E. Joe Brown

May 27, 2025 by E. Joe Brown

Some of you have watched Taylor Sheridan's new series, Landman. I enjoy Billy Bob Thornton as an actor and like him as a person, too. What you may not know is that I spent a significant amount of time with him back in the Fall of 1997, along with Bruce Willis, Ben Affleck, Marshall Teague, and the cast of the movie Armageddon. I served as host and technical advisor to director Michael Bay during the month they spent filming at Edwards Air Force Base in California.

Back to our subject, Landman. One definition of Landman that is accepted is:
In the oil and gas industry, a landman is a professional who negotiates with landowners to acquire mineral rights and leases for exploration and production. They serve as the liaison between oil and gas companies and landowners, ensuring that companies can access land to extract resources. This activity involves researching land records, negotiating contracts, and managing the legal and administrative aspects of land rights. 

There are two categories that Landmen typically fall under. (in-house and field). That means some work directly for the oil company (like Hank does as a part owner). Those in the field category are independent contractors who sell their skills to individual oil companies.

In practice, each oil company leverages the skills and talents of its employees to optimize efficiency and effectiveness in daily operations. In the show Landman, Billy Bob plays Tommy Norris, who has many years in the oil business and once owned an oil company. He not only provides the skills and services of the classic Landman but also executes the day-to-day operations of the oil company he works for.

I started college at Oklahoma State University, where I studied to become a Petroleum Engineer. My college major later changed, but between what I learned in school, growing up in Cushing, Oklahoma, an oil town, and the influence provided by my granddaddy, who Charlie based on, who had retired from Skelly Oil Company, I think you can see why I understand the character, Hank Thomas.

I wrote Hank into the story because the 101 Ranch was already involved in the oil business when my character, Charlie, arrived at the ranch. Once Charlie wanted to go out on his own in the oil business, he needed “a Hank” as his Landman.

It’s been very strange that I started creating the Kelly Can Saga Series in 2019/20, and as I've had two novels published and a third coming soon, Taylor Sheridan has had success with the Yellowstone and Landman Series. Thanks, Taylor. I hope I can add a little something to help people enjoy and understand more about how fearless men and women won the West and how, with the same fearlessness, it continues to grow.

Happy Trails,
Joe

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