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32-782: William G. Skelly , a leading Tulsa oilman and entrepreneur, is credited with conceiving the International Petroleum Exposition in 1923, while he was serving as president of the Tulsa Chamber of Commerce. He became president of the IPE in 1925 and held that position for the rest of his life. The first show was held in Tulsa on October 8–14, 1923. The city had been dubbed "Oil Capital of the World" and headquarters of many major oil companies and suppliers, so it seemed

64-843: A tool dresser in the Venango fields. In 1898, the Spanish–American War broke out. Skelly enlisted in the Sixteenth Pennsylvania Volunteers and participated in the Battle of Coamo in Puerto Rico . After the war, he became manager of the Citizens Gas Company in Gas City, Indiana , where he learned the technology of transporting and controlling natural gas through pipelines. Observing

96-473: A logical choice. The venue was vacant ground downtown between Main to Cheyenne streets and from Archer to Cameron streets. Despite heavy rains during the week, and the fact that the city was still trying to recover from the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921, the IPE drew enough visitors to be considered a success. The organizers decided to repeat the show annually. From 1924 through 1927, the IPE show

128-601: A powerful Pratt & Whitney Wasp 600 h.p. engine. The last aircraft to be developed by the Spartan Aircraft Company was the Spartan NP-1 biplane. The NP-1 was a throwback to earlier aircraft in appearance, though the technology used in the aircraft's construction was certainly more advanced than the wire and fabric used in Spartan's early biplane designs. Built as a United States Navy trainer,

160-472: A range of over 1,000 nautical miles (2,000 km) and a 25,000 ft (7,600 m) service ceiling . Thirty four 7W aircraft were produced. Based directly on the high-performance design of the civilian Spartan 7W, a version of the aircraft was developed to meet military needs for high-performance reconnaissance and training aircraft. The re-designed model was named the Spartan Zeus 8W and featured

192-539: The Spartan School of Aeronautics to train pilots and mechanics. The school also facilitated sales of Spartan aircraft. In 1935, Skelly sold the manufacturing business to J. Paul Getty . Skelly retained ownership of the school. In 1927, Skelly obtained signatures from several prominent Tulsa businessmen put up $ 172,000 to buy 390 acres (178 ha) of land for use as a municipal airport. It was dedicated and officially opened July 3, 1928. The city of Tulsa purchased

224-568: The Spartan School of Aeronautics . Skelly continued to support the venture during the early years of the Great Depression, while it began producing a line of airplanes. The economic depression strained Skelly's personal finances, and in 1935, J. Paul Getty purchased a controlling interest in the company from Skelly. At the beginning of World War II, Getty assumed direct control of the company operations. He expanded manufacturing by making sub-assemblies for warplanes and opened branches of

256-575: The Tulsa Municipal Airport in Tulsa, Oklahoma . Previously known as Mid-Continent Aircraft Company, the company had been reorganized under the Spartan name in 1928 by oil baron William G. Skelly —and operated until 1961, manufacturing aircraft, aircraft components, and recreational vehicle trailers . The company was known for the luxurious Spartan Executive aircraft produced in the late 1930s and early 1940s. J. Paul Getty acquired

288-697: The University of Tulsa for a football stadium in 1930 and for KWGS , the first FM radio station in Oklahoma in 1947. Bill Skelly was one of six children born to William and Mary Jane Sweatman Skelly. He began earning money by selling newspapers while he was still in grammar school. Finishing public school at age 14, he attended a business school for a year. After completing the business course, he worked with his father hauling oil-well supplies to oil fields in Venango County, Pennsylvania . Soon, he became

320-678: The 51st Street Bypass, the highway through south Tulsa that connects the Turner Turnpike and the Will Rogers Turnpike (now part of Interstate 44 ), was named Skelly Drive in William Skelly's honor. Skelly was the primary benefactor for Skelly Field, the football stadium at the University of Tulsa, which opened in 1930. Later renamed Skelly Stadium, at one time it seated 40,385. Renovated in 2007–2008, it

352-445: The IPE. The Great Depression reduced the frequency of the event after 1930. Thereafter it was held in 1934, 1936, 1938 and 1940. It was completely suspended until 1948 because of World War II. When it reopened in 1948, over 300,000 people visited the show. However, there was competition from other events and the event had become very costly to produce, so the directors voted to hold the exhibition every five years. The next exposition

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384-491: The Spartan Executive 7W, the company produced its first all-metal travel trailer . The company followed previous design strategies, offering lavish and full-featured trailers. Through the 1940s and 1950s, Spartan produced what some referred to as the " Cadillac " of trailers, commanding prices higher than $ 4000. Spartan produced over 40,000 trailer homes before ending production in 1961. Given an average home cost in

416-483: The Spartan NP-1 featured a lightweight open-cockpit construction with a Lycoming R-680-B4C 225 h.p. engine. After the ebb of personal aviation and the increased competition in the aircraft business following World War II , owner J. Paul Getty and Spartan upper-management redirected production to focus on the demand for housing and leisure. Using the same internally braced and space-saving monocoque design of

448-623: The Spartan School of Aeronautics in Miami , Muskogee and Ponca City, Oklahoma . The first aircraft produced by the Spartan Aircraft Company was the Spartan C3 open- cockpit biplane . Built in 1926 (first flight 25 October 1926), the C3-1 was the first of a series of variants of the design for flight schools , sportsman aviators , and Fixed-Base Operators (FBO) . The Spartan C3-225

480-476: The United States at the time of $ 8000, Spartan trailers were a discretionary purchase for the wealthy. After 33 years of manufacturing aircraft and trailers, the Spartan Aircraft Company closed its manufacturing facilities and entered the insurance and financial business under the name Minnehoma Insurance Co. The Spartan name was sold to the Spartan School of Aeronautics , which operates today under

512-655: The airport, then named Tulsa Municipal Airport , in 1929, and put its supervision under the Tulsa Park Board. In 1928, Skelly bought radio station KVOO (now KOTV ), which became a powerful clear-channel station known as the "Voice of Oklahoma". He provided the funding for the University of Tulsa 's radio station, founded in 1947 and named KWGS in his honor. In 1954, Skelly, a steadfast Republican , and Senator Robert S. Kerr , an equally steadfast Democrat , founded television station, KVOO-TV (now KJRH-TV ). William G. Skelly died in Tulsa on April 11, 1957. He

544-475: The aviation industry, though he was not a pilot himself. In 1926, he purchased the financially struggling Mid-Continent Aircraft Company and turned it into the successful Spartan Aircraft Company . In 1928, he led the fundraising to build the Tulsa Municipal Airport. In October 1928, he opened the Spartan School of Aeronautics . Skelly was active in other civic projects. He donated funds to

576-554: The company from Skelly in 1935. After World War II, Getty ended aircraft production and converted the company to manufacturing trailers under the Spartan Manor brand—subsequently ending all production in 1961. Successful oilman William G. Skelly purchased the struggling Mid-Continent Aircraft Manufacturing Company of Tulsa in January, 1928. He renamed the company Spartan Aircraft Company , reorganized it financially and began

608-451: The first International Petroleum Exposition (IPE). This was a trade fair that attracted oil producers and equipment manufacturers from all over the country. He became president of the IPE in 1925 and held that position for the rest of his life. In 1928, Skelly purchased the struggling Mid-Continent Aircraft Company, which had a manufacturing plant in Tulsa. He reorganized it under the name Spartan Aircraft Company . In October 1928, he opened

640-495: The fortunes made by others during the oil booms of Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio, Skelly decided to become an independent producer. After a brief stay in Texas, he moved to El Dorado, Kansas , in 1916, where he began operating his Midland Refining Company in 1917. In 1919, he incorporated Skelly Oil Company and moved his headquarters to Tulsa. In 1923, while serving as president of the Tulsa Chamber of Commerce, Skelly helped organize

672-628: The late 1970s and early 1980s. After only 20 thousand visitors attended the 1979 exhibition, the IPE was permanently cancelled. The former IPE Building was later renamed as the Tulsa Expo Center . [[ ]] William Skelly William Grove Skelly (June 10, 1878 – April 11, 1957) was an entrepreneur who made a fortune in the oil business. Born in Erie , Pennsylvania, he moved to Kansas in 1916, then to Tulsa , Oklahoma, in 1919, where he founded Skelly Oil Company . By 1923, his company

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704-461: The military due to the view-obstructing low-wing design, the C2-165 was primarily used for civilian training purposes. Improvements in Spartan's manufacturing and technology was evident in the 1930 Spartan C4 . The C4 was a high-wing monoplane designed for low-maintenance and high-comfort. The Spartan C4 was designed to accommodate large engines of 230 h.p. and more. The Spartan Executive Model 7W

736-399: The university announced that it would repurchase the house as a residence for its president, who would live on the second floor. The ground floor is used by the university to host special events. The structure is now officially known as Skelly House. Many of Skelly's accomplishments survived him. The IPE had its peak attendance in 1966 and continued to be held in Tulsa until 1979. In 1952,

768-485: Was a result of founder William Skelly's vision for an aircraft designed to accommodate the luxury and performance expected by wealthy people. Powered by a 450 h.p. Pratt & Whitney Wasp Jr. engine, the Executive was Spartan's first attempt at an all-metal aircraft design using monocoque technology. The large engine and aerodynamic airframe allowed for a then-remarkable 200-mile (320 km) an hour cruise speed,

800-444: Was also successful. However, conditions in the industry were changing. Oil production had greatly moved outside of the United States and foreign producers had greater influence over the markets. Oil production also had moved offshore, as land-based wells had become relatively less profitable. The Houston-based Offshore Technology Conference siphoned attention away from the IPE. Attendance declined further in 1976. Oil prices collapsed in

832-745: Was held at the Tulsa circus grounds. In 1928, it moved to the Tulsa Fairgrounds, In 1930, the event was moved to May, to avoid conflict with the Tulsa State Fair , which was always presented in the fall at the fairgrounds. By 1930, had been extended to ten days and drew over 120,000 visitors. Some important industry groups such as the Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association and the American Petroleum Institute scheduled meetings in Tulsa to coincide with

864-406: Was held in 1953. The Mid-Continent Supply Company commissioned the now-famous Golden Driller statue and displayed it at the entrance to the exhibition grounds. It drew so much favorable comment that the owner re-erected it in the next exposition in 1959. In 1966, all of the exhibition buildings were demolished. They were replaced by a single hall that covered 10 acres (4.0 ha). At the time, it

896-533: Was interred at Rose Hill Cemetery in Tulsa. Gertrude was interred beside him after her death October 8, 1959. Skelly purchased a 10,000 square foot mansion at the corner of 21st Street and Madison Avenue in 1923. After he died in 1957, Gertrude donated the building and its furnishings to the University of Tulsa , which sold it to private owners in 1959. The Skelly mansion has been added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. On July 5, 2012,

928-592: Was one of the strongest independent producers of oil and gasoline in the United States. He helped organize the first International Petroleum Exposition in Tulsa in 1923 and became president of that organization, a position he held for the rest of his life. He was a founder of the Kansas-Oklahoma branch of the United States Oil and Gas Association , then known as Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association . Skelly became an active promoter, as well, of

960-404: Was renamed Skelly Field at H. A. Chapman Stadium and now seats 30,000. Spartan School of Aeronautics still exists, and was renamed to Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology on March 31, 2015. Skellytown, Texas , was named for him. Spartan Aircraft Company The Spartan Aircraft Company was an American aircraft manufacturing company, headquartered on Sheridan Avenue near

992-604: Was said to be the largest single building under one roof. Originally called the International Petroleum Exposition Center (and often called the IPE Building), it was funded by a $ 3.5 million bond issue in 1966, and upon completion became home to the International Petroleum Exposition. The Golden Driller statue was relocated to the main entrance of the building. The 1966 exhibition had the largest attendance in its history. The 1971 show

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1024-549: Was the last early biplane design produced by the company. At least 160 C-3 aircraft were built, using various engines. 1930 saw the production of Spartan's first monoplane design, the Spartan C2-60 . Designed for the sportsman flier, the C2-60 was a lightweight design with a small 60 h.p. engine . Using many of C2-60's characteristics, Spartan produced the heavier, more powerful C2-165 low-wing monoplane. Unpopular with

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