About KOGA

Kentucky Oil & Gas Association's History

A loosely-knit organization calling itself the "Kentucky Oil and Gas Association" had its early beginning in Eastern Kentucky in the late 1920s. No records exist and its name is the only survivor. However, a discovery of oil near Pellville in Hancock County touched off an oil boom in Western Kentucky beginning in 1919 and activity in the business gradually increased during the next ten years.

Oilmen swarmed into the Western Kentucky area from all over the U.S. and it was finally felt that some kind of organization should be formed to work for the mutual benefit of all. An Oil Men's Banquet held at the old Hotel Owensboro on November 21, 1929 was the beginning of a short-lived group who called themselves "The Western Kentucky Oil Men's Association." Articles of Incorporation were filed on December 2, 1929 but in a few months the Eastern Kentucky group asked that the Western Kentucky group join with them, and the Western Kentucky Oil Men's Association's Articles of Incorporation were amended to become a state-wide organization on August 12, 1930. This became the present Kentucky Oil and Gas Association. Elected as its first President was R.C. Snyder, employed at that time by the Kentucky Natural Gas Company in Louisville, KY.

In the beginning this organization was divided into three districts, each with a Vice President who was Chairman of his district and responsible for the affairs of the Association within his District. Each District was governed by a Board of Councilors appointed by the Executive Committee of the state organization. At that time, eleven directors were to be elected annually with Western Kentucky, Eastern Kentucky, and Central Kentucky having three directors each, and two more were elected from the State-at-Large.

The first Western Kentucky Vice President and Chairman was Charles E. Curry, an employee of Kentucky Natural Gas of Owensboro. Due to the tremendous amount of drilling in the Western part of the state and the fact that this District was the most active of the three Districts, it is generally believed that Curry was the first President of the Kentucky Oil and Gas Association. His photograph hangs on the wall of the Association's state office in Frankfort, along with its other seventeen past Presidents, identified as such, with Snyder who was really the first, identified as the second. Curry resigned in December of 1931 due to a job transfer, after having served as Vice President and Western Kentucky District Chairman for only sixteen months. He was then elected a director for the State-at-Large.

The Association functioned for several years under the three-district system with the Western Kentucky District continuing to be the most active due to the many problems particular to that section of the state, but all three Districts were subject to the parent organization. Separate dues were collected, but their distribution was subject to the approval of the state organization. In its early years, dues were assessed both on producers and royalty owners, on the basis of one-fourth cent of one cent per barrel on oil and 10 cents per MCF on gas. Financial reports on disbursements by the districts were quite detailed, one reporting the receipt of a bill for 40 cents postage as an expense of one individual.

In its early years it was felt that membership of contractors, drilling companies and service companies would involve the Association in labor controversies and political complications, therefore, only producer and royalty owner memberships were solicited. However, the bylaws were amended in 1935 to permit all persons having any interest in the oil and gas industry to be eligible for membership.

One of the major concerns in its early existence was proration of oil and purchasers for Western Kentucky crude. There was a market glut and refineries could be independent in choosing where and from whom they would buy oil. Although not clear as to the reason, wages of pumpers were causing problems for producers and numerous meetings were held in regard to them.
In October of 1934, the Association joined Independent Producers Association (now IPAA) and the National Stripper Well Association. Later minutes mention that the NSWA membership was dropped for a time. Dues of $25 a year were paid to each. In 1937, Kentucky became affiliated with the Interstate Oil Compact Commission, but the Governor did not appoint an official representative to the Compact until 1944 when N.W. Shiarella was asked to serve upon completion of his term as KOGA President.

The Association elected Paul Bushong as its first Executive Secretary in May of 1938 and with his election the association found a home. Until then, the Association office had been a file drawer in the President's office in whatever city he might live. With the employment of Bushong, the office became permanently located in Owensboro and has been moved six times in its 68 years, presently being located #2 Physicians Park, Office 1-A, Frankfort, Ky. Bushong served as Executive Secretary until December 24, 1943 when he resigned to accept out-of-town employment. J.C. Preston replaced him and served for 13 years. Upon his resignation in January of 1956, Robert A. Reilly was elected and served until his death in November of 1963. All of these men had considerable experience and knowledge of the oil industry. In January of 1964, Ronald M. Sullivan, a young attorney, formerly a deputy in the office of the Attorney General, was elected Executive Secretary to serve in a part-time capacity, agreeing to devote one-third of his time to the affairs of the Association. Sullivan served until June of 1970 when he resigned due to the pressures of his increased law practice. Ralph Lewis was elected to replace him but only served for six months. Albert W. Barber, also a young attorney, served as part-time Executive Secretary from the Fall of 1971 through June of 1975 when it became evident he could no longer devote the time needed to handle the duties of the job. Beginning in June of 1974, Mrs. Wanda B. Tichenor, who had been employed in the oil industry for 25 years, had been working full-time in the office of the newly-elected President, George H. Warren, Jr., as a President's Assistant, due to the increased activities of the Association. In September of 1974 she was employed by the Association but remained in the President's office until July of 1975 when she was elected as the Association's first full-time Executive Secretary since the death of Robert Reilly in 1963. Miss Pauline Shepherd was employed as a part-time office secretary following the death of Reilly and worked in that capacity for twelve years, retiring in October of 1975.

Annual Meetings of the Directors were held in December until 1944 but have since been held in June in connection with the Annual (convention) Meeting. With the exception of three held in Louisville, one in Ashland and one in French Lick, Indiana, all Annual meetings had been held in Lexington. The 1978 Annual Meeting at the Executive Inn Rivermont in Owensboro is the first to be held in Western Kentucky.

For two years, 1955 and 1956, quarterly Board of Directors Meetings were held but discontinued as not feasible and returned to a mid-year meeting in June, with called meetings at the discretion of the President. Although the Association is in its seventy-second year, the 2002 Annual Meeting of the convention-type was only its sixty-sixth. Only Board of Directors' meetings were held prior to 1936 and two were not held during World War II due to travel restrictions.

It is ironic that since its beginning, spread in the minutes of almost every meeting are four problems of concern which appear as if they could have been written only "yesterday" ...oil imports, gas prices and deregulation, depletion and adverse publicity. Resolution after resolution appear of record concerning each and members were constantly urged to send letters and telegrams, and make phone calls to members of Congress. One President, Geo. A. Hoffman, seemed to be the most gravely concerned about adverse publicity during his term. During one particular period the Louisville Courier-Journal was publishing editorials which greatly disturbed the directors. An answer to one was written by Fred Moran while President and published in that newspaper. No meeting was held without the directors, numbering 112 at the time, being urged to work on this problem in their own areas.

Although these problems still exist, the Kentucky Oil and Gas Association does take pride in two accomplishments of great importance to the oil and gas industry. The first, after many years of effort, the passage of a Conservation Bill for Kentucky, and the second a complete geological mapping program of the state.

Although the Kentucky Oil and Gas Association has not "moved mountains" in its 71-year history, it has lived up to the aims and purposes set out in its 1951 Articles of Incorporation adopted at the twenty-year term expiration of the original 1930 Articles which, in part, state: "This Association is formed to obtain and disseminate to its members reliable information in regard to the oil and gas industry; to promote and advance the interests of the members in an impartial and businesslike manner in order to further the interests of its members; to take steps in regard to legislation as may be necessary to protect and advance the interests of its members and to disseminate reliable and trustworthy publicity."

This has been its goal since its inception and continues to be its promise to its membership, not only in Kentucky but to KOGA members living in many other states.