Arthur M. “Jack” Hagan, San Angelo, TX

1892 – 1957

Inducted 1975

Jack Hagan was born in Jolleytown, Pennsylvania and graduated from the University of West Virginia in 1908 with a degree in engineering and mines. Following college, he served in the military, then went to work for Transcontinental Oil. In 1922, he was put in charge of projects for Transcontinental in Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. His supervisor at the time was fellow distinguished geologist Ray Hennen. In 1923, under Hennen’s supervision, Hagan led a geological survey party from Terrell County to Reagan County. Based on his findings, he recommended that Transcontinental drill sixteen sections of Reagan County. Transcontinental President, Mike Benedum, granted permission. This effort would ultimately result in the formation of the Big Lake Oil Company and the development of the Big Lake Field, the first oil and gas production on University of Texas lands. Later, based again on Hennen and Hagan’s recommendations, Benedum worked out an agreement under which Transcontinental joined with the Mid-Kansas Oil Company for the drilling of the Ira G. Yates No. 1—the discovery well of the great Yates Field, at that time the most productive shallow-depth oil field in the world.