The Texas Oil Boom was in its early and most prosperous stage when Wade Matlock was born in 1916, but the benefits of the boom were lost on the Matlock family as they were 3rd generation tenant farmers working land owned by German immigrants near Round Top, Texas. Wade's family of six lived in a three-room house with dirt floors. He was eventually the eldest of four siblings and bore the brunt of the responsibility on the farm with his parents.
During the early years of the Great Depression, the Matlock family took part in a New Deal program to increase the number of farmers who were owners rather than tenants by paying tenants to restrict the acreage they farmed. This caused many previous owners to sell the tenants' parts of the land due to the loss of their personal revenue, and drove many sharecroppers out because of the decreased need for overall labor. The Matlock family acquired their own farmland in 1931 from the immigrants they previously rented from, but drought conditions and poor business acumen made it a largely unsuccessful venture. The family drifted into subsistence farming and could barely support their large family on that and government relief.
Wade was a rough-and-tumble boy who grew into a hard-working, brusque teenager who started smoking cigars at the age of 13. By 17, he was 6'2" tall and had light brown hair that was slightly bleached by the sun. He wore his wavy hair longer and loose, unlike most boys his age who were beginning to use pomade in their hair or getting crew cuts. He was highly competitive and participated in a variety of gambling activities from cards to arm-wrestling, when he wasn't helping on the family farm. He had gotten the attention of the police a time or two due to petty thefts and for brawling with other boys.
In 1934, Wade joined up with the Civilian Conservation Corps and began sending $22 of his $30 a month salary back home to help support his parents and siblings. He first worked with the CCC at Palmetto State Park constructing the various buildings in the park, basically learning carpentry and masonry on the job. After getting re-enrolled for a second year in 1935, he moved on to Lockhart State Park and helped build the dam there as well as Park Road 10. He had also been promoted to Senior Leader of his camp and earned $45 a month, but continued to send $35 of that pay home to his family.
"So, Matlock, what are your plans after we're done here? Ain't you done with the CCC after this job?" Leroy Pounder, the Company Clerk asked him while he and Wade sat in the mess hall after lunch.
"I don't have any plans. Figure I'd go and see if there are still jobs to be had in Huntsville working for an oil company," Wade replied.
"Oil, huh?" Leroy said.
"Yeah. There's a lot of growth, and I've heard, a lot of jobs, in East Texas," Wade said.
"Why oil?" Leroy asked.
"I don't know. Seems like it would be good to get on the ground floor of that and see where it leads," Wade said.
"Do you know anything about the oil industry?" Leroy asked.
"Not really, but I have worked on a farm, worked construction and masonry, built roads and dams in the CCC. That has to count for something," Wade said.
"I don't know. I think they'll want someone with experience or an education. Didn't you drop out in the 7th grade?" Leroy asked.
"Not finishing school doesn't mean I don't have brains, Leroy," he said in an annoyed tone. "If they at least hear me out, I know they'll give me a chance. I'm a hard worker and have a lot of experience."
"I know you're a hard worker. You're also bound to have some good references from the CCC."
"Now see, that's what I'm talking about," Wade replied.
"I hope you're right. It's hard times these days finding work for even the most qualified," Leroy said.
"You have to have a little more optimism and drive, Leroy."
"Uh-huh," Leroy replied as he took his food tray back to the rack. Wade pulled out a cigar, lit it and puffed it a few times before snuffing it out and putting it back in his shirt pocket.
In 1936, Wade began working as a welder at a Hays oil field operation east of Huntsville. He quickly advanced to roustabout, putting all of his previously learned skills to work. He also learned to be a machinist on the job. In a short amount of time, he had earned enough money to buy a used 1933 Chevrolet pickup truck.
About a year into the job, on March 18, 1937, Wade was working near Henderson, Texas as a roustabout when there was a massive explosion at the London School of New London, Texas. The explosion was so massive that Wade could hear it in Henderson. He and a bunch of other men were released from their work on the oil fields and went to go help out in the explosion's aftermath. Wade took as many tools and as many men as could fit in his truck to the London School.
When they arrived, Wade and the other men stood in overwhelmed silence, looking agape at the level of destruction. A large chunk of concrete had been hurled out of the building, destroying an entire car. It looked like the roof had been blown up into the air and dropped back down. Over half of the building had been leveled by the explosion. Parents, school administrators, and teachers had already begun the recovery effort when Wade and his men started to pitch in. It was a harrowing day, recovering more dead than live, and more parts than wholes. The gruesome scenes brought grown men to tears at times. Some of the men helping out were roughnecks that had children in the school and some ended up recovering their own children's bodies.
Just after nightfall, Wade entered what used to be the sixth grade classroom and began moving debris to try to find any survivors. The room was dark and eerily silent except for the sound of his own movement and falling concrete and dust. He sat down his flashlight and focused it on where he was working. After a few minutes of clearing debris, he heard faint sobbing. It sounded like the crying of a child, so he began working more quickly. After working for a while, he uncovered the upper body of a blonde little girl with her arms crossed over her face. She was shaking and crying. Her arms had abrasions and cuts, and Wade gently moved them away from her face so he could examine her arms and her head.
"Are you okay, sweetie?" he asked as he wiped the concrete dust from her eyes and cheeks.
The girl began crying harder.
"What's your name?" he asked as he brushed more concrete dust from her hair.
"Helen," she quietly said through sobs.
"Helen, I'm going to get you out of here. I just have to remove some more of this rubble. Do you hurt anywhere?" Wade asked in a quiet, fatherly tone.
"My leg," she said again through sobs.
"Which one?"
"My right one," she replied.
"Okay, Helen. Just stay calm and I'll get you out of here," Wade replied. He continued digging the girl out for a few minutes, when he was finally able to see her lower body. He looked down at her right leg and forced himself to hide his shock at seeing a leg he didn't know could be bent in that many ways. "Are you sure you don't hurt anywhere else?" he asked.
"My head, but that's all," she said, the tears finally subsiding.
"Okay. I'm going to lift you and carry you out of here." He clipped the flashlight to his belt and focused it forward to illuminate his path. He lifted her gently. Her left leg seemed normal but her right leg dangled unnaturally.
"I can't feel my leg," the girl said.
"Don't worry about it. We're almost out of here and you're going to get some help," he reassured.
"Okay," she replied.
Wade rushed her outside into the darkness that was illuminated with flashlights, spotlights, and car headlights. "I found a little girl!" he shouted. He was immediately rushed by a small group of parents trying to see if the girl was theirs. Eventually all of them walked away disappointed. Wade moved the girl to a tent that was a makeshift medical treatment area. He laid her down on a cot and covered her with a blanket while a volunteer nurse began to tend her wounds.
"Thanks, Mister," she said.
"You're welcome, honey," he replied. Wade returned to the demolished building and recovered three more child survivors that night. Unfortunately, he found 5 times that many who didn't survive.
After the New London School Explosion, many of the rescuers got bonuses or promotions for their efforts. They were all summoned to Hays' Shreveport office, and met with J.T. Hays personally for recognition.
"Mr. Matlock," the secretary said. "Mr. Hays will see you now."
Wade stood up and took off his fedora hat and walked into J.T. Hays' office. Once inside, he saw the wealthiest person he'd ever been around in his life sitting at his desk. Hays was combing his hair meticulously and motioned for Wade to sit down. Wade did so and looked around the office, seeing a much more modest office than he expected.
"The key to keeping most of your hair is to brush it at least 300 times a day," Hays said.
"Oh?" Wade asked, looking at a balding Hays.
"Yes," Hays replied as he put his brush back in his desk drawer.
Wade said, "Mr. Hays, I can't tell you how much of an honor it is to meet you."
"Never you mind, that. I understand you pitched in at the New London Explosion."
"Yes, sir."
"Did you lose any of your own kin at the explosion?"
"No, sir."
"Thank God." Hays placed a file in front of him and opened it. "It says here you rescued 4 children."
"Yes, sir."
"Let's dispense with the 'sirs.' You can call me J.T."
"Okay."
"I've brought you up here to personally thank you for your hard work and heroism on that day," Hays said.
"Thank you, but I didn't work alone and I'm sure just about everyone in the area there who could help, did," Wade replied.
"Your humility is refreshing, but you still did a great thing, and I thank you."
"You're welcome," Wade said.
"Says here that you are a roustabout," Hays said, looking at the file in front of him.
"Yes, sir, er, uh, I mean, J.T.," Wade said.
"Do you enjoy that work?" Hays asked.
"Yes. It has just enough variety to keep me interested."
"Do you want to do anything else with your life? I mean, being a roustabout is interesting, but it's hard work, right?"
"I like hard work. Keeps me out of trouble," Wade replied.
Hays smiled.
Wade continued, "Eventually, I'd like to gain more experience in the oil industry, save up some money and buy my own oil field or spend some time wildcatting, or operate an oil-related business."
"Do you have any leadership experience?" Hays asked.
"Just in the CCC."
"That's something, even though it's part of that old man Roosevelt's Raw Deal plan," Hays quipped.
Wade was silent.
"Anyway, I wouldn't recommend wildcatting. I'm sure you've heard what it's done to Pop Keller?"
"Yes."
"It's just too risky," said Hays. "How would you save up enough money on a Roustabout's salary to buy your own field or operate a business?"
"Hard work and determination," Wade replied.
"The idealism is also admirable, but do you have any specific plans?"
"I figure I'll take every new opportunity that comes along and never turn them down. I'm bound to move up and achieve my goals, then."
"Definitely a good attitude to have," Hays replied.
The secretary peeked her head into Hays' office, "Mr. Hays, your 1 o'clock appointment is here."
"Thanks, darlin'," Hays replied. He then stood up and Wade did the same and Hays shook his hand. "Mr. Matlock, thanks again for your hard work and heroism on that terrible day. I give you my best wishes for your future."
"Thank you, J.T." Wade replied.
Hays was particularly impressed with Wade for his character, experience, and his desire to be a self-made man. About two months after the explosion, Hays made him manager of operations over one of his East Texas oil fields. It was there that he gained more leadership knowhow, but also some financial management skills.