Holdenville Man Accuses Boone Pickens of Stealing Property

By Jennifer Pierce, NEWS 9

HOLDENVILLE, Oklahoma -- A Holdenville man has filed criminal charges against billionaire oilman and Holdenville native T. Boone Pickens.

David McCart said he is suing the oilman because Pickens allegedly stole a piece of his property.

Before he was a billionaire, a young T. Boone Pickens etched his name in his grandmother's driveway. McCart now owns that property, but recently the slab of concrete with the 70-year-old signature was taken out of the driveway. McCart's son witnessed the removal but said he didn't think anything of it at the time.

A spokesperson for Pickens said he did have the signed portion removed to take back to his ranch in Texas.

"It came as a shock to me that they actually came in with a crew and cut it out of my driveway," McCart said.

McCart reported the incident to police and has pursed theft and vandalism charges. However, the ownership of the piece of the driveway that Pickens removed is under question.

"More than likely what they took without seeing and putting a tape measure and without seeing the plat on it, is in city property," said Mike Grove, McCart's son.

But McCart said he plans to fight the city over the easement issue because he made improvements to the driveway. But more than anything he said he wants the original signature returned to its place.

"It was offered for him to come in and resign the concrete, which I told him I did not want him resigning the concrete," McCart said.

Holdenville's mayor and city attorney said this is a civil matter between Pickens and McCart and they do not plan to get involved.

A spokesperson for Pickens said they are open to any suggestions McCart might have regarding how to best commemorate Pickens' association with the property.