Dan and Farris Wilks

Dan Howard Wilks and Farris Cullen Wilks, also known as the Wilks Brothers, are American fossil fuel industry businessmen. The brothers established Wilks Masonry in 1995. They went on to found an early hydraulic fracking company, Frac Tech, in 2002, and eventually became billionaires.[1] In 2011 they sold their 70% interest in Frac Tech for $3.5 billion.[2][3] The brothers, sons of a bricklayer, reside in Cisco in Eastland County east of Abilene, Texas.[4][5]

Political activity

They supported Texan U.S. Senator Ted Cruz in the United States presidential election, 2016,[6] contributing $15 million to a super political action committee backing Cruz. They gave $50,000 in 2016 to the candidacy of Jeff Judson, who unsuccessfully challenged fellow Republican Joe Straus, Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives, in the District 121 Republican legislative primary in March 2016.[7]

Personal lives

Farris Wilks is married to Jo Ann and the father of 11 children. He is the former pastor of the Assembly of Yahweh Seventh Day near Cisco, a conservative Messianic Israelite congregation that was founded by his parents, Voy and Myrtle, in 1947. The congregation takes a literal approach to the Bible, considering it historically and scientifically accurate, and considers homosexuality and abortion crimes.[8]

Dan Wilks is married to Staci and the father of two children with her and four children from a previous marriage.

Idaho Land Purchase and Restrictions

As early as 2016[9] the Wilks Brothers began purchasing large quantities of land in Central Idaho mainly in Ada, Boise, and Valley counties. The Wilks Brothers are known by the locals primarily for exercising their private land rights and restricting access to the locals. Land that has been used recreational and for sustenance purposes by Idahoans for generations is often cut off by these actions. The WIlks Brothers often do not allow locals to hunt, snowmobile, cut firewood, or even traverse their land. This has caused frustration and earned the brothers a negative reputation among the locals.[10]

References

  1. ↑ Durgy, Edwin (September 26, 2011). "The Forbes 400's Newest Undercover Billionaires: The Wilks Brothers". Forbes.
  2. ↑ Billionaires buy up land in Idaho
  3. ↑ Kong, Dinny McMahon And Kanga (2011-05-13). "Frac Tech Got $3.5 Billion". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 2016-03-28.
  4. ↑ Montgomery, Peter (June 13, 2014). "Meet the Billionaire Brothers You Never Heard of Who Fund the Religious Right". American Prospect.
  5. ↑ "The 41 Wealthiest Texans: Nos. 40 and 41: Dan Wilks and Farris Wilks: Dan Wilks (57, CISCO): $1.5 BILLION Farris Wilks (61, CISCO): $1.5 BILLION". Texas Monthly.
  6. ↑ "Big Money: Billionaire Brothers Give Ted Cruz $15M". The Daily Beast.
  7. ↑ David Saleh Rauf, "Mega donors bolster tea party: Billionaire family fuels anti-Straus bid", San Antonio Express-News, January 22, 2016, pp. 1, A8
  8. ↑ Conlin, Michelle (September 11, 2015). "Special Report: Touting morality, billionaire Texas brothers top 2016 donor list". Retrieved 7 July 2016; includes link to their statement of belief
  9. ↑ "Texas billionaires limit snowmobile access on Idaho land, reverse course on logging".
  10. ↑ "Texas billionaires put gates on popular Forest Service road near Boise". www.idahostatesman.com.


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