through their
achievements, service, or strength of character; and
WHEREAS, Bill Kleine was born in Slater, Missouri, on July 4,
1928; before making a name for himself in the petroleum industry, he
was a member of the Missouri Valley College football team, famous
for its 41-game winning streak; he also played for the school's
basketball team and was recognized in Ripley's Believe It or Not!
for playing a football game in one state at night after having
played a basketball game in a different state that same afternoon;
and
WHEREAS, Basketball proved to be his entry into the oil
business; after graduating cum laude with a bachelor's degree in
business administration, he was hired by Phillips 66 to play for its
famous company basketball team, the 66ers; after a few years of
traveling the country with the team, he settled in Midland as a
Phillips 66 purchasing agent; in 1956, he took a job with the
Western Oil Transportation Company; this small trucking company
evolved into the Permian Corporation, a crude oil marketing firm;
and
WHEREAS, Mr. Kleine rose to the post of vice president of
marketing with Permian as the 22-truck operation grew into a large
enterprise with 600 trucks and 6,000 miles of pipelines; the
company became the first Midland-based firm to be listed on the New
York Stock Exchange; Mr. Kleine retired as president and chief
executive officer in 1989; by that time, Permian employed 2,000
people and was the largest crude oil marketing firm in the United
States; and
WHEREAS, Known for his humility, Mr. Kleine was always
helpful to those on their way up in the industry and freely shared
his expertise and wisdom with his peers; he was a central force in
the Midland oil business for more than five decades and a leading
figure in the community, serving on the boards of many civic,
church, and charitable organizations, such as the High Sky
Children's Ranch, the Cerebral Palsy Board, and the Midland
Memorial Foundation; and
WHEREAS, The Midland community lost an esteemed business and
civic leader when Bill Kleine passed away on June 25, 2010, at the
age of 81; through his leadership, he distinguished himself as a
successful and influential figure in an industry that is such a
vital part of the Texas economy; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas
Legislature hereby honor the memory of William Donald Kleine on the
occasion of his induction into the Petroleum Hall of Fame and pay
tribute to his many admirable contributions; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Mr. Kleine's family as an expression of high regard by
the Texas House of Representatives.