The Board of Directors for the 36th annual West Virginia Oil & Gas Festival have announced David L. McKain as the 2004 West Virginia Oil & Gas Man of the Year.

During the festival, Sept. 16-19, McKain will be honored at a special luncheon to be held at the historic Wells Inn Sept. 18, immediately following the luncheon, he will serve as Parade Marshal for the Grand Oil & Gas Trophy Parade.

McKain is married to Sue Burke McKain and has five grown children, Meg Grier of Boerne, Texas; Carolyn Blend of Buchannon; David McKain, Jr, of Morgantown; Kathy Chesley of Charles ton, W. Va.; and John McKain of Washington, D.C. Additionally, he has three grand children - and still counting.

He is the co-owner of the Parkersburg Tool Company in Parkersburg, which manufactures oil, gas, and water well drilling service tools. He is a volunteer director and co-founder of the Oil & Gas Museum in Parkersburg and responsible for building and restoring the Rathbone Oilwell and Park at Burning Springs, W. W.Va.

McKain authored the book "Where It All Began" - the History of the Oil and Gas Industry in West Virginia and Southeastern Ohio; and a companion video titled "Where It all Began" about the early oil and political mix in West Virginia.

He was president and owner of the Acme Fishing Tool Company in Parkersburg from 1970-1991, which was founded by his grandfather, George McKain, at the height of West Virginia's oil and gas boom in 100. Acme was recognized nationally and internationally as a premier manufacturer of cable drilling and fishing tools. With Acme, he traveled extensively around the world.

McKain held office, Chief of Staff, Army, in the Pentagon. He was a civilian executive from 1960-1970. At the time of his return to West Virginia, he was Director of the Army's efforts to integrate the development of its information, management, computer, and communication systems, heading a staff of nine Lieutenant Colonels. He was one of three civilian executives in the Chief of Staff's Office and upon leaving received the Army's highest Civilian Award, the Meritorious Civilian Service Award.

He was raised in Parkersburg and is a graduate of Parkersburg High School. Following graduation, McKain attended the graduated from West Virginia University with a BA Degree, with honors, in Political Science and Economics. While at the university, he was student assistant in the economics and statistics departments.

He was awarded a scholarship by the Scottish Rite Bodies of West Virginia to do his masters degree work at George Washington University in management and economics. McKain then spent two years in the U. S. Army stationed in postwar Korea for 16 months.

One of his interests is postal history and he has won international awards for his exhibits of Canadian Postal History and was directors of the British North American Philatelic Association.

McKain is active in local affairs and a director of the Parkersburg Rotary Club. He is involved in scouting in Parkersburg and is a member of the committee for Boy Scout Troop 3 as well as a member of several local and state historical societies.

His roots go back to the early days of the oil industry in Pennsylvania, following the fields from Oil City, Pithole, Bradford, and Washington, Pa., and then into the West Virginia Oil fields in Wetzel County, Mannington, Salem. And with the opening of Acme Fishing Tool Company of Parkersburg.

The West Virginia Oil & Gas Festival Man of the year is chosen on his merits in outstanding achievements and leadership in the West Virginia Oil and Gas Industry.