TITUSVILLE – The Petroleum History Institute (PHI), Friends of Drake Well, Inc. (FDW), and Drake Well Museum and Park will come together later this month to dedicate new trees planted at the park in memory of three individuals who made their mark in the Pennsylvania Oil Region and beyond: Paul D. Adomites, Carl C. Heinrich, and Wayne S. Leeper.

The tree dedication is set for Arbor Day, Friday at 1 p.m. at Drake Well Museum. Light refreshments will be provided following the dedication. The program is open to the public, but pre-registration is required by sending RSVPs no later than April 17th to drakewell@verizon.net or by calling (814) 461-0008.

The new trees are native to Pennsylvania and include one Eastern Redbud (Adomites) and two Sugar Maples (Heinrich and Leeper).

The individuals being memorialized were involved in different aspects of the petroleum and gas industry:

— Paul Dennis Adomites was a prolific writer and editor in western Pennsylvania. Paul dedicated his life to writing and research, contributing to numerous books and articles that explored the rich tapestry of American life – from the oil fields of Pennsylvania to the legends of Major League Baseball. His work was widely respected in both academic and enthusiast circles. Paul was actively serving as an Advisory Member of the Board of Directors for Friends of Drake Well, Inc., at the time of his passing as well as editor of the Friends’ publication, OilField Journal, a position he held since 2012. He was also a fixture at the Petroleum History Institute (PHI)’s symposia over the years. Oil history enthusiasts will remember Paul as the author of Oil Fields, Oil People (2012), Pennsylvania Crude: Boomtowns and Oil Barons (2010), and numerous articles featured in both the OilField Journal and PHI’s Oil-Industry History publication. He passed away in 2025.

— Carl Christian Heinrich was considered a pioneer and leader in the modern oil and gas industry. Following time in the military, he earned a degree in petroleum engineering and geology and became the district engineer for Quaker State in Parkersburg, West Virginia. He and his spouse, Judith Cole Heinrich, co-founded Heinrich Enterprises in 1978, operating oil and gas wells across southeastern Ohio and West Virginia. The business, now called Reno Oil & Gas, LLC, continues in Marietta, Ohio, under family leadership. His recognitions from the oil and gas industry included the SOOGA (Southeastern Ohio Oil & Gas Association) Hall of Fame; SOOGA Wildcatter Lifetime Achievement award; OOGA (Ohio Oil & Gas Association) Hall of Fame; and the Keeper of the Flame award from the Petroleum History Institute. Carl loved educating others on the oil industry, giving programs and talks about oilfields and oilfield equipment for various groups and museums. He passed away in 2020.

— Wayne Swenson Leeper found success as a geologist in the oil and gas industry, enjoying a lengthy and distinguished career in the Appalachian Basin. During his college years, Wayne was a summer intern for the Pennsylvania Topographic and Geologic Survey and contributed valuable field work for publications that are still in use today. His professional career began with United Natural Gas and subsidiary Sylvania Corp. in 1961, where he was involved with development plays in the Oriskany Sandstone as well as in the Medina Sandstone. Following the mergers in the mid-1970s, Wayne was promoted to the position of Chief Geologist at National Fuel Gas. He moved on to Keystone Oil & Gas Company in Pittsburgh in 1981 and then worked as an independent consultant from 1990 to his retirement in 2011. Understanding the importance of preserving the history of the industry he served, Wayne was a charter member of The Colonel, Inc., now known as Friends of Drake Well, Inc., the non-profit supporting the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission in the administration of Drake Well Museum and Park. He also served on the board of directors for Friends of Drake Well for several years. Wayne passed away in 2024.

For more information on the Petroleum History Institute, Friends of Drake Well, Inc., or Drake Well Museum and Park, please visit www.petroleumhistory.org or www.drakewell.org.