Malcolm Crim
John Malcolm Crim | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1886 |
| Died | 1971-06-05 Tyler, Texas, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, oil industry figure, politician |
| Known for | First mayor of Kilgore, Texas; key leader in Mount Tabor Indian Community; instrumental in discovering East Texas Oil Field |
John Malcolm Crim (1886–1971) was a prominent American entrepreneur, oil industry figure, politician, and a key leader within the Mount Tabor Indian Community. He holds the distinction of being the inaugural mayor of Kilgore, Texas following its official incorporation in 1931. As a scion of Kilgore's notable Crim family, he was instrumental in uncovering the East Texas Oil Field and driving the city's transformation amid the oil boom period.
Early life and family prominence
The Crim family were among the pioneering settlers of Kilgore, having moved from Danville, Texas. They amassed considerable business interests locally, owning several prominent downtown establishments such as the Crim National Bank, Crim Mercantile Store, Crim Office Building, and Crim Theater. The family also preserved two historically significant residences: the Dean Keener Crim Home (circa 1876), recognized as Kilgore's oldest extant building, and the Lou Della Crim House (built in 1920). Their legacy is evident in local place names including the Crimwood neighborhood, Crim Street, and Crim Avenue.
Malcolm Crim was additionally related as a nephew to John Martin Thompson, whose wife had ties to distinguished Cherokee lineages and was instrumental in establishing the Mount Tabor Indian Community. During the challenging years of the Depression era, Crim assumed leadership of the community’s Cherokee members amid evolving governance.
Oil discovery and boomtown chaos
After C.M. "Dad" Joiner's breakthrough oil strike at Daisy Bradford #3 near Henderson in October 1930, Malcolm Crim oversaw drilling operations on his mother Lou Della Crim’s land at Laird Hill. On December 28, 1930, the Bateman-Crim Wildcat Well No. 1 (also known as Lou Della Crim No. 1) erupted near the Lou Della Crim House, yielding 20,000 barrels per day and confirming that the oilfield extended into Kilgore. This event sparked an explosive population increase from approximately 700 residents to over 10,000 within a matter of days.
The rapid growth overwhelmed municipal infrastructure, with makeshift communities such as Happy Hollow (present-day Kilgore City Park) becoming hubs of disorder. Kilgore experienced widespread criminal activity, vice operations, and improvised housing including dwellings fashioned from piano crates. The Texas Rangers were regularly summoned to restore order, notably Ranger Bob Goss—later appointed Kilgore Police Chief—who earned the nickname "The Shadow" for his firm enforcement approach.
Mayoral leadership
In reaction to this turmoil, Kilgore formally incorporated in 1931. Malcolm Crim was unanimously chosen as its first mayor by a vote tally of 102-0. He accepted this position with the intent to prevent the city from being "overrun with the wrong kind of people." To bolster law enforcement efforts, he provided lodging for Texas Ranger Captain M.T. "Lone Wolf" Gonzaullas within his mother’s residence. Under Crim’s administration, Kilgore developed into what media outlets described as "the capital of the world's largest oil field," characterized by numerous oil derricks densely surrounding its downtown area.
Crim died at age 82 in Tyler, Texas, on June 5, 1971.
Legacy
The historic homes belonging to the Crim family are maintained by the Kilgore Historical Preservation Foundation, with restoration work on the Lou Della Crim House continuing as of 2025. The Lou Della Crim No. 1 well remained operational until 1961 and stands as a symbol of Kilgore's oil boom heritage. Malcolm Crim's stewardship during Kilgore’s transition from an agricultural community to an oil boomtown cemented his family's enduring impact on the city's growth.