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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