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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, Frank M. Late, a respected entrepreneur who built a |
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remarkable career in the oil and gas business, is being |
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posthumously inducted into the Petroleum Hall of Fame on April 29, |
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2021; and |
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WHEREAS, Based at the Permian Basin Petroleum Museum in |
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Midland, the Petroleum Hall of Fame recognizes individuals who have |
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made outstanding contributions to the development of the petroleum |
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industry in the region; and |
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WHEREAS, Frank Marr Late was born in Johnson, Arkansas, on |
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November 1, 1908, and he went on to attend the University of |
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Arkansas; he began working in automotive sales in the mid-1930s, |
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and through the decades, he became one of the largest automobile |
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dealers in the Southwest; after residing in Claremore, Oklahoma, he |
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moved to San Angelo in 1939 and then to Dallas in 1970; and |
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WHEREAS, A man of many business interests, Mr. Late helped to |
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found Cactus Drilling in 1944, and he took over as the company's |
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sole owner in 1967; under his leadership, Cactus Drilling expanded |
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internationally, and when he sold the firm in 1980, it was the |
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largest land-based contract drilling company in the country; during |
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the 1960s, Mr. Late cofounded Cardinal Chemical, which was later |
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acquired by Dowell Chemical; he also purchased and expanded |
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Republic Supply International, which he sold in 2000; in addition |
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to his ventures in oil field services, oil and gas exploration, and |
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automotive sales, he was involved in banking, soft drink bottling, |
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and ranching; Mr. Late passed away on November 27, 2002, at the age |
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of 94; and |
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WHEREAS, Through his tremendous vision, energy, and business |
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acumen, Frank Late achieved a rare degree of success in the dynamic |
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oil and gas industry, and he is indeed a worthy addition to the |
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Petroleum Hall of Fame; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 87th Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby honor the memory of Frank M. Late on the occasion of his |
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induction into the Petroleum Hall of Fame and pay tribute to him for |
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his many accomplishments; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. Late's family as an expression of high regard by |
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the Texas House of Representatives and Senate. |