Downing, Warwick Miller, 1875-1964

Downing was an attorney, petroleum pioneer, investor and conservationist from Denver, Colorado. Originally from Illinois, he began practicing law in Denver in 1895 with special interest in cases relating to the oil industry. He later entered the oil industry and became a major developer of the Oregon Basin and Salt Creek oil fields in Wyoming. He served as a corporate officer of the Reiter Foster Oil Corporation, Oregon Basin Oil & Gas Corporation, and the Fremont Petroleum Company.

Throughout his career Downing advocated conservation of oil and gas resources, and was instrumental in the establishment of the Interstate Oil Compact Commission. He also lobbied for creation of the Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission, for which he served as chair from 1932 to 1963. While serving on the IOCC and the CO & GCC, he also was member or director of the National Petroleum Council, American Petroleum Institute, Independent Petroleum Association of America, and the Rocky Mountain Oil & Gas Association. In addition he was chair of the Mountain Parks Committee of the Denver Park Commission, which created the parks system west of Denver. Downing married Emma Leet in 1897; they divorced in 1915.