Texstar Corporation - Specimen Stock Certificate

Specimen Stock printed by Security-Columbian Banknote Company. Robert Van Osdell West Jr. was a prominent American entrepreneur in the oil and gas sector, recognized for establishing the American energy firm Tesoro Petroleum Corporation. In addition to his entrepreneurial endeavors, West was an explorer and played a significant role in the discovery of the Bob West Field, which emerged as one of the most substantial gas field discoveries of the 1990s.

Throughout his career, West dedicated himself to the petroleum industry, ultimately ascending to the position of president of Texstar Corporation, which consolidated various investments and petroleum properties owned by Tom Slick. In 1964, he founded Tesoro as a spinoff from Textar Petroleum. Initially based in San Antonio, Texas, the company started as a modest regional entity. West faced skepticism regarding its viability due to limited capitalization, as Tesoro commenced operations with a mere $1,000 investment. Following the death of Tom Slick, West successfully negotiated with the executor to acquire Texstar Corporation. He utilized a $6.5 million loan to purchase and integrate Texstar into Tesoro. To further stabilize the company, West identified and merged two additional publicly traded companies—Intex Oil Company and Sioux Oil Company—into the newly formed Tesoro in 1968.