Oral history interview with Harrell Edmund ("Eddie") Chiles, 1980 January 25, February 7, July 1, and September 9.

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Oral history interview with Harrell Edmund ("Eddie") Chiles, 1980 January 25, February 7, July 1, and September 9.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/39869705

Interview with Harrell Edmund ("Eddie") Chiles concerning his experiences as an oilman, Chariman of the Board, and Chief Executive Officer of the Western Company. Chiles discusses his family background, his time in the merchant marine (1928-1929); his work as a roustabout and roughneck in the Texas oil fields (1929-1930); his Depression experiences; his employment with Reed Roller Bit Company (1934-1939); his formation of the Western Company (1939); the development of the acidizing process for oil exploration; the difficulties of the oil business in West Texas during World War II; the drilling boom in West Texas (1947-1957); experiences with offshore drilling; dealing with foreign governments; his comments on energy self-sufficiency and government regulations; the relocation of company headquarters from Midland to Fort Worth (1959); his decision to join the Republican Party; his comments concerning Texas governors John Connally and William Clements and Congressman Jim Wright; his purchase of the Texas Rangers baseball club; and his "I'm Mad" public campaign denouncing big government and defending free enterprise.

138 leaves ; 29 cm.

University of North Texas Library, UNT

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SNAC Resource ID: 7417516

University of North Texas Library, UNT

Related Entities

There are 9 Entities related to this resource.

North Texas State University. Oral History Collection.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6gk08zw (corporateBody)

Texas Business Oral History Project.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6s8679x (corporateBody)

Smallwood, J. B.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w62j6w4s (person)

Wright, Jim, 1922-2015

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6k948wp (person)

Jim Wright was born in Fort Worth in 1922 and spent his childhood in Texas and Oklahoma before attending Weatherford College and the University of Texas. Wright enlisted in the Army Air Corps during World War II and received his flyer’s wings and an officer’s commission at the age of nineteen. He flew combat missions in the South Pacific and received the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Legion of Merit. Wright began his political career after the war. He joined the Young Democrats of Texas ...

Clements, William P., 1917-2011

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w61v68p9 (person)

Western Company

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6fv6kg2 (corporateBody)

Connally, John Bowden, 1917-1993

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6794hs4 (person)

John Bowden Connally Jr. (February 27, 1917 – June 15, 1993) was an American politician. He served as the 39th Governor of Texas and as the 61st United States Secretary of the Treasury. He began his career as a Democrat and later became a Republican in 1973. Born in Floresville, Texas, Connally pursued a legal career after graduating from the University of Texas at Austin. During World War II, he served on the staff of James Forrestal and Dwight D. Eisenhower before transferring to the Asiati...

Reed Roller Bit Company.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6pg9rjj (corporateBody)

Chiles, H. E.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6j46gjd (person)