George W Strake Sr

STRAKE WAS born Nov 9, 1894, in Saint Louis, Mo. He graduated from Saint Louis University with a bachelor of science degree after attending public schools in Saint Louis. During World War I, he served as an aviation cadet in the Army Air Corps. In 1929, Strake heard of oil Indications on some land near Conroe. He went to see for himself and found an active oil seep and gas bubbles in a creek. He blocked up 8,500 acres, one of the first large blocks of oil acreage ever as- sembled, but was unable to sellleases to Major oil producers. On Aug 30, 1931, the Stroke Number 1 South Texas Development Company wildecat waa spudded. For three and a half months he drilled away. At 4,-991 feet a powerful gas flow started up, shooting high above the tall timbers. Still the major producers weren't Interested. Only a few weeks later when the first oil flow came in did the world take notice. He is survived by his wife the former Miss Susan Kehoe,; one son, George Strake Jr; two daughters, Mrs Robert D. Dilworth and Mrs Robert H. Parsley, and two sisters, Mrs Matilda S. Benz and Mrs William J. Pfiffner, all of Houston.