87R17819 BPG-D
By: Craddick H.C.R. No. 81
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Paul L. Morris is being inducted into the Petroleum
Hall of Fame on April 29, 2021; and
WHEREAS, Headquartered at the Petroleum Museum in Midland,
the Petroleum Hall of Fame honors professionals who have made
outstanding contributions to the petroleum industry and those who
have set worthy examples of exemplary service, good character, and
high achievement; and
WHEREAS, Paul Morris was raised in West Virginia and began
his career with Hope Natural Gas while attending the University of
Cincinnati; after graduation, he joined Columbia Gas System Service
Corporation; he worked in Delaware and became manager of Columbia
LNG Corporation in 1976; a subsequent promotion to vice president
of exploration and production took him to Houston; and
WHEREAS, In 1981, Mr. Morris relocated to Midland for a new
position as chief executive officer of Banner Energy; he was hired
by Wagner and Brown in 1988, and he became chief executive officer
six years later; under his leadership, the company completed nearly
600 wells across Texas and Oklahoma and in the United Kingdom and
Australia; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Morris co-founded Elk River Resources in 2013;
he served as CEO until 2019, when he stepped into his current role
as senior advisor to the board; and
WHEREAS, A longtime leader in his field, Paul Morris has
distinguished himself in the Lone Star State and beyond through his
vision, expertise, and business acumen, and he is indeed deserving
of this prestigious honor; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the 87th Legislature of the State of Texas
hereby congratulate Paul L. Morris on his induction into the
Petroleum Hall of Fame and extend to him sincere best wishes for the
future; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Mr. Morris as an expression of high regard by the Texas
House of Representatives and Senate.