M. Jay Allison has been a director of the Company since June 1987, and our President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company since 1988. Mr. Allison was elected Chairman of the Board of Directors in 1997. From 1987 to 1988, Mr. Allison served as our Vice President and Secretary of the Company. From 1981 to 1987, he was a practicing oil and gas attorney with the firm of Lynch, Chappell & Alsup in Midland, Texas. In 1983, Mr. Allison co-founded a private independent oil and gas company, Midwood Petroleum, Inc., which was active in the acquisition and development of oil and gas properties from 1983 to 1987. He received B.B.A., M.S. and J.D. degrees from Baylor University in 1978, 1980 and 1981, respectively. Mr. Allison also serves as Chairman of the board of directors of Bois d�Arc Energy, Inc. and currently serves on the Board of Regents for Baylor University and on the Advisory Board of the Salvation Army in Dallas, Texas |