Artists, Artisans, And Crafters

Recognizing present and past residents who practice(d) creative arts.

Alford, Bessie Emilyn Woodell

Bessie as an eighth grade student at Oil City Junior High in 1955-1956.

1956 OCJH Bengal (yearbook)

Pictured below as a North Caddo High Senior:

1960 NCHS Rebel (yearbook)

Bessie describes her interest in art:

I always wanted to paint, so I got my first job, I took a one trip painting class in Vivian. I didn't have enough time to do it on my lunch hour, so I quit and finished the picture by myself. I later showed it to the teacher and she was impressed. Later, I took a class or two in Vivian

While working at Arkla, I met the man who was in charge of an art show. I don't remember which one. He had seen some of my paintings and encouraged me to enter some. I entered three and got honorable mention on two. You would have thought I won first place the way I felt inside.

Fast forward to 2011 when I lived in Bossier. Joined the Bossier art group and entered two in the Bossier Arts Council show and won honorable mention on both. Again, I was excited. Two other Oil City former residents entered also. They are outstanding to the point of perfection. They are Dorothy (Dot Fowler) Flash and her niece, Betty Fowler Hatcher.

I haven't painted since I moved into my tiny house two years ago. I haven't quit, but I'm taken with quilting just now and have just finished my third quilt.

Examples of her work:

Craig, Jerry Clyde

Already a budding artist, in his junior year, Jerry's drawing of a tiger head was included on the opening page of the 1953 Oil City Bengal yearbook.

Jerry pictured as a graduating senior at then Oil City High School. Next to him is his high school sweetheart and late wife of 61 years, Betty Jo Densmore. Betty passed away in 2015.

1954 Bengal


He was featured twice in the Shreveport Times in 1991 for his knife making skills. He is also a painter.

Shreveport Times 10-Jul-1991, Page N1


Later that same year, Jerry was again featured in the Times.

Shreveport Times 18-Sep-1991, Page N-7


Some of Jerry's knives.

Examples of his paintings.

In addition to his artistic talents, Jerry is an exceptional guitar player. He was 11 when (local piano/guitar teacher) Dorthy Shafer helped him learn when to change chords. He taught himself the chords on friend Johnny Sibley's $11 guitar, with the action a half inch high. Jerry got his first guitar, a Kay electric, at the age of 15 as a Christmas present. Jack Green (local professional musician) was his musical influence. He loved watching Jack play, and also played along listening to the radio when the Louisiana Hayride came on.

Picking at a family party in the early 1970s

A recent photo of Jerry with his guitar

Today, Jerry lives in Philadelphia, Mississippi near daughter Donna Craig Smith (who provided some of the information above) and her husband Johnny.


Martin, Dickie

Dickie (listed as Edward) as an Oil City Junior High eighth grader.

1959 OCJHS Bengal (yearbook).

"After spending 40 years working in the oilfield, Martin decided to pursue his life-long desire to paint. He stated that his approach to painting reflects, “either somewhere I've been or something I have done in my lifetime, or something I would like to do.” Martin’s paintings are mostly acrylic and include landscape scenes, trains, oilfields, as well as some depicting birds. He paints because he finds an overwhelming sense of satisfaction in the act of painting and this inspires him to produce more. But Martin’s “greatest satisfaction is in seeing other people enjoy [his] work.”

Emerging Artists Gallery Feature, Feb-2015

Shreveport Times 03-Mar-2015, Page C12

Dickie Martin Art Facebook Page

Dickie Martin Art Blog


McNamara, William

"Billy" McNamara as an eight grader at Oil City Junior High School..

1960 OCJH Bengal (yearbook)


Below: Professor of Art at Centenary College of Shreveport, LA in 1976.

1976 Centenary Yoncopin (yearbook), Page 57

Times 09-May-1976, Page 19-F


A photo and excerpt of an article promoting an art show to be judged by McNamara in 1994

Baxter Bulletin (Mountain Home, AR) 04-May-1994, Page 9A


Linked here is a 2016 article that includes several examples (including the one below) of the artist's work in the style known as "abstract realism," where the painting looks almost like a photograph.

The Free Weekly


William McNamara today.

Artist's Website

Norman, James Burton (1920-2016)

James was the son of Melvin and Rachel Norman, and brother of siblings Jack and Loraine. His apparent first press recognition was that of second grade honor student in 1927.

Shreveport Times 04-Dec-1927, Page 40


After graduating from Oil City High, he attended Louisiana Polytechnic Institute (now Louisiana Tech University) in Ruston, LA. Below he's pictured as a junior engineering student.

1940 Louisiana Tech Lagniappe (yearbook), Page 76

James received a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering in May 1941, and served as a SPX1 (Specialist Petty Officer (Unclassified), First Class; in the U. S. Navy during World War II.

After the war, his work in watercolors was shown at what is now the the Louisiana State Exhibit Museum; located on the state fairgrounds in Shreveport.

Times 10-Feb-1946, Page 2


Later that year, he married Miss Henrie Alfred Waldroup of Dixie, LA.

In 1963, he was involved with the renovation of the Arkla Music Center, then home of the Shreveport Symphony. James was later noted speaking to a Shreveport art group in 1964.

Times 12-Sep-1964, Page 2-B

In June 1968 he was promoted to assistant chief of operations engineering for Arkansas Louisiana Gas Company (Arkla), a firm he had worked at since 1954. Prior to that, he had been employed by Arkansas Fuel Oil Company for eight years. Both firms were subsidiaries of Cities Service Company.

A man of several talents, James got into boat building. A licensed pilot, he even assembled his own airplane from a kit.

Times 16-Jun-1968, Page 13-F

Also in 1968, he was involved with organizing an art show of works by Arkla employees. He had founded the show several years earlier, to run concurrent with American Art Week.

Times 10-Nov-1968, Page 4-C


James retired from Arkla in 1975.

Times 29-Aug-1975, Page 7-A

Later in life James became interested in building ship models, constructed from self-produced drawings based on old photographs and paintings. Several of these were donated to the Louisiana State Exhibit Museum and are on display there. In video below, he described his passion for art and model building.

The museum has a web page dedicated to him, which can be found at this link.

In 2008, a collection of his art in various mediums was displayed at the Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum in Shreveport.

Times 06-Sep-2008, Page 6D

Another exhibit of his art was displayed in the North Market branch of the Shreve Memorial Library in June 2010.


James Burton Norman passed away 16-Jun-2016 and is buried with wife Henrie in the Barrancas National Cemetery; Pensacola, FL.


Thacker, Virginia Crawford (1921-2010)

Virginia was a 2005 inductee into the Louisiana Folklife Center Hall of Master Artists for her skill in the increasingly lost art of tatting.

Read more about her at Women Pioneers Of Oil City.


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