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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, James Cleo Thompson Jr. is being honored for his |
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notable career in the oil and gas industry with his posthumous |
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induction into the Petroleum Hall of Fame on May 9, 2017; and |
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WHEREAS, The Petroleum Hall of Fame, which is based at the |
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Permian Basin Petroleum Museum in Midland, honors individuals who |
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have made outstanding contributions to the development of the |
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petroleum industry or who have inspired others through their |
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achievements, service, or strength of character; and |
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WHEREAS, A native of Dallas, Jimmie Thompson was born on |
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August 25, 1930, and he went on to study engineering and geology at |
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Southern Methodist University; following his graduation, he |
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planned to pursue further education at SMU Law School, but in 1952, |
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he and his father purchased several oil leases near Crane, and that |
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purchase led to the founding of Thompson Petroleum Corporation; and |
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WHEREAS, In the decades that followed, Mr. Thompson was |
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credited with the discovery, development, and unitization of |
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numerous oil fields across the Permian Basin, and he was the |
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operator of nearly 1,000 wells and held interests in about 9,000; in |
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2001, he was named "Chief Roughneck" by the Independent Petroleum |
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Association of America, and he was recognized as a "Dallas Oil |
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Legend" by the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers in 2005; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Thompson served on the Society of Petroleum |
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Engineers, the Natural Gas Committee of the IPAA, and the advisory |
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committee for the National Petroleum Council; he also shared his |
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time and talents with myriad educational institutions, including |
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the board of trustees at SMU and the board of the Howard Payne |
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University Academy of Freedom; moreover, he supported the |
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educational endeavors of future generations as chair of the Hatton |
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W. Sumners Foundation, which grants scholarships to students |
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studying law and government, and in 1990, he endowed the Thompson |
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Law Scholarships Program; and |
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WHEREAS, Texas lost this esteemed business and civic leader |
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when he passed away on November 19, 2010, at the age of 80; and |
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WHEREAS, For nearly six decades, Mr. Thompson distinguished |
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himself as a successful and innovative figure in an industry that is |
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such a vital part of the Texas economy, and it is indeed appropriate |
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to take this opportunity to recognize him for his many |
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accomplishments; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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Legislature hereby honor the memory of James Cleo Thompson Jr. on |
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the occasion of his posthumous induction into the Petroleum Hall of |
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Fame and pay tribute to him for his professional achievements and |
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his service in behalf of education in Texas; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. Thompson's family as an expression of high regard |
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by the Texas House of Representatives. |
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Craddick |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 605 was adopted by the House on March |
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2, 2017, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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