Black History
 

The Universal Oil, Gas and Mining Company Inc.
By Professor Willie Burton

     One of the most unique businesses on Texas Avenue was the Universal Oil, Gas and Mining Company, Inc. This company was unique because at the time off  it’s organizing, it was the only black owned and operated Oil Company in the United States.  Even more unique was the fact that the company was organized in 1930, right at the beginning of the Great Depression, when other businesses were failing.

     Located at 1051 ½ Texas Avenue, Universal was granted a charter on March 2, 1931 under the corporation Laws of Louisiana and Texas to do business.  After the charter was granted, all that remained in the treasury was a balance of twenty dollars.  However, by 1936 the company had grown to a corporation with a taxable property and assets valued at 260,000 and by 1939, had nine wells with an average production of 380 barrels a day.  The company had oil wells in Texas, Louisiana, and Kentucky.

      Odessa S. Strickland of Minden and Shreveport was the secretary/manager of the company.  The Board of Directors of the Universal Oil, Gas, and Mining included some of the prominent leaders in Shreveport.  Dr. R.T. Nelson was treasurer; Rev. E.S. Stills was chairman of the board of directors.  Drs. T.M. Johnson and E.L. Dickson were also members and later held important positions in the company.

The company was also active in the mining of zinc, lead, and silver.

  Dr. T.M. Johnson, a dentist and treasurer for the Universal, Oil, Gas, and Mining Company Inc.  He was an active community worker.

                                                                                                                                        

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