Torch, Winter 1990

q. How did they become interested in the business? A. In the summers the children accom– panied me when I traveled around to different job sites. Kelly was thinking about medicine and started out in pre-med. One summer he even worked for an undertaker. But when he took some geology courses, he developed an interest in that area, and now he really likes the oil and gas business. Dave, Dan, and Doug, with the same exposure through summer jobs, developed an interest and chose to continue. q. One seldom hears these days of a large, successful company that is family-owned and operated as yours is. To what do you attribute the fact that your family has been able to work together? A. We are Christians, and my brothers and sisters and I have always gotten along very well. Our spouses are good friends, too, and we are thankful to God for each member of the family. We enjoy each other and have had a lot of fun together. I think what is key is that we also have respect and consideration for each other, and that has carried over into the business. The confidence that we brothers have in one another gave each of us the freedom to do the things for which we were responsible without being concerned that some other area was being mismanaged. It's still that way now that the next generation is running the company. q. What built cohesiveness in your family? A. The church was always the focal point in our lives when we were growing up. For many years all our families regularly attended the same church we boys grew up in. But our family probably is what it is today because of our parents. Our Christian mother provided the direction, the encouragement, and the daily prayers for our family when we were growing up. My father did not become a Christian until late in his life, but he was ethical and moral. His integrity was always in evidence. We had a strong family identification with these qualities in our father. q. How did you and your wife Betty encourage that same cohesiveness? A. My wife and I love each other, but we are also best friends. We have a lot of respect and consideration for each other. Betty and I have tried to show these qualities before our children, and encourage them in their lives. Now I see the results of those efforts. Our children love each other and do have respect and consideration for one another. And I see it in their marriages. When I look at other families, I assess their success by the same criteria: how they respect and show consideration for one another. Betty and I have a commitment to celebrate each day. We praise God for His goodness and His blessings. This has had a positive effect on our family and has drawn us together. q. You've emphasized respect and consideration among family members. Could you elaborate? A. Part of it is respecting the rights of others to have their own personal property. Part of it is family members showing consideration in sharing their things. It also has to do with supporting and upholding the others in whatever they're doing, in or out of the home. Another thing is being considerate of the feelings of the others. Criticism should always be constructive and never demeaning. We did not have a lot of bickering and belittling in the family. We tried to convey that our family just didn't act that way and to point the children toward responses that would encourage one another. If that didn't work we dealt with the root problems right away because we felt that if they got contin– ually worse, respect and consideration would be broken down. How did you and Betty reward the children for exhibiting the positive traits you desired in them?