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                                                                  H.R. No. 844



R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, C. Fred Chambers and William Duncan Kennedy are 
being posthumously inducted into the Petroleum Hall of Fame on 
April 14, 2005, at the Petroleum Museum in Midland; and
	WHEREAS, The Petroleum Hall of Fame recognizes individuals 
who have made significant contributions to the development of the 
petroleum industry and impacted their communities through civic and 
social involvement; and
	WHEREAS, Both natives of Dallas, Fred Chambers and Bill 
Kennedy formed a partnership in 1953 in the pursuit of oil and gas 
properties and eventually opened an exploration office in Houston, 
which became the headquarters of C&K Petroleum; their successful 
business was active in the Permian Basin, and they drilled wells in 
Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, the Gulf Coast, the 
Mid-Continent, the Rocky Mountains, and Western Canada; their 
activity led to many field discoveries, including the Hamon and 
Toro gas fields and the Mestena Grande Field; and
	WHEREAS, In 1966, Mr. Chambers and Mr. Kennedy joined forces 
with J. M. C. Ritchie of New York to form a Canadian corporation 
known as the Rock, or Ritchie Oil C&K, and they later founded C&K 
Nederland Company to acquire oil and gas concessions from the Dutch 
government; in 1970, the two men exchanged their partnership assets 
in C&K Petroleum for common stock, and the company went public the 
following year; it was later sold to Alaska Interstate in 1980; and
	WHEREAS, After the sale of the company, Mr. Chambers 
continued to explore oil and gas opportunities; before his passing 
in 1989, he volunteered his time for numerous organizations and 
institutions, including St. Ann's School, the National Petroleum 
Council, the Texas Bar Association, the All American Wildcatters 
Association, the Independent Petroleum Association of America, and 
The University of Texas development board; and
	WHEREAS, Mr. Kennedy also contributed to many civic and 
professional organizations, including the All American Wildcatters 
Association, the Permian Basin Petroleum Association, the Texas 
Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association, and St. Ann's Catholic 
Church; he remained active in the oil industry until his death in 
2002, exploring for oil and gas in all the major U.S. basins as well 
as in Australia and Russia; an oil field in Loving County has been 
named the Bill Kennedy Field in his memory; and
	WHEREAS, The achievements of Fred Chambers and Bill Kennedy 
as industry and community leaders distinguished them among the 
members of their profession, and they are indeed deserving of this 
posthumous award; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 79th Texas 
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the lives of C. Fred Chambers and 
William Duncan Kennedy as they are inducted into the Petroleum Hall 
of Fame and extend to their families sincere gratitude for the 
outstanding professional accomplishments and civic contributions 
made by these two men; and, be it further

	RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 
prepared for the families of Mr. Chambers and Mr. Kennedy as an 
expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives.

                                                                        Craddick

                                                  ______________________________
                                                       Speaker of the House     

	I certify that H.R. No. 844 was adopted by the House on March 
31, 2005, by a non-record vote.

                                                  ______________________________
                                                     Chief Clerk of the House