An Advocate For Local Oil Workers

John Glover Mynatt (1884-1918) was an oil field worker who became a local leader during the organized labor movement that swept oil fields from Louisiana, Texas, and out to California in 1917-1918, that included a strike by workers and resultant occupation of oil fields by federal troops.

Source: The Hennessee Family


Originally from Tennessee, here he is listed as living in Oil City when registering for the draft for World War I.



U.S. World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918

In late 1918, he attended a convention held in El Paso, Texas; where he was selected to serve on the union's Rules and Order of Business committee. Note also H. Hill (no first name given) of Vivian served on the Resolutions committee.

El Paso (TX) Herald 27-Nov-1918, Page 5


Unfortunately he becomes ill and dies while at the convention; leaving a wife, Estelle Lavinia Smith Mynatt and children John Rupert and Cecilia Estelle.

El Paso (TX) Herald 04-Dec-1918, Page 10


Died of influenza and pneumonia (per death certificate), part of the Spanish Flu Pandemic of 1918.

Source: Texas Death Certificates, 1903-1982

He is buried in Greenwood Cemetery, Knoxville, TN.


Below is a history of the Oil City union local.

 

History Of Oil Workers International Union (CIO) O'Connor 1950, Page 281-282

Histories of area locals may be found here.

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Looking Past and Forward In 1965

An article titled "Oil City - Petroleum's Grandaddy In Caddo!" appeared in the Feb-1965 Louisiana Municipal Review. Mooringsport and Vivian were also separately featured in the issue.

Highlights include:

History

• Ferry Lake No. 1 drilled on Caddo Lake in 1910 by Gulf Oil
• First roller bit used was in Caddo-Pine Island field, and invented in OC by Howard Hughes, Sr.
• Hughes Tool and Moran Tank were major companies started in OC
• Name changed from Ananias in 1909 (actually 1907)
• Town was incorporated in 1940
• Refers to a town history compiled by A. B. Hanner (who is shown in one of pictures included)

Current (in 1965)

• Population is approximately 2,000
• Town is working with the state and Caddo Parish Police Jury to create a park on Caddo Lake
• Cities Service has granted a lease to 41 acres, with a quarter mile of lake front, south of OC and west of Hwy 1
• Police Juror L. Richard Fleming is major driver for the park
• They are also working with the Pine Island Historic Society to increase tourism by  establishing a local museum, which is envisioned as a log cabin near an oil well
• Attributes cited include low taxes, good schools, variety of churches, lake activities (fishing, swimming, skiing), and resources for industry (plentiful water and gas)

Mayor:

Tilmon W. Greer - Pharmacist/owner of Greer Drug Store, Vice President of (then new) North Caddo Medical Center, President of Oil City Clinic.

Aldermen/woman, Occupations, and Areas of Responsibility:

Shelton M. Flash - Gauger for Cities Service Co.; drainage
Emmett Pickle - Assistant Manager for Texaco Oil Co.; street and parks director
Wilbert P. Resweber - Office Assistant for Cities Service Co.; fire department and equipment
Marie McCord Wall - Manager, Oil City Department Store; director of health department
Homer Leland White - Field Manager for Pan American Oil Company; parks and grass cutting

City Attorney and former Mayor Donald Lavine (far right) administers the oath of office to
 (l-r) Shelton Flash, Homer White, T. W. Greer, Wilbert Resweber, Marie Wall, and Emmett Pickle   

Other Officials:

Jack M. Alexander - City Clerk
W. H. Anderson - Deputy Sheriff
F. L. Keen - Night Marshal
Donald Lavine - City Attorney and former Mayor
Howard W. Webb - Fire Chief

Local Businessmen:

Article obtained courtesy of the Louisiana Room, Edith Garland Dupré Library, University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

Louisiana Wild Life and Fisheries
Commission and Caddo Parish Police Juror

Source: Louisiana Wild Life and Fisheries Commission 10th Biennial Report 1962-63, Page 4

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A Little Spelling Bee Champ

Mary Bell White Belaire  (1920-1996), was the daughter of druggist Elzie Hansford White and wife Mary Bell Murdock White. From Winn and Tensas Parishes respectively, they had come to Oil City from Naborton, an unincorporated Louisiana community in DeSoto Parish that had similarly experienced an oil boom.

As an eleven year-old, she placed second in the state spelling bee held at Louisiana State Normal School in Natchitoches to commemorate the bicentennial of George Washington's birth.

Source: New Orleans Times Picayune 27-Mar-1932, Page 12

After graduation from high school, she enrolled in LSN, now Northwestern State University. Below she is shown as a freshman.

1937 LSN Potpourri (yearbook)

While at LSN, she participated in many activities, notably the debate team.

Monroe (LA) News Stat 18-Feb-1937, Page 2

Around her sophomore year, her family moved to Vivian, as she subsequently is listed as being from that community. During her senior year, Mary Bell worked on the Potpourri (yearbook) staff with Sidney Gremillion, who later taught briefly at Oil City.

Sidney Gremillion (l), Mary Bell White

Source: 1940 LSN Potpourri (yearbook)

Upon graduating from LSN, Mary Bell enrolled at Louisiana State University and received her masters degree in English in 1941.

Source: 1941 LSU Gumbo (yearbook)

She later became editor of the LSU Press, the university's publishing house.

Source: June 7, 1944   Paper: State Times Advocate (Baton Rouge, Louisiana)   Page: 6

In December 1946, her engagement to fellow LSU graduate Rene Rodney Belaire was announced and they were married at her parents home in Vivian. The couple lived in Lake Charles, LA where in addition to pursuing a teaching career, she was involved in civic and social activities.

In addition to her B.A. and Masters, she continued her studies at Peabody College for Teachers (Vanderbilt University) and the University of Arkansas. Her teaching career included three years at McNeese State College (now University), as well as in high school at Haynesville and Rodessa; and junior high at Stuttgart, Arkansas. It was at Stuttgart that she became interested in children suffering from dyslexia. She eventually became a teacher at the John Geddings Gray School in Lake Charles; a private school dedicated to students with the condition, and later was its director.

Source: March 16, 1969   Paper: Advocate (Baton Rouge, Louisiana)   Page: 77  (3-E)

She was appointed and reappointed by Governor Dave Treen to the Teaching Profession Practices Commission, an oversight group to review teacher wrong-doing or incompetence.

January 14, 1982   Paper: Advocate (Baton Rouge, Louisiana)   Page: 18

Mary Bell passed away in 1996 and is buried in Vivian (LA) Cemetery.

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