Lawyer Intrigued with Oil and Gas Industry Starts Company
Shamrock Oil and Gas Plant, east of Dumas
John J. Sheerin grew up on a farm in Missouri, fought in World War I, graduated form Washington University at St. Louis in 1919 and passed the examination for the Texas bar. He and two associates opened a law firm in Fort Worth. According to a book, Story of the Shamrock by J. Evetts Haley, they were on the verge of closing the practice when they got a case concerning some oil leases and won the case.
The partners began to concentrate their practice on oil leases and moved their practice to Desdemona in the southeast corner of Eastland County, Texas, where the booming growth of oil fields at Breckenridge, Ranger and Rising Star helped their practice grow.
The partners began to concentrate their practice on oil leases and moved their practice to Desdemona in the southeast corner of Eastland County, Texas, where the booming growth of oil fields at Breckenridge, Ranger and Rising Star helped their practice grow.
Signage at entrance of Shamrock Plant, east of Dumas
Sheerin became intrigued with the quest for oil and by 1922 he had virtually quit the firm. He moved to Vernon and, with two partners, drilled eighty wells, coming up with 77 producers.
His quest for oil eventually took him to the Panhandle and he developed fields in Gray County and in the Borger area.
A well drill in Moore County called Brumley No. 1 was the first and largest oil gusher in Moore County. This inspired more drilling in the Panhandle and Sheerin's company expanded his exploration to Carson and Moore Counties.
His quest for oil eventually took him to the Panhandle and he developed fields in Gray County and in the Borger area.
A well drill in Moore County called Brumley No. 1 was the first and largest oil gusher in Moore County. This inspired more drilling in the Panhandle and Sheerin's company expanded his exploration to Carson and Moore Counties.
Tank farm at Shamrock Oil and Gas Plant
He founded a company in 1929 and named it after the symbol of his native Ireland -- The Shamrock Oil Company. The company was financed by the Fownes family of Pennsylvania.
Shamrock Oil Company acquired the defunct Apache Refinery near Sunray and operated it briefly. Plans were started to construct a plant on land acquired from Cara May McKee Patrick, her husband, D. H. Patrick and Lella McKee of Frankston, Texas. Date of the original documents was January 21, 1928. The documents were signed by John J. Sheerin, president of Shamrock Oil and Gas Company and R. L. McSpadden, president of Plains Holding Co. The original tract of land was described as the southwest quarter of section 399, Block 44 of the H&TC Railroad Company survey.
Shamrock Oil Company acquired the defunct Apache Refinery near Sunray and operated it briefly. Plans were started to construct a plant on land acquired from Cara May McKee Patrick, her husband, D. H. Patrick and Lella McKee of Frankston, Texas. Date of the original documents was January 21, 1928. The documents were signed by John J. Sheerin, president of Shamrock Oil and Gas Company and R. L. McSpadden, president of Plains Holding Co. The original tract of land was described as the southwest quarter of section 399, Block 44 of the H&TC Railroad Company survey.
Advertisement for Shamrock Gas Stations
The McKee Refinery was built in 1933 and the same year, a Shamrock service station was opened in Sunray.
In its initial years, the company was losing money.
James Harold Dunn, a young engineer graduate from Texas A&M College, was recruited and became Vice President and General Manager in 1938. The next year, a small profit was made and the company continued to expand its drilling and pipelines.
By 1941, Shamrock service stations were in most southwestern states and Shamrock Oil and Gas had become a major producer of natural gas.
The company paid its first dividend to stockholders in 1943 and the following year became a member of the New York Stock Exchange.
In its initial years, the company was losing money.
James Harold Dunn, a young engineer graduate from Texas A&M College, was recruited and became Vice President and General Manager in 1938. The next year, a small profit was made and the company continued to expand its drilling and pipelines.
By 1941, Shamrock service stations were in most southwestern states and Shamrock Oil and Gas had become a major producer of natural gas.
The company paid its first dividend to stockholders in 1943 and the following year became a member of the New York Stock Exchange.