John Wold - was selected as the winner in the Minerals, Oil & Gas Category. Wold first came to Casper, Wyoming, in 1948, in the employ of Barnsdall Oil Company. Two years later he struck out on his own, setting up shop as a consulting geologist. He ran a one-man operation, doing his own geological work and research. Wold also began to build his own stake, buying up leases and selling them for a profit based on his own reports of each areas potential but maintaining a percentage interest.

Wold gradually moved his emphasis from oil to minerals. He was a co-discoverer and developer of the Christensen Ranch uranium ore body, one of the largest in the country. He also played a principal role in the development in Converse County of the Highland Uranium Mine, now the largest uranium solution mine in the world. Wold eventually established Wold Nuclear Company and by the 1970s, his firm had interests in more than 400,000 acres of uranium claims and leases throughout the United States. Wold currently heads Wold Trona Company in Casper, which is developing a mine and soda ash plant in the Green River Basin, using revolutionary new technologies developed specifically for the company.

  Fred Goodstein - was also a finalist in this category on the basis of his work as the owner of Trigood Oil Company, which had operations across Wyoming.

  H.A. "Dave" True - was also selected as a finalist in the Minerals, Oil & Gas Category because of his work as a developer of Wyoming’s oil reserves.

  C.B. Richardson - was instrumental in the development of the Salt Creek Field and became a millionaire by virtue of his leading role in Wyoming’s oil industry.

  Harry Thorson - began his career in the in the oil fields, managing operations, and went on to found the Black Hills Bentonite Company.

  Glenn Nielson - was also nominated in this category because of his successful management of Husky Oil. Robert Peck - as publisher of the Riverton Ranger, he puts out an annual Mining Edition, a statewide profile of the industry.

  Roy Peck - a charter member of the Wyoming Mining Association, he was instrumental in its founding in 1956.

  Paul Stock - began working in the oil fields around Cody, and became the president and largest stockholder of Stock Oil Company and Yale Oil Company.

  Patrick Quealy - was also selected as a finalist in this category because of his work in promoting oil and gas development in southwestern Wyoming.