John Bruce Nichlos was born in New York and came to Oklahoma to work in the production of oil and gas in Chickasha, Oklahoma. He found great success in the field and became the president of the Oklahoma Gas Utilities Company, Little Nick Oil Company, Nichlos Royalty Company, and the Nichlos Oil and Drilling Company. A member of the board of directors of the Natural Gas Producers Corporation of Tulsa, Nichlos also served as president of the Chickasha Chamber of Commerce and the board of stewards of the Methodist Church of Chickasha. Mr. Nichlos was also the chairman of the board of directors of the First National Bank of Chickasha and was a member of the board of directors of the Oklahoma School of Religion.