Background
Payne, William Thomas was born on January 26, 1892 in Tecumseh, Nebraska, United States. Son of Thomas J. and Ellen (Meyer) Payne.
Payne, William Thomas was born on January 26, 1892 in Tecumseh, Nebraska, United States. Son of Thomas J. and Ellen (Meyer) Payne.
Bachelor of Science in Science and Literature, Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College, 1915. Doctor of Laws, Oklahoma Christian College, 1974.
Graduate assistant microbiology, Massachusetts State College, 1916; chemist, Digestive Ferments Company, Detroit, 1916-1917; bacteriologist, City of Detroit, 1917-1918; oil scout, North America Oil Corporation, 1919-1921; superintendent, W.H. Helmerich Company, 1921-1926; vice president, Helmerich & Payne, 1926-1936; founder, president, Big Chief Oil Corporation, Oklahoma City, 1936-1958; Chairman of the Board, Big Chief Oil Corporation, Oklahoma City, 1958-1972; Chairman of the Board, Seneca Oil Corporation, 1961-1975; president, Payne Petroleum Corporation, from 1945.
Chairman appeal board Western Federal Judicial District Oklahoma, Selective Service System, 1943-1945, 48-67. Board directors Oklahoma City United Fund. Member executive committee Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation Second lieutenant Sanitary corpus, United States army, 1918-1919.
Member Indiana Petroleum Association American (director), Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce (director), American Association Oilwell Drilling Contractors (president 1945), Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association (president Kansas-Oklahoma division 1947-1949), General Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association (president 1950-1951), Oklahoma City Golf and Country Club, Petroleum Club, Quail Creek Country Club, Beacon Club, Mens Dinner Club, Beta Theta Pi.
Married Katheryne Bond, June 17, 1935. 1 child, Stephen Bond.