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By TIM BADLEY
Traveler Correspondent

When Robert Bowers first arrived to the Dexter area in 1972, he knew very little about oil and gas. "Oil could have come from a can for all I could have known," Bowers said. However, as oil and natural gas prices increased, Bowers' interest in oil and the area grew.

During an inspiring night in 1974, Bowers dreamed of drilling wells in Dexter. He started the Walnut Valley Oil Company and leased many Dexter properties.

"We started moving rigs and drilling in different parts of Dexter like front yards," Bowers said. "We also drilled across the street from the bank, at the lumber yard and at the filling station." Bowers went on to say, "They thought I was crazy, and then everybody in town started receiving checks. Some still do after 25 years."

Goals are important to Bowers because when he makes them, he intends to achieve them. "Once I get set on something," Bowers said. "It's got to go."

About two years ago, Bowers followed another dream. He wanted to join two natural gas wells that produced high BTU gas to another pipeline in order to increase the profitability of the gas. After 10 1/2 months, Bowers dug and constructed a six- mile pipeline along 282nd Road that joined the wells to the Enbridge Pipeline.

Robert Adams worked on that project for Bowers. "I'm impressed with it," Adams said. "It took him a little longer than he originally planned, but he got it done."

Bowers has other projects. First, he will run another pipeline from Highway 166 and Highway 14 diagonally past Dexter and tie in with the Enbridge pipeline. Second, he will continue to develop and explore areas where oil and gas have been found. Third, he will use more submersible pumps that will increase the volume of oil and gas retrieval from the wells by 3 times.

"These projects will bring jobs and industries to the area," Bowers said. "It will also increase revenue."

To get an idea about how profitable crude oil is right now, one just has to look at gasoline prices. Cowley economics professor Todd Shepherd said, "Since crude oil is a necessary component of gasoline production, crude oil prices and prices at the pump are proportional." Therefore, as gasoline prices grow higher, the prices of crude oil grow higher, and Millennium Oil will be fetching more money per crude oil barrel.

"Since foreign crude prices have gone higher, there is a monetary incentive for domestic producers to drill more wells," Shepherd said. "In the 1980s the price per barrel was $10. In recent weeks, the price per barrel has been $50."

Bowers has the goal of making money for the Dexter area. He did not support the flooding of the Grouse Creek Valley which proposed to bring income to Dexter area residents.

With proper community support, Bowers said, "Millennium Oil and Flint Hills Natural Gas will bring in millions for the residents of Dexter in tax revenues."

Bowers loves the history of natural gas and oil in southeast Cowley County. He thinks of this area when dinosaurs roamed, croaked and then were covered by sand. "Mother Nature has done a good job hiding her goods," Bowers said.

Bowers also thinks of the beginning of the 20th century when prospectors cracked the sand beds and found the natural gasses and oil below. In the 1930s, when the natural gas industry was no longer profitable in the area and the wells were shut down, "It was like closing a valve and leaving them dormant for 75 years," Hes said.

As his companies profit, Bowers says that he will return his profits to the families of Cowley County. "If tomorrow I won the lottery, I would spend it all out here," Bowers said.

Last year, Bowers provided area students with gloves and hats during the winter months. "I hope to eventually provide scholarships for students," Bowers said. "I want students to go to college to become ecologists and engineers so that they could come back to the area and work for me."

To celebrate Christmas, Bowers also supported a biscuits and gravy breakfast for the Dexter Care Center and residents of Dexter. He will be doing it again this year.

Owner of Harvest Time General Store Ray Hohman made the biscuits and gravy for the event. "This business is here for the community," Hohman said. "The business that [Bowers] brings will boast the community and will help keep this business going."

Other citizens are equally optimistic. "If he gets it going, I'd think about letting him drill on my property." said Leon Williams, Dexter resident.

According to Bowers, Millennium Oil and Flint Hills Natural Gas will "give investors the best opportunity by analyzing the various sand bodies in these different areas and maximizing the opportunities for gas and oil."

Possible investors should check out Bowers' websites at www.millenniumoilandgas.com or www.flinthillsnaturalgas.com. They can also call Robert Bowers at Flint Hills Natural Gas at (620) 876-3440 or Millennium Oil at (620) 876-3441.