Elder Derrick

The derrick, located in the 200 block of north Kilgore Street, is dedicated in honor of Winter Dickson Elder and Jack Elder Sr, by their children Susie Elder Merritt and Dr. Jack D. Elder Jr., grandchildren Kellie Anne Elder Blakcley, Ginger Leigh Elder Smith, Kristin Clair Elder, Tiffany Anne Merritt Johnston and Tara Winter Merritt Ford, and great-grandchildren Robert Preston Blakeley, Austin Liberty Smith, Travis Kelly Smith, Alexis Winter Johnston, Colby Caroline Johnston, Jack Bryan Johnston, Merritt Steven Ford and Savannah Winter Ford.

Jack Elder Sr. is an accomplished photographer and during World War II, served as the head of Lockheed’s photography department in Dallas. He is also a noted author, publishing a photographic history of the oil industry in Kilgore entitled “The Glory Days” during the late 1980s. In addition, he followed that publishing with another book called “The Gory Days.”

Winter Elder managed the Kelly Dickson Estate since 1962 which included numerous buildings in downtown Kilgore. They were married for 64 years.

The derrick was provided by Texaco, Inc. and the site donated by Susie Elder Merritt and Dr. Jack D. Elder Jr. in honor of their parents.