Lyle McKain - Rig Mgr., Supt., etc.,(who started with Bawden in 1971) and I had phone chat swapping stories about our years with Bawden Drilling. He shared some very funny stories which will be shared on this blog along with any others that hopefully you. the reader would also like to share.. This story though, that I'm about to tell is about comradeship and I just hope I give it justice because Lyle can tell a story in such a way that you can feel what he was feeling - whether it was something that happened that was so blasted funny or something that made him appreciate and respect the strength of someone, you get it.
This story of Lyle's is from a number of years ago when he was Toolpush on Bawden Rig 26 drilling in the Lodgepole area, close to where S&T Drilling recently had a rig fire, so all the companies were extra diligent with their safety procedures including Lyle and his crews. The problem for Lyle was the constant, many extreme and some unnecessary demands from the well-site engineer, everything from the mixing barrel, to the valve handles, and on and on; there was no satisfying him, every day there was a new command. This one day when Lyle called in his regular morning report, Ben Fischer (Operations Manager) happen to take the call and Lyle informed him the problems with the engineer - Ben's response to the mixing barrel request was - you know who we can fill that barrel with,. As the conversation went on and Ben heard more, that was enough, he told Lyle to inform the drilling Superintendent they could have 21 trucks out there in the morning to move that rig, needless to say things changed and the rig finished the well.
This was Ben Fischer, tough as hell, stubborn as a mule and as a boss you wanted him, or someone just like him, he had your back but he'd also have your hide if you did less that your best at the job.
One of the stories that I shared with Lyle about Ben happened not too long after I had started with Bawden Drilling so I hadn't yet seen Ben Fischer in his irritated mode. At that time there wasn't the convenience of direct deposits, a pay cheque was issued to all employees and either mailed to them or picked up at the office by that employee or their spouse. Payday was a busy day at our office with heavy traffic and only a small parking lot to accommodate. Almost every payday there were a few of either new hires eager for their first payday, or those that had never picked their pay up before, neither bothering to read or pay any attention to the "RESERVED" sign on the parking stall closest to the door., it was vacant so they parked there - Ben Fischer's parking stall!! When Ben arrived back at the office and saw his stall occupied he would simply park behind that vehicle and go on into his office, whoever was the owner (not knowing who he was parked behind) would come into the office and ask if the owner of the car parked behind them would please move..... Ben would come out of his office and introduce himself - it was scary and entertaining all at the same time. Each payday was a new episode!
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