Bill > HCR42

This concurrent resolution honors W. E. Connell, a prominent early 20th-century banker and businessman from West Texas, on his posthumous induction into the Petroleum Hall of Fame. The resolution recognizes Connell's significant contributions to the development of the Permian Basin's oil and gas industry, highlighting his role as a banker who co-founded the First National Bank of Midland in 1888 and later led the First National Bank of Fort Worth. Often referred to as the "Father of West Texas," Connell supported numerous early oil ventures, including the first well drilled in Ector County in 1926, and was involved in various business enterprises such as the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association and the Texas and Pacific Railway. At the time of his death in 1936, he left his heirs over 90,000 acres of mineral ownership, which further supported the region's petroleum industry development. The Texas Legislature's 89th session formally honors Connell's memory and acknowledges his vision, energy, and business acumen, recognizing him as a pioneering figure in the early oil and gas industry of West Texas.

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HCR42