Floyd (Jack) Wilborn was presented the award for outstanding public service in his role as the Assistant Director of the North Dakota Industrial Commission Oil and Gas Division from 1957 – 1999.  The award was presented at the Petroleum Council’s 25th Annual Meeting in Bismarck.  Bob Mau, Past Chairman of the Petroleum Council said, “Jack was a tremendous help to me as I took over a small struggling North Dakota oil and gas company.  He was always eager to help me resolve regulatory issues.”

Jack was born January 26, 1929 in Mineral Wells, TX.  A little oil, cattle, and mineral spa town 90 miles west of Dallas.  Jack’s family followed the oilfields around Texas and according to Jack his dad was a riverboat gambler.  As a kid Jack worked in the Texas cotton fields.  Jack attended Texas Technical College 1947-1949, working for Fort Worth Drilling as a tool dresser on a cable tool rig to finance his schooling.

He attended Mexico City College 1950-1952, playing football there in the days before helmets and pads were required.  Jack got his degree in Geology from Texas Christian University in 1957 and was hired by the North Dakota Geological Survey.

Jack worked as a Field Inspector for the Geological Survey in Williston from 1957 through 1961, when he moved to Grand Forks as a statistician.  Jack moved to Bismarck in 1981 as Assistant Director of the newly formed Oil and Gas Division and worked in that position until his retirement in 1999.  Wes Norton, retired Director of the Oil and Gas Division, gives Jack great credit for the success the Oil and Gas Division had throughout their years there together.  “Jack was always a gentleman and excellent advocate for the oil and gas industry.  I enjoyed working with him on regulatory and permitting issues throughout his distinguished career,” Norton said.

The Petroleum Council is honored to recognize Jack Wilborn with this prestigious award.