Walter Benona Sharp
Encyclopedia
Walter Benona Sharp was an American oil
drilling
pioneer, innovator
and philanthropist
.
Born in Tipton County, Tennessee
, Sharp's mother died when he was eight and his father moved the family to Texas
. By the age of twenty Sharp was operating a water well drilling company with his brother. Sharp began drilling oil wells in 1893, although his first attempt was unsuccessful due to quicksand. Later innovations by Sharp would allow drilling through these conditions in 1901. Sharp also developed the Sharp-Hughes Rock Bit to drill through hard rock.
Sharp made his fortune from the trading of leases and contracting for oil wells. He was a founder of the Moonshine Oil Company and president of Producers Oil Company, and also held an interest in the Texas Company (later Texaco
). He was also co-founder of the Sharp-Hughes Tool Company, which was renamed the Hughes Tool Company
on Sharp's death in 1912 after Sharp's widow Estelle sold her shares to Hughes.
Sharp had three children, Walter Bedford, Kathleen (who died in early childhood), and Dudley Crawford
, who was later Secretary of the Air Force
under President Eisenhower
.
Petroleum
Petroleum or crude oil is a naturally occurring, flammable liquid consisting of a complex mixture of hydrocarbons of various molecular weights and other liquid organic compounds, that are found in geologic formations beneath the Earth's surface. Petroleum is recovered mostly through oil drilling...
drilling
Oil well
An oil well is a general term for any boring through the earth's surface that is designed to find and acquire petroleum oil hydrocarbons. Usually some natural gas is produced along with the oil. A well that is designed to produce mainly or only gas may be termed a gas well.-History:The earliest...
pioneer, innovator
Innovator
An innovator in a general sense, is a person or an organization who is one of the first to introduce into reality something better than before. That often opens up a new area for others and achieves an innovation.-History:...
and 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...
.
Born in Tipton County, Tennessee
Tipton County, Tennessee
Tipton County is a county located on the western end of the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of 2000, the population was 51,271. Its county seat is Covington. Tipton County is part of the Memphis, TN–MS–AR Metropolitan Statistical Area, centered on Shelby County, which borders Tipton on...
, Sharp's mother died when he was eight and his father moved the family to Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. By the age of twenty Sharp was operating a water well drilling company with his brother. Sharp began drilling oil wells in 1893, although his first attempt was unsuccessful due to quicksand. Later innovations by Sharp would allow drilling through these conditions in 1901. Sharp also developed the Sharp-Hughes Rock Bit to drill through hard rock.
Sharp made his fortune from the trading of leases and contracting for oil wells. He was a founder of the Moonshine Oil Company and president of Producers Oil Company, and also held an interest in the Texas Company (later Texaco
Texaco
Texaco is the name of an American oil retail brand. Its flagship product is its fuel "Texaco with Techron". It also owns the Havoline motor oil brand....
). He was also co-founder of the Sharp-Hughes Tool Company, which was renamed the Hughes Tool Company
Hughes Tool Company
Hughes Tool Company was established in 1908 as Sharp-Hughes Tool Company when Howard R. Hughes, Sr. patented a roller cutter bit that dramatically improved the rotary drilling process for oil drilling rigs. He partnered with longtime business associate Walter Benona Sharp to manufacture and market...
on Sharp's death in 1912 after Sharp's widow Estelle sold her shares to Hughes.
Sharp had three children, Walter Bedford, Kathleen (who died in early childhood), and Dudley Crawford
Dudley C. Sharp
Dudley Crawford Sharp was Secretary of the Air Force from December 11, 1959 until January 20, 1961, under president Dwight D. Eisenhower.-Biography:...
, who was later Secretary of the Air Force
United States Secretary of the Air Force
The Secretary of the Air Force is the Head of the Department of the Air Force, a component organization within the Department of Defense of the United States of America. The Secretary of the Air Force is appointed from civilian life by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate...
under President Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
.
External links
- Sharp family papers, 1868-1978 (MS 271) in the Fondren Library, Rice University
- http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/SS/fsh6.html Handbook of Texas Online - SHARP, WALTER BENONA