James L. Collins
Encyclopedia
James L. Collins was a self-made oil man later turned banker and community philanthropist.
A native of Weston, W.V, Collins early proved opportunistic and self-reliant. As a teenager, he abandoned formal school work to chase after roustabout work in wildcat oil fields in Oklahoma, Louisiana, and California.
In the early 1920's, at the time of the discovery of Powell oil field
in eastern Navarro County, Texas, and the nearby Mexia field in Limestone County, he formed a rewarding partnership with R.L. Wheelock in Corsicana, Texas
.
Collins soon became well-known in the petroleum industry and active in community and church roles. He eventually won election as an officer of the Mid-Continental Oil and Gas industry Association and of the Independent Petroleum Association of America, and served as director of Corsicana’s First National Bank.
At his death in Corsicana, Texas in 1953, Collins’ sizable estate was apportioned among four major beneficiaries: a namesake parochial school, The Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Crippled Children, St. Joseph’s Orphanage of Dallas, and a scholarship fund to help graduates of Corsicana High School attend college.
The James F. Collins Elementary School today has about 175 students in grades K-8. After thousands of awards and now nearing 60 years since their initial establishment, the local college scholarships continue to be awarded yearly to a few dozen students.
A native of Weston, W.V, Collins early proved opportunistic and self-reliant. As a teenager, he abandoned formal school work to chase after roustabout work in wildcat oil fields in Oklahoma, Louisiana, and California.
In the early 1920's, at the time of the discovery of Powell oil field
Powell oil field
The Powell oil field was an oil field developed in eastern Navarro County, Texas in 1923.Encouraged by nearby discoveries in Mexia and Wortham, the Corsicana Deep Well Company announced plans to drill for oil in the Powell area in the June 9, 1919 issue of the Corsicana Daily Sun...
in eastern Navarro County, Texas, and the nearby Mexia field in Limestone County, he formed a rewarding partnership with R.L. Wheelock in Corsicana, 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...
.
Collins soon became well-known in the petroleum industry and active in community and church roles. He eventually won election as an officer of the Mid-Continental Oil and Gas industry Association and of the Independent Petroleum Association of America, and served as director of Corsicana’s First National Bank.
At his death in Corsicana, Texas in 1953, Collins’ sizable estate was apportioned among four major beneficiaries: a namesake parochial school, The Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Crippled Children, St. Joseph’s Orphanage of Dallas, and a scholarship fund to help graduates of Corsicana High School attend college.
The James F. Collins Elementary School today has about 175 students in grades K-8. After thousands of awards and now nearing 60 years since their initial establishment, the local college scholarships continue to be awarded yearly to a few dozen students.