Downtown in San Antonio in Bexar County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
O. Scott Petty
Photographed by James Hulse, August 9, 2021
1. O. Scott Petty Marker
and the birth place of
"Petty Geophysical Engineering Company"
#10 Tenth Street, San Antonio, Texas
Olive Scott Petty was born on April 15th, 1895 in Olive, Hardin County, Texas, a town named after a maternal uncle, Col. S.C. Olive. He received a degree in civil engineering from the University of Texas at Austin in 1917, then served in France as an Army lieutenant in the Corps of Engineers in World War I. After the war he returned to the University of Texas to teach and study Civil Engineering and advanced physics until 1923.
In 1925 he, along with his brothers Van and Dabney, founded Petty Geophysical Engineering Company, one of the first seismic service companies in the oil industry. He later merged into Geosource Inc., which eventually became Western, now fully part of Schlumberger family.
Mr. Petty was an Engineer, Geophysicist and Inventor holding many patents in geophysical instruments and equipment. He developed an electrostatic seismograph detector, later used by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration as an instrument in space exploration. He was
this page online
Among Mr. Petty's other achievements were many successful explorations of commercial oil fields in England and India in the 1930's. In World War II, Petty had seismic crews working in Cuba, Egypt, England, India, Venezuela, Ecuador, Mexico, Trinidad, and Sumatra.
Mr. Petty's accomplishments have made a significant and distinctive contribution in the field of energy.
Mr. O. Scott Petty and surviving family.
Erected 2008.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical date for this entry is April 15, 1895.
Location. 29° 26.128′ N, 98° 28.924′ W. Marker is in San Antonio, Texas, in Bexar County. It is in Downtown. It can be reached from the intersection of 10th Street and Avenue B, in the median. The marker is located down the driveway on the right side of the front porch of the Petty House (VFW Post 76). Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 10 10th Street, San Antonio TX 78215,
Photographed by James Hulse, August 9, 2021
2. The O. Scott Petty Marker on the front porch of the historic Petty House
Regionally, this marker is in South Texas. It is also in the American South. Globally, it is in North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain, the Republic of Texas, and one of the Confederate States of America.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Petty House (here, next to this marker); Old Lone Star Brewery (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Central Catholic High School (approx. 0.2 miles away); Locks & Dams (approx. 0.2 miles away); Flooding & Dams (approx. 0.2 miles away); Central Catholic High School JROTC Reviewing Stand Memorial (approx. Ό mile away); The Thiele Cottage (approx. 0.4 miles away); Engelman-Muench House (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in San Antonio.
Photographed by James Hulse, August 9, 2021
3. The Petty House
The marker is located on the right side of the front porch and left of the Texas Historical Commission marker on the far right.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on December 27, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 1,372 times since then and 101 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on December 28, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.
