Eddie David to speak on oil, gas

Rotarian Edward K. “Eddie” David will speak at Thursday’s Roswell Rotary Club meeting on “My 60 Years in Roswell, Exploring for Oil ad Gas.”

During his talk, Eddie will explain what it has been like being in the oil and gas exploration and development business in the 60 years he has lived in Roswell.

“This presentation will reveal why my career in Roswell has been an exciting adventure that is challenging, enjoyable, and gratifying beyond expectations,” he said.

Eddie David

Eddie is president of David Petroleum Corp., an independent oil and gas exploration company active in the Permian Basin of West Texas and southeastern New Mexico.

He was born in Hebbronville, Texas, in 1934, and graduated high school at San Marcus Baptist Academy in 1952.

His first two years of college were at Texas A&I in Kingsville, which is now part of Texas A&M. Eddie then attended Texas Tech, where he earned a BS degree in Petroleum Geology in 1956.

Eddie began his career in the petroleum industry with Texaco Inc., where he was employed as an exploration and development geologist from 1956-66.

In 1966 he formed David Petroleum Corp. in Roswell.

Eddie said he and the late Colin McMillan “were in a group of about 15 who moved from Midland to Roswell in 1962 to open an exploration office. In Midland, I was not involved in community activities.

“Upon our arrival in Roswell, Colin got very active in Chaves County politics and before I knew it he also had me involved in his activities. Gradually this led me to become active in community activities and accelerated in 1966 when Charlie Loveless, Colin, and I became partners in oil and gas exploration,” he said. 

Eddie has been active in national, as well as in community organizations. He served as president of the Roswell Geological Society in 1969-70, and in 1997-98 was president of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, which has members in 129 countries.

He also has served as president and as campaign chairman of the United Way of Chaves County. Eddie is past president of the Conquistador Boy Scout Council, has served on its Executive Board for more than 25 years, and currently is a trustee of the council’s Trust Fund.

He served on the Roswell School Board from 1989-93 and for many years has been a member of the Roswell Rotary Club, where he has been honored as a Paul Harris Fellow.

Eddie’s honors include Lifetime Achievement Awards from the Leadership Roswell Alumni Association and the United Way of Chaves County; Life Membership in the Roswell Geological Society and New Mexico Landmen’s Association; the Roswell Board of Realtor’s Outstanding Citizen of the Year; the Boy Scout Silver Beaver Award; the American Association of Petroleum Geologists Honorary Membership Award; and the Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell President’s Distinguished Award.

Eddie and his wife Jamie live in Roswell. He has two children, daughter Camille Zihlman of Dallas and son Ed N. David, executive vice president of David Petroleum and a petroleum landman.

For years, Eddie has been a guiding force in organizing successful Energy Scholarship Dinners and Military Appreciation Dinners in Roswell.