| 7 | 8 | | WHEREAS, W. E. Connell, a banker and pioneering figure in the |
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| 8 | 9 | | early development of the Permian Basin's oil and gas business, is |
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| 9 | 10 | | being posthumously inducted into the Petroleum Hall of Fame on |
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| 10 | 11 | | April 10, 2025; and |
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| 11 | 12 | | WHEREAS, Based at the Permian Basin Petroleum Museum in |
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| 12 | 13 | | Midland, the Petroleum Hall of Fame recognizes individuals who have |
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| 13 | 14 | | made outstanding contributions to the development of the petroleum |
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| 14 | 15 | | industry in the region; and |
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| 15 | 16 | | WHEREAS, Born in Bell County in 1858, Wilson Edward Connell |
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| 16 | 17 | | distinguished himself as a banker, cattleman, and property owner; |
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| 17 | 18 | | he recognized the need for financial infrastructure in West Texas |
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| 18 | 19 | | and in 1888 cofounded what would become the First National Bank of |
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| 19 | 20 | | Midland; his efforts later expanded to Fort Worth, where he led the |
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| 20 | 21 | | First National Bank of Fort Worth through critical periods such as |
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| 21 | 22 | | the Great Depression; and |
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| 22 | 23 | | WHEREAS, Often called the "Father of West Texas," Mr. Connell |
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| 23 | 24 | | supported many early oil ventures, including the first well drilled |
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| 24 | 25 | | in Ector County in 1926; he also served as vice president and a |
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| 25 | 26 | | stockholder of the Dublin Oil Mills, treasurer of the Texas and |
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| 26 | 27 | | Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, director of the Texas and |
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| 27 | 28 | | Pacific Railway, and vice president of the Cicero Smith Lumber |
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| 28 | 29 | | Company; when he passed away on May 5, 1936, he left his heirs more |
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| 29 | 30 | | than 90,000 acres of undivided mineral ownership, further |
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| 30 | 31 | | supporting the region's petroleum industry development; and |
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| 31 | 32 | | WHEREAS, Admired for his vision, energy, and business acumen, |
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| 32 | 33 | | W. E. Connell was a pioneering figure in the early development of |
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| 33 | 34 | | the Permian Basin's oil and gas industry, and he is indeed a worthy |
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| 34 | 35 | | addition to the Petroleum Hall of Fame; now, therefore, be it |
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| 35 | 36 | | RESOLVED, That the 89th Legislature of the State of Texas |
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| 36 | 37 | | hereby honor the memory of W. E. Connell on the occasion of his |
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| 37 | 38 | | posthumous induction into the Petroleum Hall of Fame and pay |
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| 38 | 39 | | tribute to his life and legacy. |
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| 39 | | - | Craddick |
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| 40 | | - | ______________________________ ______________________________ |
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| 41 | | - | President of the Senate Speaker of the House |
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| 42 | | - | I certify that H.C.R. No. 42 was adopted by the House on March |
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| 43 | | - | 10, 2025, by a non-record vote. |
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| 44 | | - | ______________________________ |
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| 45 | | - | Chief Clerk of the House |
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| 46 | | - | I certify that H.C.R. No. 42 was adopted by the Senate on |
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| 47 | | - | March 19, 2025, by a viva-voce vote. |
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| 48 | | - | ______________________________ |
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| 49 | | - | Secretary of the Senate |
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| 50 | | - | APPROVED: __________________ |
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| 51 | | - | Date |
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| 52 | | - | __________________ |
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| 53 | | - | Governor |
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