History of IPAA
The Independent Petroleum Association of America: 90 years of progress and service to the oil and natural gas producing industry.
Through boom and bust, IPAA has been on the front lines in support of America’s independent oil and natural gas producers. Founded in the summer of 1929 by a small group of determined independents, IPAA has grown to an organization of many thousands today. For 90 years, IPAA’s volunteer leaders have skillfully married business savvy with political skills to keep the independent oil and natural gas industry alive and thriving.
The Formative Years
Wirt Franklin
Independent producers were in bad shape in 1929 and facing even more troubled times ahead. The government was encouraging oil imports. American oil reserves were plentiful, yet suspicion prevailed among federal policy makers that the United States was soon to run out of petroleum.
In a fiery address during President Herbert Hoover’s historic Oil Conservation Conference in Colorado Springs in June 1929, Wirt Franklin of Ardmore, Oklahoma, told conferees that independents were fearful that in the name of conservation, a compact may be initiated vesting absolute authority in a commission which could restrict domestic production to any extent it might desire, and allow domestic demand to be filled by the importation of foreign oil. “If this condition should be brought about,” roared Franklin, “it would mean the annihilation and destruction of the small producer of crude oil.”
IPAA Chief Executives 1929-Present
45. Steven “Steve” H. Pruett
Texas
2022-2024
44. James “Jim” H. Wilkes
Texas
2020-2022
43. Steven B Hinchman
Texas
2018-2020
42. Michael D. Watford
Texas
2017-2018
41. Mark K. Miller
Louisiana
2015-2017
40. Michael D. Watford
Texas
2013-2015
39. Virginia “Gigi” Lazenby
Tennessee
2011-2013
38. Bruce H. Vincent
Texas
2009-2011
37. Buddy Kleemeier
Oklahoma
2007-2009
36. Michael C. Linn
Pennsylvania
2005-2007
35. John B. Walker
Texas
2003-2005
34. Diemer True
Wyoming
2001-2003
33. Jerry D. Jordan
Ohio
1999-2001
32. George M. Yates
New Mexico
1997-1999
31. Lew O. Ward
Oklahoma
1995-1997
30. George A. Alcorn
Texas
1993-1995
29. Eugene L. Ames, Jr.
Texas
1991-1993
28. C. Paul Hilliard
Louisiana
1989-1991
27. Danny H. Conklin
Texas
1987-1989
26. Raymond H. Hefner, Jr.
Oklahoma
1985-1987
25. Jon Rex Jones
Texas
1983-1985
24. Kye Trout, Jr.
North Dakota
1981-1983
23. T. P. McAdams, Jr.
Oklahoma
1979-1981
22. Jack M. Allen
Texas
1977-1979
21. A. V. Jones, Jr.
Texas
1975-1977
20. C. John Miller
Michigan
1973-1975
19. Tom B. Medders, Jr.
Texas
1971-1973
18. Robert E. Mead
Texas
1969-1971
17. Harold M. McClure, Jr.
Michigan
1967-1969
16. F. Allen Calvert, Jr.
Oklahoma
1965-1967
15. H. A. “Dave” True
Wyoming
1963-1965
14. Harold Decker
Texas
1962-1963
13. Alvin C. Hope
Texas
1960-1961
12. Gordon Simpson
Texas
1958-1959
11. Robert L. Wood
Texas
1956-1957
10. W. M. Vaughey
Mississippi
1954-1955
9. Charlton Lyons
Louisiana
1951-1953
8. J. Ed Warren
Texas
1949-1951
7. Fred W. Shield
Texas
1948-1949
6. Merle Becker
Missouri
1947-1948
5. B. A. Hardey
Louisiana
1945-1947
4. Ralph T. Zook
Pennsylvania
1943-1945
3. Frank Buttram
Oklahoma
1939-1943
2. Charles F. Roeser
Texas
1935-1939
1. Wirt Franklin
Oklahoma
1929-1935