DUANE
Duane's take
Here's what the marker in Webb County tells us about Oliver Winfield Killam — and I'll do my best to do it justice. Now, before a place can boom, somebody's got to believe in it when nobody else does. Oliver Winfield Killam was that kind of man.
He came into the world in Lincoln County, Missouri, and by 1898 he'd graduated in law from the University of Missouri. But law wasn't the whole story. He ran stores.
He ran lumber yards. He served eight years in the legislature of Oklahoma. The man had range.
And then, in 1920, he pointed himself toward Texas — specifically, he came to explore for oil. Now here's where lesser men would've quit. He drilled once.
Dry. He drilled twice. Dry again.
Two swings, two misses, in country that didn't exactly beg you to keep going. But Oliver Winfield Killam kept going. April 17, 1921.
The well they called Mirando Oil Co. No. 3 Hinnant came in — not a gusher, mind you, but a pumper. A working well.
The first commercial oil well south of San Antonio. That is not a small thing. That is the marker moving.
And Killam wasn't done. He partnered with Colon Schott of Cincinnati, Ohio, and they drilled a well called Schott No. 2 — one mile south of where this marker stands. December 10, 1921, that well came in as a gusher.
A full-on, wide-open gusher. And with that, the south Texas oil boom was opened. Mirando City was founded as Killam's base of operations, and the place wasted no time.
The U.S. Post Office opened May 18, 1922 — because when a town's population jumps suddenly to a reputed thirteen thousand people, you're going to need somewhere to pick up your mail. All sorts of businesses boomed.
Churches, schools, medical facilities — they all expanded to meet a town that had practically materialized overnight. July 4, 1937, in Laredo, at the Oil Men's Jubilee, Oliver Winfield Killam was crowned King Petrol. That is a title you earn the hard way — two dry holes and a lot of faith in country that hadn't proven itself yet.
Ranchers esteemed him too, knowing full well what oil lease benefits had meant for the area. This wasn't just a wildcatter's story. It was the whole region's story.
He and his wife Hattie — born Hattie Smith — had three children: Winfield, known as Hank, who is now deceased; Louise, who became Mrs. John Hurd, also deceased; and Radcliffe. At the time this story was set down in 1972, the O.
W. Killam shops were still running, Radcliffe Killam's oil operations were still going, and Mirando City was celebrating its fiftieth anniversary. Two dry holes, and then a pumper, and then a gusher that opened a boom.
Sometimes the ground makes you earn it — and Oliver Winfield Killam earned every bit of it.
What the marker says
Discoverer of first commercial oil field in south Texas; founder of Mirando City, as base of operations. Born in Lincoln county, Mo.; graduated in law at University of Missouri, 1898. Operated stores and lumber yards and served 8 years in legislature of Oklahoma. Came to Texas to explore for oil in 1920. After drilling twice unsuccessfully, he brought in as a pumper the first commercial well south of San Antonio, Mirando Oil Co. No. 3 Hinnant, April 17, 1921. With Colon Schott of Cincinnati, Oh., drilled Schott No. 2 (1 mile south of here), which came in as a gusher Dec. 10, 1921 -- opening the south Texas oil boom. The U.S. Post Office in Mirando City opened May 18, 1922, to serve town that jumped suddenly in population to a reputed 13,000. All sorts of businesses boomed; and churches, school, and medical facilities expanded. O. W. Killam was crowned "King Petrol" at Oil Men's Jubilee, Laredo, July 4, 1937. He was also esteemed by ranchers aware of oil lease benefits to the area. Killam and his wife Hattie (Smith) had 3 children: Winfield (Hank, now deceased), Louise (Mrs. John Hurd, also deceased), and Radcliffe. The O. W. Killam shops and Radcliffe Killam's oil operations continue as Mirando City celebrates its 50th anniversary. (1972)