Tickets on Sale for June 26 induction in Bolivar NY, meet the inductees
From the NYSOPA,
The New York State Oil Producers’ Association will induct five men into its Wall of Fame, located at the Pioneer Oil Museum’s Hahn & Schaffner site on Boss Street, on Friday, June 26.
Honored will be the late Percy Jordan, Will Plants, Harley Thompson, and Weldon Foster – each for making significant contributions to the oil and gas industry in the Twin Tiers of New York and Pennsylvania.
The public is invited to attend the ceremony, which begins at 6:00 p.m. with the inductions, followed by a wine and cheese tasting. Tickets for the wine tasting are $20 and may be purchased at the Pioneer Oil Museum’s Main Street site, the Bolivar Free Library, via postal mail, or the night of the event.
Percy Jordan – (1888-1976)
Percy Jordan grew up during the original Allegany County oil boom in the Bolivar-Richburg area. He performed all jobs in the oil fields from a “go-fer” to a business owner, eventually purchasing several oil leases in the Richburg-Clarksville area. He attempted to enlist in the service during World War I, but was denied as he was classified as an essential worker in the production of oil for the war effort. During his life, he worked in the local oil fields for a span of 40 years.
When oil production eventually declined, Percy sold his oil production machinery and bought a farm, which he worked for nearly 40 years. He was an active member of the First Methodist Church in Bolivar for many years, and he belonged to several civic groups. Among these were the Eastern Star and Masons, both of Bolivar and the Shriners of Buffalo and Elks of Wellsville.
William James Plants – (1950 – 2025)
Will Plants graduated from Wellsville Central School in 1968. After graduation, he lived out his dreams while sailing the Caribbean, and he also worked for several years building sailboats in Florida.
Eventually getting into the oil business, he worked with his father and mentor, ultimately becoming president of Ebenezer Oil Company in Wellsville. He led the company through the success of the co-generation plant in Whitesville, NY. He spent many years in the New York State Oil Producers’ Association (NYSOPA). Following his father’s legacy, he went on to serve as president of NYSOPA.
Will enjoyed life on the water, so he lived on Cuba Lake and raised his children there. He was a charter member of the Cuba, NY Lions Club.
Harley Thompson – (1912-1997)
In his early 20’s, Harley Thompson went to work for Norton Oil Company on White Hill between Bolivar and Alma. Shortly thereafter, he began work for Ebenezer Oil Company which had bought out Norton Oil, and he eventually worked 50 years for Ebenezer. Over the course of his career, he dug many lead lines and water lines by hand on the White Hill oilfield lease. He performed all jobs on the lease, including cutting powerhouse locations in the forest by ax and saw, building roads, and clearing sites for wells. His efforts led to the construction of the expansive 1200-acre Ebenezer operation on White Hill.
Eventually Harley was made lease foreman where he mentored generations of Ebenezer’s founding fathers and their heirs. In 1970, he purchased two White Hill leases from Ebenezer Oil and became an independent oil producer himself. Each day he worked for Ebenezer, and then later that day he would pump his own two leases before dinner.
He was an active member of the Allentown Odd Fellows in the 1950-60’s, and at one time he was elected a member of the Board of Education for the Allentown School for several years.
J. Weldon Foster – (1906-1990)
An Allentown native who attended Immaculate Conception School in Wellsville, Weldon Foster is remembered for his work for Willets and Paul Corporation on a large lease of theirs in Little Genesee where he eventually became superintendent for that company. He also worked a lease up over the hill between Streeter Brook and Deer Creek and had a lease on Salt Rising near Little Rock City. He worked the vast majority of his lifetime in the oil industry.
In the 1960’s, Weldon was recruited by Wichita Industries of Princeton, Indiana, and this was due to his extensive experience in waterflooding technology and secondary recovery of oil in mature oil fields. Eventually he retired as Vice-President of Production for that company.
While still living in this area, he ran for the Bolivar Central School Board of Education and was a member of Methodist Church of Bolivar. Weldon was a Trustee and Master in Masonic Lodge #258 of Bolivar as well as a member of the Allegany County Farm Bureau, serving as a chairman. He served as the Town of Genesee Justice of the Peace for many years and was president of the Allegany County Police and Magistrates Association.
The New York State Oil Producers’ Association (NYSOPA) organized this Wall of Fame in 2005 to honor those individuals who had been involved with the local oil/gas industry anywhere from the late 1800’s to the present day. Including this year’s inductees, there are 83 names on the Wall of Fame, all honored posthumously.
NYSOPA works in conjunction with the Pioneer Oil Museum, which compiles research on the honorees, displays the plaques, and provides the setting for the event.
Bronze plaques with the inductees’ photos will be placed on a wall in the museum. During the ceremony, family members will be provided time to speak about their loved ones.
