Presenting IPAA’s Chief Roughneck Award to Discovery Operating Inc.’s chairman and co-founder, Don Sparks (center), are IPAA President and CEO Jeff Eshelman (right) and World Oil Editor-in-Chief Kurt Abraham (left).
At the 96th Annual Meeting of the Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA) in Williamsburg, Va., Don Sparks the co-founder and chairman of the board of Discovery Operating, Inc., was presented with the 2025 Chief Roughneck Award.
IPAA represents thousands of independent businesses that develop 91% of America’s oil and natural gas wells. As explained in a history of the award presented by World Oil Editor-in-Chief Kurt Abraham, the Chief Roughneck honor dates back to 1955 and has included pioneers in the industry. Sparks was selected by industry peers as the 66th recipient of the award. Past winners of the Chief Roughneck Award can view viewed on the American Oil & Gas Historical Society website.
The Chief Roughneck Award recognizes one individual, whose accomplishments and character represent the highest ideals of the U.S. oil and natural gas industry. The award is considered one of the most meaningful honors in the industry; the award and the character behind it – Joe Roughneck – symbolize the spirit, determination, leadership and integrity of individuals who have made a lasting impression on the energy industry.
IPAA President and CEO Jeff Eshelman said, “It is the IPAA leadership’s honor to present the Chief Roughneck Award to Don Sparks. Don has made his mark on Midland (Texas), mark on the industry and mark on the country. We are immensely grateful to have had him and his family active in IPAA and our advocacy for decades. His technical consulting and independent producing background enable him to be especially sensitive to the particular needs of independent producers, along with working interest participants and royalty interest owners. He’s a true patriot and has played a significant role in our country achieving energy dominance. Don and the Sparks family are the embodiment of this award, and we wish them and Discovery Operating, Inc., success for many more years and generations.”
Don Sparks, co-founder and Chairman of the Board of Discovery Operating, Inc., commented, “I’ve been very blessed to work in an industry that I truly believe helps this world and all the people in it, and I’m proud to be a part of it. I thank those that helped me get here, it was not by myself. It was one of my dreams to build a family company; My wife has been in partnership in Discovery Operating, Inc. with me from the beginning, and I’ve been blessed to have my sons and three grandchildren involved. I’ve been blessed with the guys that work with me in the field; they go out there every day and put their bodies and their time and energy into making sure this industry survives and gets by no matter the oil price. Thank you to the IPAA for this recognition.”
Don Sparks was born in Pampa, Texas, raised in Amarillo, Texas, and received his bachelor’s degree in petroleum engineering from The University of Texas at Austin in 1962. After graduation, Sparks served as an officer in the U.S. Navy for four years and worked in various engineering and consulting capacities for Bailey, Sipes, Williamson and Runyan; Freeport Oil Company; and Shell Oil Company. He co-founded Discovery Operating, Inc. (DOI) in 1973. More than five decades later, Discovery Operating has evolved into a classic, small family-owned and operated independent oil and gas company with 31 full-time employees. Discovery operates approximately 420 wells within a 300-400 mi radius of Midland. Today, with the horizontal shale play, DOI’s operated production is over 15,000 bopd and 35 MMcfd of natural gas. He has been influential in the development of the Wolfcamp and Spraberry shales, and the logging suite and analysis he helped establish has been the basis for picking the landing zones in the horizontal wells drilled and completed in the Midland basin today. Sparks also co-founded Platt, Sparks & Associates with Ronald Platt, which evaluates properties, performs reservoir studies and provides expert testimony for hearings and litigations in Midland and Austin; both men retired from the firm in 2014.
Sparks is a registered professional engineer and a renowned member of the petroleum engineering community. He has received numerous awards in recognition of his accomplishments, including IPAA’s Leadership Award, the University of Texas Cockrell School of Engineering Distinguished Graduate Award and the Hearst Lifetime Achievement Energy Award. He previously served as president of the Permian Basin Chapter of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, director of the Permian Basin Petroleum Association and regional vice president, governor and executive committee member of the IPAA. He also served as a member of the U.S. Department of Energy Unconventional Resources Technology Advisory Committee. He is an active member of the National Society of Petroleum Engineers, American Association of Drilling Engineers and Texas Alliance of Energy Producers. Sparks also served on the Executive Committee and as chairman of the Mountain States Legal Foundation Executive Board.
Sparks currently resides in Midland, Texas, with his wife, Gwyndolyn. They have three sons, eleven grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren. All three of his children are partners in Discovery Operating, Inc. William Jeffrey Sparks is Chief Operating Officer, Kevin Don Sparks is Chief Executive Officer and Christopher Todd Sparks is Chief Financial Officer and takes care of outside investments. Gwyn Sparks works at Discovery in accounting.
