Oklahoma oilman Lew Ward, a past president of the Independent Petroleum Association of America died on Sunday in his hometown of Enid. He was 85.
His death prompted a statement from Gov. Mary Fallin who called him one of the oilfield pioneers who made Oklahoma such a leader in that industry.
“As founder of Enid-based Ward Petroleum Corp., he devoted his career to developing oil and gas resources that continue to fuel our nation. He served as a national Republican committeeman from Oklahoma. All the while, he selflessly supported a variety of community causes. He will be missed.”
Oklahoma Independent Petroleum Association President Mike Terry called Ward “one of Oklahoma’s great wildcatters” and said that his passion for the oil and gas industry was unmatched.
“As a board member and chairman of the OIPA, Mr. Ward was a true champion for the industry he loved, helping form the Oklahoma Energy Resources Board and leading an effort to create a national program to educate Americans on the oil and natural gas industry,” said Terry.
Ward graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a petroleum engineering degree in 1953 and then served in the Army during the Korean War. He returned home to form Ward-Gungoll Oil in 1956 with his father-in-law and the company later became Ward Petroleum. It was in 1963 when he founded Ward Petroleum Corp. and the business expanded in 2008 and drilled more than 900 wells.
Ward was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 2010.
The funeral will be held Thursday at 11 a.m. at the First United Methodist church, 401 W. Randolph in Enid.
