Walter Hugo Helmerich, II

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Pioneer Oilman, and aviator Walter Helmerich began his career in oil exploration in Kansas and then moved his operation to Texas in 1919 in order to participate in the development of the Ranger, Breckenridge, Ivan and South Bend fields. In 1920 Helmerich along with William T. Payne organized Helmerich & Payne drilling company. This company was a predecessor of White Eagle Oil Company of which he was President.

Helmerich attended Pratt Institution of Technology before joining the aviation section of the Army Signal Corps during World War I, in which he attained the rank of First Lieutenant and became a pilot and at one time held the world altitude record.

Helmerich was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 1978 and was named outstanding state oilman of 1980. He was also the son-in-law of prominent pioneer builder of Oklahoma City, Charles Francis Colcord and Harriet Scoresby Colcord thru his marriage to their daughter, Cadijah.