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79R4956 MAM-D
By: Craddick 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.