Rainey Bennett 1907-1998 is perhaps better known as an illustrator of children's books from which he earned his living, and celebrated as a teacher, from the early 1960's at the Art Institute of Chicago. Like many FORTUNE reportage artists, had been active in the WPA Post Office Mural commissions 1939/41.

In a review of an exhibition in New York in 1940 (TIME magazine) it is revealed that he had been sent to Venezuela by Nelson Rockefeller whose Standard Oil had a subisidary there - Creole Petroleum. SONJ organised a travelling show of Bennett's watercolours thereafter. His work also appeared in LIFE magazine.