Notable People, Lost Tales, and Forgotten Facts of Oil City, Louisiana: Oil City Timeline Part II

A Continuation Of The Town's History Told In Articles And Photographs Of The Day

A continuous work-in-progress - check later for updates.

1961

The postmaster General announced a new post office was to be constructed in Oil City. An unnamed private owner would construct and own the building and property, while providing the postal service with a long-term lease.

Times 27-Jun-1961, Page 4-A

Below: The Oil City Post Office in January 2016.

Google Street View

The early 1960s were a time of uncertainty, with the Cold War at its height as the result of increasingly tense relations between the United States and Soviet Union. This of course came to a head with the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. Fear of a nuclear exchange between the superpowers caused some citizens around the country to take measures to protect their families in that event. Local residents were no different, as some considered building bomb shelters intended to be their personal refuge. Below, W. D. Pearson reviews plans with Caddo-Bossier Civil Defense Training and Educational Director C. G. Vaughn.

Times 13-Aug-1961, Page 3-F

1962

Several cars of a Kansas City Southern Railways freight train derailed near Murray's Crossing, an area approximately one half mile south of downtown Oil City. While no humans were hurt, from this writer's memory at the time if was stated a mother dog and her pups, living in a shed near the tracks, were killed by the wreckage.

Times 05-Oct-1962, Page 11-A

1964

Mayoral and council election results:

Source: Baton Rouge Morning Advocate 11-Jul-1964, Page 3A

Former mayor and then current city attorney Donald Lavine (far right) administers the oath of office to
Flash, White, Greer, Resweber, Wall, and Pickle.

Source: Louisiana Municipal Review, Vol. 30, Feb-1965, Page 68

Mayor Tilmon W. "T. W." Greer

1966

Planning Commission Formed

The town council appointed a five-member planning commission responsible for creating plans for community growth in areas such as water, sewage, and subdivision development. Their stated duty was to "obtain for Oil City a share of the population and economic growth of Caddo Parish." The town had applied to the State Department of Public Works for help in formulating a comprehensive plan.

Times 07-Apr-1966, Page 16-C

The oldest producing well in the Caddo-Pine Island field was shut down, and newly implemented environmental requirements made it uneconomical to operate.

Shreveport Times 03-Jul-1966, Page 7-B

1967

Oil City has always had an image problem, going back to its rough-and-tumble boom town days. Town officials moved to address this by implementing a cleanup campaign, led by alder(wo)man Marie Wall.

Times 05-Mar- 1967, Page 9-A

The town acquired its first municipally-owned patrol car in 1967.

Shreveport Times 17-Mar-1967, Page 12-A

In the days before computers, smart phones, and social media a community bulletin board was as good a medium to disseminate information to town citizenry. Note in other business the town raised contributions of cash and clothing to go toward relief efforts arising from recent Hurricane Beulah.

Times 04-Oct-1967, Page 11-A

To address sanitary and health concerns resulting from inadequate sewage disposal practices within the city limits, the town applied for federal assistance to construct a sewage system and processing plant.

Shreveport Times 08-Nov-1967, Page 4-C

1968

Mayoral and council election results:

Source: Baton Rouge State Times 07-Jun-1968, Page 27 (9-B)

1969

Sewer System Constructed

In June 1969, town officials met in special session to discuss financing of a proposed sewage gathering and disposal system. At the time, homes were largely served by often antiquated septic tanks and in some cases raw wastes were being dumped directly into roadside ditches.

Mayor Dickey brings attention to one of Oil City's sewage-filled ditches while making a pitch to local voters to approve proposed measures to finance a town sewage system.

Times 15-Jun-1969, Page 1-C

Voters approved the measure by a wide margin, in part because of repeated warnings of disease potential by the Caddo-Shreveport Health Unit. Years earlier former mayor Donald Lavine had been unsuccessful in winning voter approval for such a project during his tenure. The initiative approved had begun under the leadership of the former mayor, T. W. Greer.

1970

The federal government approved a $56,880 grant to cover part of the cost of the project. It also purchased bonds issued by the town for the balance of the amount, to be retired by recently approved increases in sales and property taxes. The low bidder was Grace Construction Company of Shreveport.

Below, U. S. Congressman Joe D. Waggonner presents Mayor Dickey with a $430,000 check.

Times 02-Jul-1970, Page 3-A

1971

Garbage service is added.

Times 15-Sep-1971, Page 6-B

1972

Mayor John Charles Dickey (right) being sworn in for his second term by city attorney John Ballard.

Shreveport Times 07-Jul-1972, Page 10-A

1976

Mayoral and council election results:

Source: Baton Rouge State Times 05-Jun-1976 Page 37 (13-C)

Mayor Roy "Hoppy" Hopkins

1980

Mayoral and council election results:

Source: Baton Rouge State Times 19-Apr-1980, Page 29 (17-B)

Mayor Robert C. "Bob" Sibley

1981

Jr. High gets air conditioning - The Oil City Rotary Club raised $13,500 with which 27 air conditioning units were purchased and installed in the school buildings.

Source: The Rotarian Oct 1981, Page 47

1982

In recognition of the third Gusher Day, Governor Treen issued a special Proclamation.

Source: Baton Rouge State Times 22-Apr-1982, Page 49 (13-D)

1984

Mayoral and council election results:

Source: Baton Rouge State Times 18-April-1984, Page 59 (18-D)

In April 1984, "Boss Hogg" (actor Sorrell Booke) of the popular television series "The Dukes of Hazzard" served as grand marshal of Oil City's Gusher Days celebration.

Shreveport Times 29-Apr-1984, Page 1

1988

Former Mayor Hopkins begins serving in Louisiana State Legislature.

Source: Baton Rouge Sunday Advocate 13-Mar-1988 Page 146 (20-J)

R. E. Markham is elected Oil City mayor.

Mayor R. E. Markham

1993

Todd Hopkins served as mayor from Jan-1993 through Dec-2004.

Mayor Hopkins

2004

The Louisiana State Oil & Gas Museum opens 14-May-2004 on Land Avenue in Oil City..

Source: The Petroleum Age, Summer 2004, Page 4

2005

John Charles "Chip" Dickey, Jr.'s tenure as mayor ran from Jan-2005 to May-2016.

Mayor Dickey

2016

Due to the untimely death of Mayor Dickey in May, town councilman the Reverend James T. Sims was appointed to fill his unexpired term.

Shortly after taking office, he spoke to the Caddo Parish School Board in an attempt to keep open the 90-plus year-old Oil City School. Despite his efforts, and those of other concerned residents, the board voted to close the school and send local students 10 miles away to Vivian Middle School, renamed North Caddo Elementary and Middle School. The history of the OC School is linked here.

Shreveport Times 22-Jun-2016, Page A-11

Mayor Sims later ran unopposed for a full term and is the current mayor.

Monroe News-Star 22-Jan-2017, Page B-1

2018

In what is likely the biggest news in Oil City since when actor Earl Holliman was in his prime, resident Robert Williams was selected in the first round of the National Basketball Association draft by the Boston Celtics. The Louisiana Class AA Player Of The Year as a senior at North Caddo High, he was named Southeastern Conference Defensive Player Of The Year both of his years while playing for Texas A&M.