Joseph Franklin McWilliams was born in Texarkana, Miller County, Arkansas, on February 27, 1916. In 1921 the family moved to El Dorado, Arkansas, to find work in the booming oil industry.
He attended the College of Business at the University of Arkansas, graduating in 1938. McWilliams enrolled in the ROTC in Louisiana and enlisted in the army as a 2nd Lieutenant during World War II.
After serving overseas, McWilliams worked as an accountant for the army at the Red River Arsenal in Texarkana, Texas. Later he worked in the private sector and served on the Arkansas Public Service Commission.
McWilliams passed away on December 26, 2013.
#1: Composite image of early photo of Frank McWilliams and still frame from Pryor Center video interview
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#2: Frank McWilliams in grammar school, which is at the current location of South Arkansas Community College; El Dorado, Arkansas
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#3: Frank McWilliams (pictured at top) on his family's tin-topped Studebaker; El Dorado, Arkansas
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#4: Frank McWilliams in Delta Sigma, an El Dorado High School fraternity; Dizzy Dean pictured top, center
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#5: Frank McWilliams and Boyd Alderson at their high school reunion; El Dorado, Arkansas
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#6: Kathleen Frazier, a former principal of El Dorado High School, who was fired in 1935 for being too lenient on high school fraternities
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#7: Loading oil field supplies to cross Smackover Creek, Smackover, Arkansas, oil field; photo provided by Frank McWilliams
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#8: Burning well by night; Oil Operators Trust; Murphy No. 1 Sec. 8-16-15; photo provided by Frank McWilliams
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#9: Arkansas Pipe Line and Navigation Company; photo provided by Frank McWilliams
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#10: Noe Oil and Gas Company, Workman No. 1, James A. Noe Trustee; Estimated 35,000 BBLS; photo provided by Frank McWilliams
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#11: Bar with tree trunks for bar stools, Union County, Arkansas; photo provided by Frank McWilliams
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#12: Bad road conditions, Union County, Arkansas; photo provided by Frank McWilliams
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#13: Hauling timber by the railroad; photo provided by Frank McWilliams
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#14: Oil field workers; photo provided by Frank McWilliams
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#15: Burton Well, Sec. 28-15-16; Smackover, Arkansas; photo provided by Frank McWilliams
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#16: Crater made in an oil field (top), eight-wheel ox cart (bottom); Smackover, Arkansas; photo provided by Frank McWilliams
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#17: Union County Baby Show; YWCA, El Dorado, Arkansas; Wednesday, October 4, 1923; photo provided by Frank McWilliams
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#18: Smackover's Reception Committee for Hi-Jackers; photo provided by Frank McWilliams
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#19: Union County Courthouse, El Dorado, Arkansas; photo provided by Frank McWilliams
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#20: Union Station, Smackover, Arkansas; photo provided by Frank McWilliams
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#21: Main Street flooded, Smackover, Arkansas; photo provided by Frank McWilliams
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#22: Oil workers, El Dorado, Arkansas; photo provided by Frank McWilliams
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#23: The Giant Gas Well That Opened the Smackover, Arkansas, OIl Field, Sec. 8-16-15; photo provided by Frank McWilliams
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#24: Mules pulling a wagon through the mud; photo provided by Frank McWilliams
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#25: Newton House, location of Pryor Center video interview with Frank McWilliams; El Dorado, Arkansas
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#26: Behind-the-scenes photo from Pryor Center interview with Frank McWilliams at the Newton House; El Dorado, Arkansas, 2007
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#27: Behind-the-scenes photo from Pryor Center interview with Frank McWilliams at the Newton House; El Dorado, Arkansas, 2007
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#28: Still frame from Pryor Center video interview with Frank McWilliams at the Newton House; El Dorado, Arkansas, 2007
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
