He was born Anton Lucic in Split, Croatia, the son of a sea captain. Upon completion of secondary schools, he was accepted at the Polytechnic Institue in Graz, Austria where he received a degree in Engineering. After graduation, he enlisted in the Austrian navy and reached the rank of Captain. An uncle living in Saginaw, Michigan arranged for him to come to America. On May 9, 1885, he became a citizen whereby changing his name to Lucas because of language difficulties in spelling and pronunciation. He married in 1887 and the new couple established their home in Washington, D.C., where Lucas worked as a mining engineer and geologist. While developing salt mines in Louisiana, he heard of Spindletop Hill in Beaumont, Texas and its failed attempts at finding oil. He approached Standard Oil for financial support for drilling, convinced oil was there. They declined and he drilled on his own. On January 10, 1901, oil was struck. Thousands of people came to view the spout which reached a height of 200 feet. He did not develop the site but sold all interests to the Mellon group. He returned to Washington where he opened an office as a consulting engineer. He suffered a coronary in 1921 which took his life. After a mass at St Matthews Cathedral, he was interred at Rock Creek Cemetery. On October 9, 1941, a fifty foot granite monument honoring Lucas was unveiled at Spindletop. The inscription reads: His discovery has revolutionized industry and transportation. It has altered man's way of life throughout the world. Bio by John R. Bacak
He was born Anton Lucic in Split, Croatia, the son of a sea captain. Upon completion of secondary schools, he was accepted at the Polytechnic Institue in Graz, Austria where he received a degree in Engineering. After graduation, he enlisted in the Austrian navy and reached the rank of Captain. An uncle living in Saginaw, Michigan arranged for him to come to America. On May 9, 1885, he became a citizen whereby changing his name to Lucas because of language difficulties in spelling and pronunciation. He married in 1887 and the new couple established their home in Washington, D.C., where Lucas worked as a mining engineer and geologist. While developing salt mines in Louisiana, he heard of Spindletop Hill in Beaumont, Texas and its failed attempts at finding oil. He approached Standard Oil for financial support for drilling, convinced oil was there. They declined and he drilled on his own. On January 10, 1901, oil was struck. Thousands of people came to view the spout which reached a height of 200 feet. He did not develop the site but sold all interests to the Mellon group. He returned to Washington where he opened an office as a consulting engineer. He suffered a coronary in 1921 which took his life. After a mass at St Matthews Cathedral, he was interred at Rock Creek Cemetery. On October 9, 1941, a fifty foot granite monument honoring Lucas was unveiled at Spindletop. The inscription reads: His discovery has revolutionized industry and transportation. It has altered man's way of life throughout the world. Bio by John R. Bacak
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