Lee Cain was an officer and director of Timber Creek Oil Co., the operator of oil wells that it failed to plug after the Texas Railroad Commission ordered it to do so. The Commission authorized the expenditure of State of Texas funds to pay the expense of plugging the wells. 

Four months later, Timber Creek failed to file its franchise-tax report. Two months later, its corporate charter was forfeited by the State of Texas, causing Timber Creek to cease to exist; the charter was never revived. Beginning one month after the charter forfeiture and continuing for six months, the Commission paid $50,000 to plug the Timber Creek wells. The state sued Cain to recover the $50,000 on a theory that he was personally liable for the Timber Creek debt. Was Cain liable for the debt?