I was recently was in our small town library and came across a book that got my full attention. The book is The Gentlemen, The Life of Joseph A. LaFortune (1979). There is a park in Tulsa named after this man and the previous mayor was a member of the Lafortune family.
I love bios. I had to check out the book so I can figure out the question, What made this man a success? It’ll be fun discovering the answer.
Here are 27 other famous successful energy pioneers of Tulsa’s past:
(Taken from Energy Advocates website)

Josh Cosden
W. G. Skelly
W. K. Warren
J. Paul Getty
The Phillips Brothers
Thomas Gilcrease
Joseph A. LaFortune
Walt Helmerich
Tom Manhart
Claude V. Barrow
Lloyd Noble
Sam Noble
H.R. Straight
W. Alton Jones
H.V. Foster
Burdette Blue
T.H. McCasland
Philip C. Lauinger, Jr.
John H. Williams
John E. Mabee
Alfred E. Aaronson
Clarence H. Wright
K.S. “Boots” Adams
Erle P. Halliburton
E.W. Marland
Charles F. Colcord
Powell Briscoe