Tuesday, April 21, 1998

Bill Stevens named new executive director of WCTOGA

By SCOTT SCHOLTEN Staff Writer

Former Abilene oilman Bill Stevens has been named new executive director of the West Central Texas Oil and Gas Association.

Stevens, who moved to Marathon in 1990 with his wife, Laurie, to gentrify the landmark Gage Hotel, will assume the day-to-day operations of WeCTOGA beginning June 1, according to Bill Core, the association's board chairman.

He was unanimously appointed to the position by WeCTOGA's executive committee Wednesday, Core said.

Stevens succeeds Morris Burns, who held the position since April 1986.

Core said Stevens' main task as executive director will be to stop the association's hemorrhaging membership.

"The truth is, WeCTOGA does have some significant issues revolving around membership retention and increase," Core said.

Stevens should prove helpful in the association's lobbying efforts, its main mission. Core said Stevens is articulate and possesses background knowledge of the industry's start to finish logistics: from field to fuel pump.

As lobbying point man, Stevens' efforts will be especially important when it comes to crafting environmental regulations.

Core said absent industry input, environmental regulations pose threats to the oil and gas producers. But Stevens' background should ensure environmental advocates and oil and gas advocates can accommodate each other, he said.

Stevens, an Abilene native and 1973 graduate of McMurry University, was active in numerous industry organizations in the 1980s and was founder and first chairman of the Energy Forum of WeCTOGA.

He also was active in the Texas Republican Party, serving on the state Republican Executive Committee and as a Taylor County leader of George Bush's 1988 campaign for president.

Before their move to Southwest Texas, Laurie Stevens hosted an Abilene television show, "Mid-Day with Laurie," and became executive director of the Paramount Theater in 1988.

In April 1990, they became managers of the historic 20-room Gage Hotel, about 40 miles north of the entrance to Big Bend National Park.