JOSEPH BRIDWELL WAS BORN MARCH 23, 1885, NEAR NORTHVIEW, MISSOURI. HE MOVED TO WICHITA FALLS IN 1909 AND WENT INTO THE REAL ESTATE BUSINESS. BY 1915, BRIDWELL BEGAN BUYING, SELLING, AND TRADING OIL LEASES. HIS FIRST VENTURE IN DRILLING WAS THE CASHION OIL COMPANY IN 1917, AND HE FORMED THE BRIDWELL OIL COMPANY IN 1927. WHEN A GROUP OF OIL OPERATIVES MET TO PROTEST FALLING OIL PRICES, THE NORTH TEXAS OIL AND GAS ASSOCIATION, NOW TEXAS ALLIANCE OF ENERGY PRODUCERS, WAS FORMED. BRIDWELL SERVED AS ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT IN 1933 AND WAS ONE OF THE REPRESENTATIVES WHO MET TO FORM A CODE OF FAIR COMPETITION KNOWN AS THE NATIONAL INDUSTRIAL RECOVERY ACT IN 1933. BRIDWELL ALSO HAD A PASSION FOR RANCHING. IN 1932 HE PURCHASED BRIDWELL HEREFORD RANCH WHERE HE PRODUCED BETTER CATTLE FOR TEXAS AND THE SOUTHWEST. HE ACQUIRED A BULL, LARRY DOMINO, WHO WITH HIS PROGENY WENT ON TO WIN COUNTLESS TROPHIES AND SIRE A TOP HEREFORD BLOOD LINE. IN 1949, BRIDWELL INITIATED THE J.S. BRIDWELL SOIL BUILDERS AWARDS, WHICH OFFERED PRIZES FOR CONSERVATION IN SEVERAL FARMING AREAS. THIS PROGRAM WAS IN EFFECT UNTIL HIS DEATH. BESIDES BEING A LEADER IN THE PETROLEUM INDUSTRY, BRIDWELL WAS ACTIVE IN PUBLIC SERVICE. HE WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN FOUNDING THE WEST TEXAS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, GAVE THE CITY LAND FOR A PARK AND GAVE LIBERALLY TO THE METHODIST CHILDREN’S HOME IN WACO AND THE BRIDWELL LIBRARY AT THE SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY AT SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIVERSITY. HE SOLD THE GOVERNMENT 300 ACRES FOR ONE DOLLAR WHICH HELPED LOCATE SHEPPARD FIELD (LATER SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE) HERE IN 1940; SOLD HIS LAND TO THE CITY WHEN IT WAS IN DESPERATE NEED OF WATER, CREATING LAKE ARROWHEAD; AND FOUNDED THE BRIDWELL FOUNDATION IN 1949, WHICH FUNDS MANY CHARITIES INCLUDING UNIVERSITIES. BRIDWELL DIED MAY 9, 1966.