Walter Benona Sharp
Walter Benona Sharp | |
|---|---|
| Born | Error: Invalid birth date for calculating age Tipton County, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Died | November 28, 1912 (aged 41) |
| Occupation(s) | Oil industry pioneer, inventor |
| Known for | Inventing the Sharp-Hughes Rock Bit; founding Moonshine Oil Company and Sharp-Hughes Tool Company |
Walter Benona Sharp (December 12, 1870 – November 28, 1912) was a pioneering American oil industry figure known for advancing drilling technology.
Early life
Born in Tipton County, Tennessee to James R. Sharp and Amanda Forrest Sharp, Walter experienced the loss of his mother at age eight, prompting his father to relocate the family to Texas.
Career
By the time he reached twenty, Sharp was managing a water well drilling enterprise alongside his brother. He ventured into oil well drilling starting in 1893 and initially encountered obstacles like quicksand, which he successfully addressed by 1901. Sharp is credited with inventing the Sharp-Hughes Rock Bit, a tool designed to penetrate tough rock layers more effectively.
His wealth grew through activities such as leasing trades and oil well contracting. In 1902, he partnered with Ed Prather and Howard Hughes Sr. to establish the Moonshine Oil Company. This company was purchased in 1905 by Producers Oil, a subsidiary of Texaco.
Sharp also played a key role in founding the Sharp-Hughes Tool Company, which was renamed the Hughes Tool Company following his death in 1912 when his widow Estelle sold her ownership stake to Hughes.
His son, Dudley Crawford Sharp, later held the position of Secretary of the Air Force during President Eisenhower’s administration.
Personal life
On January 28, 1897, Sharp married Estelle Boughton. Together they had three children.
Death
Sharp passed away on November 28, 1912, at the age of 42, possibly due to exhaustion sustained while fighting an oil fire.