Robert M. McFarlin
Encyclopedia
Robert M. McFarlin was an American
oil
man, cattle rancher, philanthropist
, and businessman who is best known for amassing a fortune by drilling for oil near Glenpool, Oklahoma
with his nephew and son-in-law, James A. Chapman
. Together, the two founded the McMan Oil Company, sold to the Magnolia Petroleum Company
, and the McMan Oil and Gas Company , sold to the Dixie Oil Company.
In 1910, McFarlin, Harry Sinclair and some others organized the Exchange National Bank of Tulsa, which later became the National Bank of Tulsa, now the Bank of Oklahoma (BOK).
McFarlin's philanthropy
centered on churches and higher education. McFarlin College was the proposed name of a college
, to be located in the city of Tulsa, Oklahoma
. It was initially proposed that the new institution of higher education be a Methodist-affiliated college. It ceased to exist as an entity when it merged with Henry Kendall College
in 1920 to form the University of Tulsa
. McFarlin Memorial United Methodist Church, located in Norman, Oklahoma
stands in honor of his contributions to the United Methodist Church
.
He was married to Ida Barnard McFarlin.
The McFarlin house at 1610 S. Carson Ave. was listed in the National Register of Historic Places on December 25, 1979, under National Register Criteria C, and its NRIS number is 79002030.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
oil
Oil
An oil is any substance that is liquid at ambient temperatures and does not mix with water but may mix with other oils and organic solvents. This general definition includes vegetable oils, volatile essential oils, petrochemical oils, and synthetic oils....
man, cattle rancher, philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
, and businessman who is best known for amassing a fortune by drilling for oil near Glenpool, Oklahoma
Glenpool, Oklahoma
Glenpool is a city in Tulsa County, Oklahoma, United States. It is part of the Tulsa Metropolitan Statistical Area . As of 2010, the population was 10,808. This was an increase of 33.1 % since the 2000 census, which reported total population as 8,123....
with his nephew and son-in-law, James A. Chapman
James A. Chapman
James A. Chapman was a businessman and philanthropist closely associated with Tulsa, Oklahoma. Born in Ellis County, Texas, he moved to Holdenville, Oklahoma in 1901 and to Tulsa by 1912. He was a co-founder of first Holdenville Oil and Gas Company, then McMan Oil Company, and finally McMan Oil...
. Together, the two founded the McMan Oil Company, sold to the Magnolia Petroleum Company
Magnolia Petroleum Company
The Magnolia Petroleum Company was an early twentieth century petroleum company in Texas and was founded on April 24, 1911 as a consolidation of several earlier companies. Standard Oil of New York exchanged its stock for all of the Magnolia stock in December 1925 though it continued to operate as...
, and the McMan Oil and Gas Company , sold to the Dixie Oil Company.
In 1910, McFarlin, Harry Sinclair and some others organized the Exchange National Bank of Tulsa, which later became the National Bank of Tulsa, now the Bank of Oklahoma (BOK).
McFarlin's philanthropy
Philanthropy
Philanthropy etymologically means "the love of humanity"—love in the sense of caring for, nourishing, developing, or enhancing; humanity in the sense of "what it is to be human," or "human potential." In modern practical terms, it is "private initiatives for public good, focusing on quality of...
centered on churches and higher education. McFarlin College was the proposed name of a college
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
, to be located in the city of Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and 46th-largest city in the United States. With a population of 391,906 as of the 2010 census, it is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area, a region with 937,478 residents in the MSA and 988,454 in the CSA. Tulsa's...
. It was initially proposed that the new institution of higher education be a Methodist-affiliated college. It ceased to exist as an entity when it merged with Henry Kendall College
University of Tulsa
The University of Tulsa is a private university awarding bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA. It is currently ranked 75th among doctoral degree granting universities in the nation by US News and World Report and is listed as one of the "Best 366 Colleges" by...
in 1920 to form the University of Tulsa
University of Tulsa
The University of Tulsa is a private university awarding bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA. It is currently ranked 75th among doctoral degree granting universities in the nation by US News and World Report and is listed as one of the "Best 366 Colleges" by...
. McFarlin Memorial United Methodist Church, located in Norman, Oklahoma
Norman, Oklahoma
Norman is a city in Cleveland County, Oklahoma, United States, and is located south of downtown Oklahoma City. It is part of the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, Norman was to have 110,925 full-time residents, making it the third-largest city in Oklahoma and the...
stands in honor of his contributions to the United Methodist Church
United Methodist Church
The United Methodist Church is a Methodist Christian denomination which is both mainline Protestant and evangelical. Founded in 1968 by the union of The Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church, the UMC traces its roots back to the revival movement of John and Charles Wesley...
.
He was married to Ida Barnard McFarlin.
The McFarlin house at 1610 S. Carson Ave. was listed in the National Register of Historic Places on December 25, 1979, under National Register Criteria C, and its NRIS number is 79002030.