Ponca City in Kay County, Oklahoma — The American South (West South Central)
Lewis Haines (Lew) Wentz
1872-1949
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 10, 2024
1. Lewis Haines (Lew) Wentz Marker
Oil Man
Donor Wentz Camp & Pool Builder Oklahoma Society for Crippled Children Established student loan fund University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Education • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1872.
Location. 36° 42.207′ N, 97° 4.791′ W. Marker is in Ponca City, Oklahoma, in Kay County. It is at the intersection of South 4th Street and Grand Avenue East (Business U.S. 60), on the right when traveling north on South 4th Street. The marker is located beside the sidewalk at the southeast corner of the intersection. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 402 Grand Avenue East, Ponca City OK 74601, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the American South, specifically on the prairies, and on the Southern Plains. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian
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Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Oklahoma City Bombing Memorial (a few steps from this marker); Post Office and Court House (within shouting distance of this marker); #6 British Flying Training School (within shouting distance of this marker); Marland Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Royalty Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Montgomery Ward Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Barnes Store (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Ponca Indians (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Ponca City.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.
Also see . . .
1. Lewis Haines Wentz (Wikipedia).
Excerpt: Through his association with the 101 Ranch Oil Company Wentz became interested in the oil business and in a few years, with money provided by McCaskey and another partner, Joseph M. Weaver, Wentz began gathering lease land in Northwest Kay County and soon the McCaskey-Wentz Company was(Submitted on December 24, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)developed. By the end of 1927 this property was making $1 million a month. He was then one of the seven richest men in the nation, having reported taxable income among the top seven individuals reporting in 1927. This ranked him with Henry Ford, J. D. Rockefeller and J. P. Morgan.Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 10, 20242. Lewis Haines (Lew) Wentz MarkerLooking southwest along South 4th Street from Grand Avenue East; the marker is located in the concrete planter box.
Wentz organized and provided funding for the Oklahoma Crippled Children's Society. He built a public Olympic size swimming pool and provided the land for the public golf course (originally known as Lakeside, now renamed Lew Wentz Memorial Golf Course) for Ponca City. He established a boys and girls camp (Wentz Camp) in Ponca City and a wild game sanctuary near Ponca City. All of these facilities remain in operation to this day. Wentz established foundations for student loans and Project Awards at four Oklahoma colleges/universities. When Wentz sold his oil interests just before the 1929 crash he increased his support for higher education at these colleges. Upon his death he left an estate worth $50 million and each of the colleges received additional millions from the Wentz foundation.
2. Louis Haines Wentz (Oklahoma Historical Society).
Excerpt: Many college students have benefited from scholarships provided by the Lew Wentz Foundation established at the University of Oklahoma and at Oklahoma A&M College (now Oklahoma State University) in 1926. For his many charitable contributions he was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 1942. A golf course in Ponca City and a dormitory on the Oklahoma State University campus are named in his honor.(Submitted on December 24, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
3. Louis (Lew) Wentz, Class of 1942 (Oklahoma Hall of Fame).
Excerpt: He made his first million in 1920. By 1927 he was making one million dollars every month from his own Wentz Oil Corporation. Best known across Oklahoma for his endless philanthropy.(Submitted on December 24, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
Credits. This page was last revised on December 29, 2024. It was originally submitted on December 24, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 205 times since then and 29 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 24, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
