Tower Petroleum

Art by: Chris Hytha

Story by: Mark Houser

It did not take long for the McNeny brothers to reap the rewards for commissioning this highrise for petroleum companies. Its construction was still underway when geologists discovered the East Texas Oilfield, the biggest petroleum reservoir in state history.

Thirty years earlier, Fletcher and Frank McNeny had left their family farm in Fannin County to seek their fortune in Dallas. Fletcher first found work with the railroad and Frank in publishing; then they went into business together as McNeny & McNeny, commercial real estate agents. The brothers soon expanded their portfolio to include residential properties, acquiring 100 acres north of the city and developing the suburb of Greenland Hills.

Architect Mark Lemmon also designed Fair Park Stadium, known since the 1936 Texas Centennial by its adopted moniker, the Cotton Bowl. He and the McNeny brothers had offices in this building, which offered its oil industry tenants shared conference rooms, a library, and lounge.

Now a hotel, the property is owned by music producer John Kirtland, drummer in the Texas band that recorded the 1993 hit "Breakfast at Tiffany's." Guests who remember the film might kind of like that it plays on a loop in an old ticket booth display by the entrance.