The first gas well of record drilled in the Texas Panhandle was completed thirty miles north of Amarillo in December of 1918 to a depth of approximately 2,600 feet.  Nearly three years later the first producing oil well was established in Carson County, some twenty-five miles to the east.  It was not long thereafter that the first landmen came to the Texas Panhandle as exploration soared in the mid to late 1920’s.

Landmen continued to establish themselves in the region and in March of 1950, the Panhandle Association of Petroleum Landmen was formed.  The first president was H.H. Monroe of Phillips Petroleum Company with an executive committee consisting of Rex Tarr, J.G. Baker and J.W. Collins. L.H. “Cedar” Puckett, O.F. Beatty and Hugh Garrison.

For the next 50 years the organization continued to grow and boasted some of the industry’s most influential individuals as not only members, but leaders as well.

Today, the Panhandle Association of Petroleum Landmen continues its legacy of education, networking and promotion of the oil and gas industry and all those it employs.