construction of a civic center and a Methodist church building in his hometown of Bridgeport, West Virginia. The wealth from the Benedum estate was placed in a foundation named for the Benedums' son: the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation. Benedum directed that the foundation use the money for causes local to Pittsburgh and West Virginia. In 1950, the Texas Railroad Commission named an oilfield after Michael Benedum. The Benedum Field is located in northeast Upton County, Texas. This honor was given Benedum after his lease produced the discovery well, Alford No. 1, in 1948. This well kicked off the oil boom of the 1940s in the Permian Basin. Benedum died in 1959 and is interred at Homewood Cemetery. References 1869 births 1959 deaths American businesspeople in the oil industry Wildcatters Businesspeople from Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Republicans Pennsylvania Democrats People from Bridgeport, West Virginia Businesspeople from West Virginia Burials at Homewood Cemetery