Bush visits for hall induction

The 2009 inductions to the Petroleum Museum Hall of Fame had a presidential flavor Thursday.

Former President George W. Bush was among four inductees honored at a reception at the Midland Center.

Spokesman Rob Saliterman said Bush was excited about the induction. The ceremony was closed to the media.

"President Bush is honored to receive this recognition and glad to be back in Midland-Odessa," Saliterman said.

After receiving a master' in business administration from Harvard Business School, Bush returned to Midland, his boyhood hometown. He started Arbusto Energy, which later merged with Spectrum Energy.

He joins his father, former President George H.W. Bush, in the hall of fame. The elder Bush was inducted in 1991. The Bush family spent much of the time between 1948 and 1959 living in Odessa and Midland, where George H.W. Bush founded the Bush-Overbey Oil Development Co.

Saliterman said Bush would fly out of town after the ceremony, skipping today's inductees' brunch.

Jim Henry, one of the night's other inductees, said it was "a bit intimidating" being honored alongside the former president.

"President Bush is a very personable person and also a friend of mine," he said. "We think a lot alike, and we have similar backgrounds. It's nice to be around him."

Bush and Henry, the founder of Henry Petroleum, were honored alongside Johnny R. Warren, founder of the Warren Equipment Corp. and the team of Ted Collins Jr. and Herbert Ware Jr., who started Collins & Ware.

Henry said the honor was a "lifetime achievement," and he was on the shoulders of a number of people in getting to the hall of fame.

"The one I'm on the shoulders of most is my lord, who helps guide me and lead me," he said.

2009 Petroleum Hall of Fame Inductees

>> George W. Bush, 43rd U.S. president.

>> Ted Collins Jr. and Herbert Ware Jr., founders of Collins & Ware Inc.

>> Jim Henry, founder Henry Petroleum Corp.

>> Johnny R. Warren, former chairman of Warren Equipment Co.