Oliver Winfield Killam

Before oil, Killam walked away from the law. After law school he took a laborer's job in a Joplin zinc mine and was its manager within months, then built a lumber and mercantile business in Oklahoma. After the gusher came the plumbing: the Texpapa Pipe Line to carry crude to tank farms and rail cars, and the Misko Refineries, built at Mirando City in 1923. In 1956 the Washington's Birthday Celebration Association named him Outstanding Citizen of South Texas. He died on New Year's Day 1959, aged eighty-four.

What the plaque says

Oliver Winfield Killam Discoverer of first commercial oil field in south Texas; founder of Mirando City, as base of operations. Born in Lincoln county, Mo.; graduated in law at University of Missouri, 1898. Operated stores and lumber yards and served 8 years in legislature of Oklahoma. Came to Texas to explore for oil in 1920. After drilling twice unsuccessfully, he brought in as a pumper the first commercial well south of San Antonio, Mirando Oil Co. No. 3 Hinnant, April 17, 1921. With Colon Schott of Cincinnati, Oh., drilled Schott No. 2 (1 mile south of here), which came in as a gusher Dec. 10, 1921 -- opening the south Texas oil boom. The U.S. Post Office in Mirando City opened May 18, 1922, to serve town that jumped suddenly in population to a reputed 13,000. All sorts of businesses boomed; and churches, school, and medical facilities expanded. O. W. Killam was crowned "King Petrol" at Oil Men's Jubilee, Laredo, July 4, 1937. He was also esteemed by ranchers aware of oil lease benefits to the area. Killam and his wife Hattie (Smith) had 3 children: Winfield (Hank, now deceased), Louise (Mrs. John Hurd, also deceased), and Radcliffe. The O. W. Killam shops and Radcliffe Killam's oil operations continue as Mirando City celebrates its 50th anniversary. (1972)

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Lake Casa Blanca International State Park — 29 mi
  A 1,680-acre reservoir on Chacón Creek at Laredo's eastern edge, a city lake run as a state park since 1991, with bass fishing, camping and a long human history.

More markers nearby

• Los Ojuelos — 2.3 mi
• Bruni — 10 mi
• First United Methodist Church of Hebbronville — 21 mi
• Jim Hogg County — 22 mi