The Foundation of the Oil Baron's Classic

LandmanLife has been a little quiet lately. Between MYR, kids starting a new school, a new puppy, and starting a charitable foundation, the website has had to wait.

A couple of years ago, Ben Holliday got a group of us together for a poker tournament at his office. It was casual: bring your own drinks, bring some snacks, and pull up a chair. After everyone left, Ben and I talked about what it could become.

Last year, MYR and HalconAguas helped turn that game into the South Texas Oil Baron’s Classic. We had a name, a room full of familiar faces, and a pretty good night. We also started talking about using the tournament to help people in our industry.

Then we learned Brian Clepp was facing cancer. Ben called and asked what we could do. We already had the game and the people to make it happen. It was time to put both to work.

That’s how the South Texas Energy Foundation began. Erik Waters, Reese Grebe, Ben, and I have spent the past several months getting it off the ground. Somewhere in the middle of that work, we lost Omar Mendiola. Fuck. His loss gave us another family to stand behind, and another reason to see this through.

Tonight, the Third Annual Oil Baron’s Classic takes place at The St. Anthony Hotel in San Antonio. This year’s event will support Brian’s treatment and Omar’s family.

This year the Classic got its own deck of cards. A derrick on the King, a pumpjack on the Queen, and trucks on the Jack.

I’m excited about the cards, the room, and seeing everybody together. But what matters most is why we’re there. This industry has a way of showing up for its people. The Foundation gives us a way to keep doing that, tonight and after the tables are packed away.

If you can’t be in the room tonight, you can still pull up a chair. Give to the South Texas Energy Foundation here.