My father was practically an orphan. He left his home and lived with older brothers and sisters at around the age of 9 or 10. His mother had died, and he was left with a step mother. I can only assume he did not get along and by leaving and living with his siblings, he wasn’t exposed to much formal education. I don’t think he ever went to school much past the 3rd or 4th grade, and then that was sporadic and hit or miss, since farm families often had their children working to get in the harvest in the fall of each year.
My parents had lost a baby girl about a week after her birth around 1931 or 32. I was born in 1934 and -was always treated as special. Dad always felt he had been short-changed about his education in later years and was determined that I would not suffer from it. He would say he wanted me to be able to ‘meet the pubic’! I was never sure just what that meant, but think he wanted me to be able to be able to speak before an audience and to hold my own in a debate, and such. He was bound and determined that I should go to college, even if it ‘hare lipped the governor’!
My father was very handy with tools, during World War II he resoled our shoes, and I have seen him completely rebuild our team of horses’ harness. He had the attitude that if something broke, he would fix it, or we would do without. Which, during the war years was a logical attitude because of rationing of most critical items. But since both parents were raised on a farm with large families, we had large gardens, a milk cow, raised a hog to kill each fall. My mother always sat a ‘heavy table’ whether we had company or not, so the war rationing was only a slight bother.
Once, we were at the supper table and both my mother and I noticed that dad wasn’t acting normal, something was bothering him. We both almost in unison said, “What is the matter?” What is bothering you?” He finally told us that he had been offered a pumper’s job with the oil company he was working for at the time as a roustabout. He said the manager had offered it, but he wasn’t going to take it. We asked why because we all knew it was a real step up, more pay, better hours, and a house in which to live.
We both asked “why?” He replied that if he took the job he would have to do fractions in keeping up with the oil in the storage tanks, or batteries. I immediately told him I knew know to do fractions, and I would teach him fractions! We sat down at the kitchen table, and I taught my father fractions. I think I was in about the 6th or 7th grade at the time. The fractions he had to deal with were easy since the barrels were in 25th, 50th. And such, not as hard as lumber fractions. I don’t think he ever made a mistake in handling his lease reports of oil produced.
When I graduated from high school I was 18 years old and immediately began working as a member of a drilling crew on a drilling rig, locally called a roughneck. My very first well was to dig a water well of about 900 feet deep for the city of Saint Jo, Texas. After that we drilled other oil wells, at times driving as far as 90 miles each way to the well site. Later, I went out to West Texas to find work and work out of Big Spring, Texas. I sent as much money home each payday as I could, keeping only enough to pay for my board and keep.
When I finally got home in preparation for going to college, the entire family, parents and little sister went with me to College Station, Texas to enroll me at Texas A. & M. as a freshman and to pursue a career as a petroleum engineer. Dad went with me through the entire process, and I could tell he was stressed. He never said a word, but I could tell this was all completely foreign to him.
When we finished and I have been issued my uniforms and assigned a dorm they were ready to leave and go back home, he handed me his checkbook and said, “be as careful as you can!” Now all summer he had deposited my money in the family account. It was a family effort. I was to get an education regardless of the cost. I am sure he had had conversations with the bank president to borrow whatever was necessary. my education was to be covered. I know that many will not recognize the impact this had, or the impression in had on me, but it was something I ‘ll never forget. Even before I went to college, I was allowed to have a full voice in family decisions. Neither of my parents had even a high school education and recognized this lack. We often discussed decisions in the family with my input was given equal weight.
My regret is that my father died in May of 1962. My main regret is he did not live long enough to see the return he made on the investment of my education and training me to “meet the public”. He did get to see me both graduate from college with a degree in business and commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force Reserve. Since then, I have climbed other mountains and hope he saw what I’ve achieved since then. I have rubbed shoulders with U.S. Presidents, made speeches to audiences of over 1,000, presided as the president of a Rotary Club whose membership was over 700 at the time. I hope I have achieved his goals for me! Just Sayin….RJS
Robert J Samples wrote:
My father was practically an orphan. He left his home and lived with older brothers and sisters at around the age of 9 or 10. His mother had died, and he was left with a step mother. I can only assume he did not get along and by leaving and living with his siblings, he wasn’t exposed to much formal education. I don’t think he ever went to school much past the 3rd or 4th grade, and then that was sporadic and hit or miss, since farm families often had their children working to get in the harvest in the fall of each year.
My parents had lost a baby girl about a week after her birth around 1931 or 32. I was born in 1934 and -was always treated as special. Dad always felt he had been short-changed about his education in later years and was determined that I would not suffer from it. He would say he wanted me to be able to ‘meet the pubic’! I was never sure just what that meant, but think he wanted me to be able to be able to speak before an audience and to hold my own in a debate, and such. He was bound and determined that I should go to college, even if it ‘hare lipped the governor’!
My father was very handy with tools, during World War II he resoled our shoes, and I have seen him completely rebuild our team of horses’ harness. He had the attitude that if something broke, he would fix it, or we would do without. Which, during the war years was a logical attitude because of rationing of most critical items. But since both parents were raised on a farm with large families, we had large gardens, a milk cow, raised a hog to kill each fall. My mother always sat a ‘heavy table’ whether we had company or not, so the war rationing was only a slight bother.
Once, we were at the supper table and both my mother and I noticed that dad wasn’t acting normal, something was bothering him. We both almost in unison said, “What is the matter?” What is bothering you?” He finally told us that he had been offered a pumper’s job with the oil company he was working for at the time as a roustabout. He said the manager had offered it, but he wasn’t going to take it. We asked why because we all knew it was a real step up, more pay, better hours, and a house in which to live.
We both asked “why?” He replied that if he took the job he would have to do fractions in keeping up with the oil in the storage tanks, or batteries. I immediately told him I knew know to do fractions, and I would teach him fractions! We sat down at the kitchen table, and I taught my father fractions. I think I was in about the 6th or 7th grade at the time. The fractions he had to deal with were easy since the barrels were in 25th, 50th. And such, not as hard as lumber fractions. I don’t think he ever made a mistake in handling his lease reports of oil produced.
When I graduated from high school I was 18 years old and immediately began working as a member of a drilling crew on a drilling rig, locally called a roughneck. My very first well was to dig a water well of about 900 feet deep for the city of Saint Jo, Texas. After that we drilled other oil wells, at times driving as far as 90 miles each way to the well site. Later, I went out to West Texas to find work and work out of Big Spring, Texas. I sent as much money home each payday as I could, keeping only enough to pay for my board and keep.
When I finally got home in preparation for going to college, the entire family, parents and little sister went with me to College Station, Texas to enroll me at Texas A. & M. as a freshman and to pursue a career as a petroleum engineer. Dad went with me through the entire process, and I could tell he was stressed. He never said a word, but I could tell this was all completely foreign to him.
When we finished and I have been issued my uniforms and assigned a dorm they were ready to leave and go back home, he handed me his checkbook and said, “be as careful as you can!” Now all summer he had deposited my money in the family account. It was a family effort. I was to get an education regardless of the cost. I am sure he had had conversations with the bank president to borrow whatever was necessary. my education was to be covered. I know that many will not recognize the impact this had, or the impression in had on me, but it was something I ‘ll never forget. Even before I went to college, I was allowed to have a full voice in family decisions. Neither of my parents had even a high school education and recognized this lack. We often discussed decisions in the family with my input was given equal weight.
My regret is that my father died in May of 1962. My main regret is he did not live long enough to see the return he made on the investment of my education and training me to “meet the public”. He did get to see me both graduate from college with a degree in business and commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force Reserve. Since then, I have climbed other mountains and hope he saw what I’ve achieved since then. I have rubbed shoulders with U.S. Presidents, made speeches to audiences of over 1,000, presided as the president of a Rotary Club whose membership was over 700 at the time. I hope I have achieved his goals for me! Just Sayin….RJS
My father was practically an orphan. He left his ... (
show quote)
Great story and Family History RJS, I’m positive you have Made Your Father Proud. I was not so lucky, my Father died in a Car wreck when I was 13 years old. In the time we had he taught me how to hunt a little and fish a little bit. He was a kind and gentle speaking man from what I remember very positive and loved his wife and family. My mom‘s dad my grandpa EV (yes short Nic name) and mom‘s brothers finished teaching me how to hunt and fish. It seemed after 13 I didn’t have much of a childhood, I had a younger brother and a younger sister and a mom depended on me to get some things done. I did my best and I believe mom raised three great kids. We’ve all done well have our own houses our own families, We all learned how to work for a living and we’ve done that. Not all of life has been Sweetwater and roses but we’ve all survived, my sister and I are retired and my brothers a Captain for the local fire station. And he only has four or five years left. After my first wife left and I remarried I have raised five children and now have 12 grandchildren and it’s all been a wild ride but a Very fun rewarding ride. Sometimes life is what we make of it and we just have to learn how to deal with what we’re dealt you all have a great Father’s Day!! Ruff
Robert J Samples wrote:
My father was practically an orphan. He left his home and lived with older brothers and sisters at around the age of 9 or 10. His mother had died, and he was left with a step mother. I can only assume he did not get along and by leaving and living with his siblings, he wasn’t exposed to much formal education. I don’t think he ever went to school much past the 3rd or 4th grade, and then that was sporadic and hit or miss, since farm families often had their children working to get in the harvest in the fall of each year.
My parents had lost a baby girl about a week after her birth around 1931 or 32. I was born in 1934 and -was always treated as special. Dad always felt he had been short-changed about his education in later years and was determined that I would not suffer from it. He would say he wanted me to be able to ‘meet the pubic’! I was never sure just what that meant, but think he wanted me to be able to be able to speak before an audience and to hold my own in a debate, and such. He was bound and determined that I should go to college, even if it ‘hare lipped the governor’!
My father was very handy with tools, during World War II he resoled our shoes, and I have seen him completely rebuild our team of horses’ harness. He had the attitude that if something broke, he would fix it, or we would do without. Which, during the war years was a logical attitude because of rationing of most critical items. But since both parents were raised on a farm with large families, we had large gardens, a milk cow, raised a hog to kill each fall. My mother always sat a ‘heavy table’ whether we had company or not, so the war rationing was only a slight bother.
Once, we were at the supper table and both my mother and I noticed that dad wasn’t acting normal, something was bothering him. We both almost in unison said, “What is the matter?” What is bothering you?” He finally told us that he had been offered a pumper’s job with the oil company he was working for at the time as a roustabout. He said the manager had offered it, but he wasn’t going to take it. We asked why because we all knew it was a real step up, more pay, better hours, and a house in which to live.
We both asked “why?” He replied that if he took the job he would have to do fractions in keeping up with the oil in the storage tanks, or batteries. I immediately told him I knew know to do fractions, and I would teach him fractions! We sat down at the kitchen table, and I taught my father fractions. I think I was in about the 6th or 7th grade at the time. The fractions he had to deal with were easy since the barrels were in 25th, 50th. And such, not as hard as lumber fractions. I don’t think he ever made a mistake in handling his lease reports of oil produced.
When I graduated from high school I was 18 years old and immediately began working as a member of a drilling crew on a drilling rig, locally called a roughneck. My very first well was to dig a water well of about 900 feet deep for the city of Saint Jo, Texas. After that we drilled other oil wells, at times driving as far as 90 miles each way to the well site. Later, I went out to West Texas to find work and work out of Big Spring, Texas. I sent as much money home each payday as I could, keeping only enough to pay for my board and keep.
When I finally got home in preparation for going to college, the entire family, parents and little sister went with me to College Station, Texas to enroll me at Texas A. & M. as a freshman and to pursue a career as a petroleum engineer. Dad went with me through the entire process, and I could tell he was stressed. He never said a word, but I could tell this was all completely foreign to him.
When we finished and I have been issued my uniforms and assigned a dorm they were ready to leave and go back home, he handed me his checkbook and said, “be as careful as you can!” Now all summer he had deposited my money in the family account. It was a family effort. I was to get an education regardless of the cost. I am sure he had had conversations with the bank president to borrow whatever was necessary. my education was to be covered. I know that many will not recognize the impact this had, or the impression in had on me, but it was something I ‘ll never forget. Even before I went to college, I was allowed to have a full voice in family decisions. Neither of my parents had even a high school education and recognized this lack. We often discussed decisions in the family with my input was given equal weight.
My regret is that my father died in May of 1962. My main regret is he did not live long enough to see the return he made on the investment of my education and training me to “meet the public”. He did get to see me both graduate from college with a degree in business and commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force Reserve. Since then, I have climbed other mountains and hope he saw what I’ve achieved since then. I have rubbed shoulders with U.S. Presidents, made speeches to audiences of over 1,000, presided as the president of a Rotary Club whose membership was over 700 at the time. I hope I have achieved his goals for me! Just Sayin….RJS
My father was practically an orphan. He left his ... (
show quote)
We went through a marriage breakup, my parents, when I was around 8,my father brought all 5 of us up. He was a hard but generous man. I remember he biked to work and home each workday. He had bronchitis from when he was stationed in New Guinea and suffered a lot with it in later life. After I purchased my home in the 70s he stayed with us for many years in a caravan on our property. In 98 he went and stayed with one of my brothers and a few months later he suffered a massive heart attack and was found in the morning after. I miss him very much.
Robert J Samples wrote:
My father was practically an orphan. He left his home and lived with older brothers and sisters at around the age of 9 or 10. His mother had died, and he was left with a step mother. I can only assume he did not get along and by leaving and living with his siblings, he wasn’t exposed to much formal education. I don’t think he ever went to school much past the 3rd or 4th grade, and then that was sporadic and hit or miss, since farm families often had their children working to get in the harvest in the fall of each year.
My parents had lost a baby girl about a week after her birth around 1931 or 32. I was born in 1934 and -was always treated as special. Dad always felt he had been short-changed about his education in later years and was determined that I would not suffer from it. He would say he wanted me to be able to ‘meet the pubic’! I was never sure just what that meant, but think he wanted me to be able to be able to speak before an audience and to hold my own in a debate, and such. He was bound and determined that I should go to college, even if it ‘hare lipped the governor’!
My father was very handy with tools, during World War II he resoled our shoes, and I have seen him completely rebuild our team of horses’ harness. He had the attitude that if something broke, he would fix it, or we would do without. Which, during the war years was a logical attitude because of rationing of most critical items. But since both parents were raised on a farm with large families, we had large gardens, a milk cow, raised a hog to kill each fall. My mother always sat a ‘heavy table’ whether we had company or not, so the war rationing was only a slight bother.
Once, we were at the supper table and both my mother and I noticed that dad wasn’t acting normal, something was bothering him. We both almost in unison said, “What is the matter?” What is bothering you?” He finally told us that he had been offered a pumper’s job with the oil company he was working for at the time as a roustabout. He said the manager had offered it, but he wasn’t going to take it. We asked why because we all knew it was a real step up, more pay, better hours, and a house in which to live.
We both asked “why?” He replied that if he took the job he would have to do fractions in keeping up with the oil in the storage tanks, or batteries. I immediately told him I knew know to do fractions, and I would teach him fractions! We sat down at the kitchen table, and I taught my father fractions. I think I was in about the 6th or 7th grade at the time. The fractions he had to deal with were easy since the barrels were in 25th, 50th. And such, not as hard as lumber fractions. I don’t think he ever made a mistake in handling his lease reports of oil produced.
When I graduated from high school I was 18 years old and immediately began working as a member of a drilling crew on a drilling rig, locally called a roughneck. My very first well was to dig a water well of about 900 feet deep for the city of Saint Jo, Texas. After that we drilled other oil wells, at times driving as far as 90 miles each way to the well site. Later, I went out to West Texas to find work and work out of Big Spring, Texas. I sent as much money home each payday as I could, keeping only enough to pay for my board and keep.
When I finally got home in preparation for going to college, the entire family, parents and little sister went with me to College Station, Texas to enroll me at Texas A. & M. as a freshman and to pursue a career as a petroleum engineer. Dad went with me through the entire process, and I could tell he was stressed. He never said a word, but I could tell this was all completely foreign to him.
When we finished and I have been issued my uniforms and assigned a dorm they were ready to leave and go back home, he handed me his checkbook and said, “be as careful as you can!” Now all summer he had deposited my money in the family account. It was a family effort. I was to get an education regardless of the cost. I am sure he had had conversations with the bank president to borrow whatever was necessary. my education was to be covered. I know that many will not recognize the impact this had, or the impression in had on me, but it was something I ‘ll never forget. Even before I went to college, I was allowed to have a full voice in family decisions. Neither of my parents had even a high school education and recognized this lack. We often discussed decisions in the family with my input was given equal weight.
My regret is that my father died in May of 1962. My main regret is he did not live long enough to see the return he made on the investment of my education and training me to “meet the public”. He did get to see me both graduate from college with a degree in business and commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force Reserve. Since then, I have climbed other mountains and hope he saw what I’ve achieved since then. I have rubbed shoulders with U.S. Presidents, made speeches to audiences of over 1,000, presided as the president of a Rotary Club whose membership was over 700 at the time. I hope I have achieved his goals for me! Just Sayin….RJS
My father was practically an orphan. He left his ... (
show quote)
He's looking down w a big ole smile🙂🙂
Robert J Samples wrote:
My father was practically an orphan. He left his home and lived with older brothers and sisters at around the age of 9 or 10. His mother had died, and he was left with a step mother. I can only assume he did not get along and by leaving and living with his siblings, he wasn’t exposed to much formal education. I don’t think he ever went to school much past the 3rd or 4th grade, and then that was sporadic and hit or miss, since farm families often had their children working to get in the harvest in the fall of each year.
My parents had lost a baby girl about a week after her birth around 1931 or 32. I was born in 1934 and -was always treated as special. Dad always felt he had been short-changed about his education in later years and was determined that I would not suffer from it. He would say he wanted me to be able to ‘meet the pubic’! I was never sure just what that meant, but think he wanted me to be able to be able to speak before an audience and to hold my own in a debate, and such. He was bound and determined that I should go to college, even if it ‘hare lipped the governor’!
My father was very handy with tools, during World War II he resoled our shoes, and I have seen him completely rebuild our team of horses’ harness. He had the attitude that if something broke, he would fix it, or we would do without. Which, during the war years was a logical attitude because of rationing of most critical items. But since both parents were raised on a farm with large families, we had large gardens, a milk cow, raised a hog to kill each fall. My mother always sat a ‘heavy table’ whether we had company or not, so the war rationing was only a slight bother.
Once, we were at the supper table and both my mother and I noticed that dad wasn’t acting normal, something was bothering him. We both almost in unison said, “What is the matter?” What is bothering you?” He finally told us that he had been offered a pumper’s job with the oil company he was working for at the time as a roustabout. He said the manager had offered it, but he wasn’t going to take it. We asked why because we all knew it was a real step up, more pay, better hours, and a house in which to live.
We both asked “why?” He replied that if he took the job he would have to do fractions in keeping up with the oil in the storage tanks, or batteries. I immediately told him I knew know to do fractions, and I would teach him fractions! We sat down at the kitchen table, and I taught my father fractions. I think I was in about the 6th or 7th grade at the time. The fractions he had to deal with were easy since the barrels were in 25th, 50th. And such, not as hard as lumber fractions. I don’t think he ever made a mistake in handling his lease reports of oil produced.
When I graduated from high school I was 18 years old and immediately began working as a member of a drilling crew on a drilling rig, locally called a roughneck. My very first well was to dig a water well of about 900 feet deep for the city of Saint Jo, Texas. After that we drilled other oil wells, at times driving as far as 90 miles each way to the well site. Later, I went out to West Texas to find work and work out of Big Spring, Texas. I sent as much money home each payday as I could, keeping only enough to pay for my board and keep.
When I finally got home in preparation for going to college, the entire family, parents and little sister went with me to College Station, Texas to enroll me at Texas A. & M. as a freshman and to pursue a career as a petroleum engineer. Dad went with me through the entire process, and I could tell he was stressed. He never said a word, but I could tell this was all completely foreign to him.
When we finished and I have been issued my uniforms and assigned a dorm they were ready to leave and go back home, he handed me his checkbook and said, “be as careful as you can!” Now all summer he had deposited my money in the family account. It was a family effort. I was to get an education regardless of the cost. I am sure he had had conversations with the bank president to borrow whatever was necessary. my education was to be covered. I know that many will not recognize the impact this had, or the impression in had on me, but it was something I ‘ll never forget. Even before I went to college, I was allowed to have a full voice in family decisions. Neither of my parents had even a high school education and recognized this lack. We often discussed decisions in the family with my input was given equal weight.
My regret is that my father died in May of 1962. My main regret is he did not live long enough to see the return he made on the investment of my education and training me to “meet the public”. He did get to see me both graduate from college with a degree in business and commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force Reserve. Since then, I have climbed other mountains and hope he saw what I’ve achieved since then. I have rubbed shoulders with U.S. Presidents, made speeches to audiences of over 1,000, presided as the president of a Rotary Club whose membership was over 700 at the time. I hope I have achieved his goals for me! Just Sayin….RJS
My father was practically an orphan. He left his ... (
show quote)
I’m sure he is watching over you and is extremely proud of your accomplishments.
Just curious, as an engineering major did you ever help build the bonfire?
Thank you for sharing some highlights of your upbringing and family history...very moving and fascinating! Your folks were amazing to make the sacrifices they did on your behalf. That is very rare these days...in this "my way or the highway" self centered world we live in. I sincerely hope that you enjoyed Father's Day today...be it with time spent reminiscing about the awesome people in your family legacy or just taking time to do something that you enjoy!
As always RJS beautiful story! I’m sure your father has seen and is extremely proud!
Compiling kids favorite story list from book one I’ll email soon. Starting book 2 this week!
RuffplayOR57 wrote:
Great story and Family History RJS, I’m positive you have Made Your Father Proud. I was not so lucky, my Father died in a Car wreck when I was 13 years old. In the time we had he taught me how to hunt a little and fish a little bit. He was a kind and gentle speaking man from what I remember very positive and loved his wife and family. My mom‘s dad my grandpa EV (yes short Nic name) and mom‘s brothers finished teaching me how to hunt and fish. It seemed after 13 I didn’t have much of a childhood, I had a younger brother and a younger sister and a mom depended on me to get some things done. I did my best and I believe mom raised three great kids. We’ve all done well have our own houses our own families, We all learned how to work for a living and we’ve done that. Not all of life has been Sweetwater and roses but we’ve all survived, my sister and I are retired and my brothers a Captain for the local fire station. And he only has four or five years left. After my first wife left and I remarried I have raised five children and now have 12 grandchildren and it’s all been a wild ride but a Very fun rewarding ride. Sometimes life is what we make of it and we just have to learn how to deal with what we’re dealt you all have a great Father’s Day!! Ruff
Great story and Family History RJS, I’m positive y... (
show quote)
Great story Robert I'm sure your father and mother was proud thanks for sharing
Yes, absolutely! We worked every weekend cutting large trees and helped haul them in to the campus. Then during the week we would draw hours of guard duty to protect it. There at least three or four concentric rings of us guarding the bonfire from any outside attack. Someone years ago tired to set it afire by blying a Piper cub over and bombing it. Some cadet had spirited away some .30-06 ammo and was in the Army ROTC,. he fired from his dorm room and shot the plane down with a bulllet into the enqine. The pilot was went to the pen since he had attacked a federal instituiton. Just Sayin...RJS
Robert J Samples wrote:
My father was practically an orphan. He left his home and lived with older brothers and sisters at around the age of 9 or 10. His mother had died, and he was left with a step mother. I can only assume he did not get along and by leaving and living with his siblings, he wasn’t exposed to much formal education. I don’t think he ever went to school much past the 3rd or 4th grade, and then that was sporadic and hit or miss, since farm families often had their children working to get in the harvest in the fall of each year.
My parents had lost a baby girl about a week after her birth around 1931 or 32. I was born in 1934 and -was always treated as special. Dad always felt he had been short-changed about his education in later years and was determined that I would not suffer from it. He would say he wanted me to be able to ‘meet the pubic’! I was never sure just what that meant, but think he wanted me to be able to be able to speak before an audience and to hold my own in a debate, and such. He was bound and determined that I should go to college, even if it ‘hare lipped the governor’!
My father was very handy with tools, during World War II he resoled our shoes, and I have seen him completely rebuild our team of horses’ harness. He had the attitude that if something broke, he would fix it, or we would do without. Which, during the war years was a logical attitude because of rationing of most critical items. But since both parents were raised on a farm with large families, we had large gardens, a milk cow, raised a hog to kill each fall. My mother always sat a ‘heavy table’ whether we had company or not, so the war rationing was only a slight bother.
Once, we were at the supper table and both my mother and I noticed that dad wasn’t acting normal, something was bothering him. We both almost in unison said, “What is the matter?” What is bothering you?” He finally told us that he had been offered a pumper’s job with the oil company he was working for at the time as a roustabout. He said the manager had offered it, but he wasn’t going to take it. We asked why because we all knew it was a real step up, more pay, better hours, and a house in which to live.
We both asked “why?” He replied that if he took the job he would have to do fractions in keeping up with the oil in the storage tanks, or batteries. I immediately told him I knew know to do fractions, and I would teach him fractions! We sat down at the kitchen table, and I taught my father fractions. I think I was in about the 6th or 7th grade at the time. The fractions he had to deal with were easy since the barrels were in 25th, 50th. And such, not as hard as lumber fractions. I don’t think he ever made a mistake in handling his lease reports of oil produced.
When I graduated from high school I was 18 years old and immediately began working as a member of a drilling crew on a drilling rig, locally called a roughneck. My very first well was to dig a water well of about 900 feet deep for the city of Saint Jo, Texas. After that we drilled other oil wells, at times driving as far as 90 miles each way to the well site. Later, I went out to West Texas to find work and work out of Big Spring, Texas. I sent as much money home each payday as I could, keeping only enough to pay for my board and keep.
When I finally got home in preparation for going to college, the entire family, parents and little sister went with me to College Station, Texas to enroll me at Texas A. & M. as a freshman and to pursue a career as a petroleum engineer. Dad went with me through the entire process, and I could tell he was stressed. He never said a word, but I could tell this was all completely foreign to him.
When we finished and I have been issued my uniforms and assigned a dorm they were ready to leave and go back home, he handed me his checkbook and said, “be as careful as you can!” Now all summer he had deposited my money in the family account. It was a family effort. I was to get an education regardless of the cost. I am sure he had had conversations with the bank president to borrow whatever was necessary. my education was to be covered. I know that many will not recognize the impact this had, or the impression in had on me, but it was something I ‘ll never forget. Even before I went to college, I was allowed to have a full voice in family decisions. Neither of my parents had even a high school education and recognized this lack. We often discussed decisions in the family with my input was given equal weight.
My regret is that my father died in May of 1962. My main regret is he did not live long enough to see the return he made on the investment of my education and training me to “meet the public”. He did get to see me both graduate from college with a degree in business and commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force Reserve. Since then, I have climbed other mountains and hope he saw what I’ve achieved since then. I have rubbed shoulders with U.S. Presidents, made speeches to audiences of over 1,000, presided as the president of a Rotary Club whose membership was over 700 at the time. I hope I have achieved his goals for me! Just Sayin….RJS
My father was practically an orphan. He left his ... (
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Another excellent story of your past Robert. I'm sure your Dad has been watching and is very proud of you . Hope you had a happy Father's day.
Lynnz
Loc: Texas panhandle
Such a nice tribute to your dad. Thank you for sharing your story.
RJS you not only made your father proud but you should also be proud of your accomplishments! Nothing was handed to you. You earned it!
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