Keith Griffitts Named to Hardin-Simmons Board of Trustees

ABILENE, TX (03/07/2012)(readMedia)-- Keith Griffitts of Dallas, Texas, has been named to the Hardin-Simmons University Board of Trustees.

Keith Griffitts is the president and owner of Western Petroleum Resources, Inc. in Dallas, Texas.

Western Petroleum Resources was founded in January 1982 by Griffitts when he combine his own capital with partners who shared his goal for finding high-quality, long-life oil and gas reserves in the major fields of Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Louisiana.

Griffitts graduated from Hardin-Simmons University in 1964 with a Bachelor of Science degree in secondary education and history with a minor in English. He went on the University of North Texas where he earned his MEd degree in 1965. He was a 2nd Lieutenant in the U. S. Army Reserve from 1965-1972.

Griffitts gained his background in the oil business through finance and marketing where he specialized in financing oil companies and drilling projects with a major brokerage firm through the early 1970s. Other financial experience includes seven years in trust banking.

Griffitts has completed a nine-year term as a Trustee at Hardin-Simmons and has served on the HSU Board of Development. He has been listed in Who's Who in Finance and Industry, 1989-2002, and Who's Who in Exploration and Production, 2005 to present.

Griffitts lectures to professional and university groups on "The Financing of Oil & Gas Exploration," "The Dynamics of Finding and Producing Oil in Today's Economic Climate," and "Horizontal Drilling Techniques," and has presented a course to CPAs on Oil and Gas Exploration for continuing-education credit.

He is a member of the Midland Oil Industry Finance Committee, the Dallas Wildcatters Group, and an Associate of the Society of Independent Professional Earth Scientists, Dallas ADAM (Acquisition & Divestiture) Energy Forum, Oilfield Christian Fellowship, and the Dallas Petroleum Club.

Griffitts is a native of Wichita Falls, Texas, and has lived in Richardson and Plano, Texas, since 1974. He is married to Cherry (Dollins) Griffitts, also a 1964 graduate of HSU. While they were friends in school, each went their separate ways until Cherry, a retired teacher, moved back to Texas. They were married last summer after Griffitts lost his wife, Barbara.

Keith's son, Ryan, and his wife, Mary, have one daughter, Ava Ellie. Keith's step-daughter is Cyndy Snider. Cherry has three children, Lea Ann Jones, Sam Garnet, and Bonnie Vandiver; and 5 grandchildren.

About Hardin-Simmons:

HSU has an enrollment of approximately 2,300 undergrad and graduate students from 29 states and 19 countries. HSU has a 13:1 student faculty ratio with a campus that sits on 209 acres. Seventy-nine percent of HSU's faculty members hold the highest degree in their field.

Hardin-Simmons University, founded in 1891, is a private Christian institution, and has been affiliated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas (Texas Baptists) since 1941.