SHREVEPORT, La. ( KTAL/KMSS ) – His name was Odessa St. Strickland, and in the early 1900s he invented a device that traced and defined the boundaries of oil and gas deposits. In 1940 alone, 139/140 of the locations discovered by Strictland’s invention produced oil and gas. But Strickland’s big claim to fame came about because of his involvement in the first black-owned oil company in the United States.
Universal Oil, Gas and Mining Company’s headquarters was located at 1051 ½ Texas Avenue in Shreveport. UOGMC got its start at the very beginning of the Great Depression, when the company had only $20 left in its entire treasury after paperwork was filed for the charter.
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Universal Oil, Gas and Mining Co. is not to be confused with Universal Oil Co., which attracted major media attention in the early 1930s when several New York City politicians were taken to court concerning their involvement with the company.
The charter was filed with the Caddo Parish Clerk in Oct. 1930. 5000 shares of stock of $10 par value were listed when the company was chartered. Officers were W. M. Rogers, president; R. L. Johnson, vice president; O. S. Strickland, secretary and general manager; and Dr. R. T. Nelson, treasurer.