Mark Meeler:  

After High school Micheal S. Daley was working for Gator Hawk for Voc. Ed. while attending Nimitz. He told them about me and I was asked to come and interview so I did. They said they would send me all over the place, feed me and pay for it. It sounded good as most people only travel 50 miles from where they are born so I signed on. My first day on was to be shop training but due to the oil boom I was sent straight into the field. After 3 months I was running my own crew. One of my first real trips was to Southern California. I was not slated to go but the lead tech who was supposed to go do a job for Arco was getting ready to get married so I offered him a 100 bucks to go in his place. The job was only supposed to last a couple off weeks so he agreed. I flew out w/ my jr. operator and we ended up working out there for 6 months straight and establishing the California district for the company. When we came back I paid that hundred bucks in unrolled nickles in a paper sack. The poor guy had to count them. Mike Daley ended up moving out there as The manager of the district after he graduated Nimitz and for the next 15 years I was assured a 1 month stay to California when Mike went on vacation or things got busy out there. I continued running the rigs as the co. service specialist. My first over seas assignment was to Guatamala in 1983. 20 years old and not knowing any better my partner and I rented a car and where out driving around in a rental car. I had one of those Army reserve ball caps they used to send you in the mail and a burr hair cut....Expand for more