C. Fred Chambers, Houston, TX

1918 – 1989

Inducted 2005

Fred Chambers was born in Dallas, Texas and graduated from the University of Texas School of Law in Austin. Upon graduation, he served in the U.S. Navy, then in 1959 partnered with friend William Kennedy and opened an exploration office in Houston. This venture quickly evolved into C&K Petroleum, Inc., which would be active in all the Permian Basin’s major plays. The pair also drilled wells in the Gulf Coast, Mid-Continent, Rocky Mountain and Western Canada regions. Their activities led to many field discoveries, including the Hamon and Toro gas fields and the Mestena Grande Field. In 1966, Chambers and Kennedy formed a Canadian corporation with J.M.C. Ritchie of New York. The company, named Ritchie Oil C&K, was headquartered in Alberta, Canada. They also formed C&K Nederland Company to acquire and operate an oil and gas concession from the Dutch government. After the sale of C&K Petroleum in 1980, Fred Chambers formed Chambers Explorations with his two sons, Charlie and Bill. Chambers then entered the political world, serving as campaign manager and, later, finance chairman for George H. W. Bush when he ran for Congress and the Senate.