From 1955 to 2019, the Chief Roughneck award recognized one individual whose accomplishments and character represented the highest ideals of the U.S. oil and natural gas industry. For almost 65 years, the annual recognition ceremony of independent producers — wildcatters — included an iconic advertising character of a tubular goods manufacturer.
Lone Star Steel Company, later U.S. Steel Tubular Products, established the Chief Roughneck Award to honor the lifetime achievements of the petroleum industry’s leading independent producers. Later a subsidiary of U.S. Steel, the company began in 1899 when 13 companies operating in the “wrought steel, iron and tube industries” merged into the National Tube Company.
The Chief Roughneck Award, presented by a representative of the oilfield service company at the fall meetings of a national trade association, traditionally included a distinctive bronze bust.
Texas artist Torg Thompson created “Joe Roughneck” for 1950s Lone Star Steel tubular goods print advertisements.
The Chief Roughneck Award ceremony vegan in 1955 during the fall annual meeting of the Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA). The award became part of the association’s efforts to bring attention to the domestic petroleum industry, especially small, family owned independent operators.
Headquartered in Washington, D.C., IPAA was founded in 1929 by Wirt Franklin in Colorado Springs, Colorado He and other prominent independent producers established IPAA headquarters in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Oilfield Ad to Award
Beginning in 1955, IPAA leadership presented Chef Roughneck Award recipients with a “Joe Roughneck” bust created by Tulsa artist Torg Thompson. The original square-jawed face of Joe began in Lone Star Steel print advertising.
According to Lone Star Steel, by the 1960s Joe’s bandaged face had been adopted by the drilling industry, becoming “as universal as a rotary rig.”
Detail with Joe Roughneck’s iconic bandaged face from a 1957 Lone Star Steel advertisement.
U.S. Steel Tubular Products became a subsidiary of United States Steel Corporation.
Meet Joe Roughneck
Joe’s bronze bust can be found atop oilfield memorials in four Texas parks. Joe Roughneck has been saluted by two Texas governors, named “Man of the Month” by a trade magazine, and been the subject of countless newspaper articles, along with bemused radio and television commentaries.
Learn more in Meet Joe Roughneck.
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2020 – No award given.
2019 Chief Roughneck: Oxy President Vicki Hollub
Vicki Hollub, president and chief executive officer of Occidental Petroleum, was awarded the 2019 Chief Roughneck Award during the 90th annual IPAA meeting on November 8 in Washington, D.C. The traditional Chief Roughneck bronze bust and hard hat was presented to her by U. S. Steel Senior Vice President Douglas Matthews. Hullub is the second woman Chief Roughneck among the 64 recipients; independent producer Irene Wischer, president and CEO, Panhandle Producing Company, received the award in 1992.
According to the 2019 Secretary of Energy Advisory Board, which Hollub chairs, she has held management and technical positions in the United States, Russia, Venezuela, and Ecuador. She has overseen Oxy’s oil and natural gas, chemical, and midstream operations. “A graduate of the University of Alabama, Ms. Hollub holds a Bachelor of Science in Mineral Engineering. She was inducted into the University of Alabama College of Engineering 2016 class of Distinguished Engineering Fellows.”
Concho CEO named 2018 Chief Roughneck
Timothy A. Leach, chairman and CEO of Midland, Texas-based Concho Resources, received the 2018 Chief Roughneck Award during the 89th annual meeting of the Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA). The award was presented on November 13 by an officer of U. S. Steel, Senior Vice President Douglas Matthews.
Mathews presented Leach with the traditional Chief Roughneck bronze bust and hard hat at the IPAA meeting in New Orleans. Matthews noted Concho Resources had become the largest producer of unconventional shale in the Permian Basin, adding, “Tim’s vision and persistence make him the perfect choice for the 2018 Chief Roughneck Award.”
Prior to founding Concho in 2004, Leach served in various positions with Parker & Parsley, including executive vice president. He holds a B.S. degree in Petroleum Engineering from Texas A&M University and a M.B.A. from the University of Texas of the Permian Basin. In 2013, Leach was inducted into the Petroleum Museum Hall of Fame in Midland, Texas.
Chief Roughneck Award Recipients, 1955 to 2019
2020 Chief Roughneck: No award
2019 Chief Roughneck
Vicki Hollub
President and CEO
Occidental Petroleum
2018 Chief Roughneck
Timothy A. Leach,
Chairman and CEO
Concho Resources
2017 Chief Roughneck
Ryan M. Lance
Chairman and CEO
ConocoPhillips
2016 Chief Roughneck
Harold G. Hamm
Chairman and CEO
Continental Resources
2013 Chief Roughneck Bruce Vincent, president of Swift Energy, was interviewed in 2008 in Houston by Bruce Wells of the American Oil & Gas Historical Society.
2015 Chief Roughneck
Lee K. Boothby
Chairman, President and CEO
Newfield Exploration Company
2014 Chief Roughneck
Jeffrey L. Ventura
President and CEO
Range Resources
2013 Chief Roughneck
Bruce H. Vincent
President and Director
Swift Energy Company
2012 Chief Roughneck
Charles D. Davidson
Chairman and CEO
Noble Energy, Inc.
2011 Chief Roughneck
Michael C. Linn
Executive Chairman
Linn Energy, LLC
2010 Chief Roughneck
Aubrey K. McClendon
Chairman and CEO
Chesapeake Energy Corporation
2009 Chief Roughneck
Harold Korell
Chairman of the Board
Southwestern Energy Company
2008 Chief Roughneck
DiemerTrue
Chairman and Founder
Diamond Companies of Wyoming
2007 Chief Roughneck
John B. Walker
President and Chief Executive Officer
EnerVest
2006 Chief Roughneck
Mark Papa
President
EOG Resources, Inc.
2005 Chief Roughneck
Ray L. Hunt
Chief Executive Officer
Hunt Oil Company
2004 Chief Roughneck
George M. Yates
Chairman and President
HEYCO Energy Group, Inc.
2003 Chief Roughneck
Robert J. Allison, Jr.
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
Anadarko Petroleum
Bronze bust of Joe Roughneck in a Texas park.
2002 Chief Roughneck
Robert L. Nance
President and Chief Executive Officer
Nance Petroleum
2001 Chief Roughneck
James Cleo Thompson, Jr.
Chairman and President
Thompson Petroleum
2000 Chief Roughneck
J. Larry Nichols
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
Devon Energy
1999 Chief Roughneck
Lew O. Ward
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Ward Petroleum
1998 Chief Roughneck
Jon Rex Jones
Chairman
Jones Energy, Ltd.
1997 Chief Roughneck
George A. Alcor
President
Alcorn Exploration
1996 Chief Roughneck
John A. Yates
President
Yates Petroleum
1995 Chief Roughneck
Eugene L. Ames, Jr.
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
Venus Exploration
1994 Chief Roughneck
C.J. (Pete) Silas
Chairman
Phillips Petroleum Company
1993 Chief Roughneck
Danny H. Conklin
Partner
Philcon Development Company
1992 Chief Roughneck
Irene S. Wischer
President and Chief Executive Officer
Panhandle Producing Company
1991 Chief Roughneck
George P. Mitchell
Chairman and President
Mitchell Energy & Development Company
1990 Chief Roughneck
Chester R. Upham
Owner and General Manager
Upham Gas Company
1989 Chief Roughneck
Raymond H. Hefner Jr.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Bonray Energy Corporation
1988 Chief Roughneck
Robert G. Fowler
President and Chief Operating Officer
Enserch Exploration
1987 Chief Roughneck
E.L. (Chick) Williamson
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Louisiana Land and Exploration Company
1986 Chief Roughneck
Lloyd N. Unsell
President
IPAA
1985 Chief Roughneck
A.V. Jones Jr.
Chairman
Jones Company
1984 Chief Roughneck
Kye Trout Jr.
Owner and Chief Executive Officer
Energy Resources
1983 Chief Roughneck
Dean A. McGee
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Kerr-McGee
1982 Chief Roughneck
Jack M. Allen
President and Chief Executive Officer
Alpar Resources
1981 Chief Roughneck
Robert O. Anderson
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Atlantic Richfield
1980 Chief Roughneck
Edwin L. Cox
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Cox Oil & Gas Company
1979 Chief Roughneck
L. Frank Pitts
Owner
Pitts Oil Company
1978 Chief Roughneck
J. Hugh Liedtke
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Pennzoil Company
1977 Chief Roughneck
Charles H. Murphy Jr.
Chairman
Murphy Oil Company
1976 Chief Roughneck
R.L. (Bob) Foree
Owner
Foree Oil
1975 Chief Roughneck
C. John Miller
Partner
Miller Brothers
1974 Chief Roughneck
Roy Guffey
Owner
Roy Guffey Drilling Company
1973 Chief Roughneck
Wayne E. Glenn
President
Continental Oil Company
1972 Chief Roughneck
W.A. Moncrief
President and Chief Executive Officer
1971 Chief Roughneck
M.A. (Mike) Wright
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Humble Oil & Refining Company
1970 Chief Roughneck
W.F. (Dink) Dalton
President
Placid Oil Company
1969 Chief Roughneck
Jack E. Kadane
Owner
G.E. Kadane & Son
1968 Chief Roughneck
L.B. Meaders
Chief Executive Officer
Halliburton Company
1967 Chief Roughneck
E.D. Brockett Jr.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Gulf Oil Corporation
1966 Chief Roughneck
H.L. Hunt
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Hunt Oil Company
1965 Chief Roughneck
H.A. (Dave) True
Partner
True Oil and True Drilling
1964 Chief Roughneck
J. Harold Dunn
Chairman
Shamrock Oil and Gas Corporation
1963 Chief Roughneck
Bruce C. Clardy
President
L.R. Development, Limited
1962 Chief Roughneck Col. Alvin C. Hope
Partner
Rowan and Hope
1961 Chief Roughneck
Johnny Mitchell
President, Jade Oil
Vice Chairman, Christie, Mitchell & Mitchell
1960 Chief Roughneck
Earl Hollandsworth
Partner
Hollandsworth Oil Company
1959 Chief Roughneck
J.L. Latimer
Chairman
Magnolia Petroleum and Magnolia Pipe Line Company
1958 Chief Roughneck
Guy I. Warren
Vice President and Part Owner
Renwar Oil Corporation
1957 Chief Roughneck
Arch Rowan
Owner
Rowan Drilling Company
1956 Chief Roughneck
Jake L. Hamon
Partner
Jake L. Hamon Oil
1955 Chief Roughneck
R.E. (Bob) Smith
Independent
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The American Oil & Gas Historical Society preserves U.S. petroleum history. Please become an AOGHS annual supporter and help maintain this energy education website and expand historical research. For more information, contact bawells@aoghs.org. Copyright © 2024 Bruce A. Wells. All rights reserved.
Citation Information: Article Title: “Chief Roughneck Award Winners.” Authors: B.A. Wells and K.L. Wells. Website Name: American Oil & Gas Historical Society. URL: https://aoghs.org/petroleum-art/joe-roughneck. Last Updated: October 20, 2024. Original Published Date: March 11, 2005.
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