Bobby Joe Harrell

Bobby Joe Harrell was born February 2, 1927 to Penn Jackson Harrell and Gladys Lucille Trimmier ('TrimEER') Harrell in Waco, Texas. Both the Harrell and Trimmier families have a long history in the area. Penn's and Lucille's family was completed by the birth of a son, Billy Gene, or 'Bubber' as he was known, in 1929. Bubber died in 2003 and Bob's parents are also both deceased. Bobby progressed rapidly through school, graduating from high school in 1943 at age 16. He attained his Eagle Scout badge that same year and entered Texas A & M University in the fall, selecting a major in aeronautical engineering. Being a Texas 'Aggie' was a source of great pride to Bob. The high moral values and expectations and the code of honor espoused at A&M reaffirmed the values of the Harrell family and put the final stamp on what was to be his character for the rest of his life. (Story) True Aggies belong to a sub-culture that is hard to describe to someone unfamiliar with it. Pat got her first inkling of how powerful it was in a humorous way. When Bob and Pat became engaged, they went to a jeweler and selected her engagement and wedding rings. The she said, 'Now we should choose YOUR ring, Bob.' He looked absolutely amazed and, holding up his hand, said, 'But I already HAVE a ring.' Sure enough, there in all its golden glory was his A&M class ring. He wore it the rest of his life. (You may have noticed it on the display table.) (BIO) A&M was a military school and Bob belonged to the Corps of Cadets. Consequently, during Post-WWII when he became 18, he was inducted into the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for a two year term of enlistment. He was posted to Germany and commanded a crew of German POW's. There mission was to help survey and reconstruct the Frankfurt Airport runways which had been badly damaged by bombs. Returning to his studies at A&M in 1947, he began thinking more about his life's work. At that point he changed his major to petroleum engineering and graduated with honors in 1949. U.S. oil companies were beginning exploration in many countries at that time and job openings for engineers were plentiful. You may have noticed the telegram from Gulf Oil offering him a job in Eastern Venezuela at the then-grand salary of $405 (less $75 for room, board and laundry.) He accepted and was employed before he graduated. Bob's first years in Venezuela were spent in the 'boonies' of the rolling grasslands and rain forests of that area. (Story) He told of living in tents with roll-down canvas sides to protect from the frequent tropical downpours. The area abounded with strange insects and animals. Among them were tiny frogs with suction-cup feet that would leap down and attach themselves to the backs of the men when they showered. (BIO) During his 15 years with Gulf in Eastern Venezuela, Bob helped develop some of the worlds most productive oil fields. He was recognized for his superior engineering talent and his work ethic and quickly climbed the ladder of corporate management. His real love was the hands-on part of oil production and he was chosen to pilot several new techniques for extracting oil from difficult formations. One such experiment involved the then-new idea of injecting steam into the well to liquefy the oil and force it to the surface. He eventually became responsible for the production end of taking millions of barrels of oil from the earth each day. In 1957 Bob met Pat Flanagan, a teacher in the main Gulf Oil camp in Eastern Venezuela, when he was transferred in from the remote camp. (Story) Pat really liked the looks of this handsome man and, since he was somewhat private and opportunities to get to know him seemed limited, she had a mutual friend help her strategize. They decided he, Dusty, would take Pat out to the skeet range when Bob went several times a week to shoot clay pigeons. Her background as a farm girl who grew up hunting with her dad came in handy. Being the only woman shooting skeet was certainly not low profile, but Bob finally did notice and even invited her to shoot a round with him. Their first date, of course, was to go quail hunting. The rest fell into place nicely as per the strategy. Dusty was a witness at the wedding and a lifelong friend. (BIO) Pat and Bob were married in a ceremony conducted in Spanish at a little town near the camp on July 1, 1957. When his yearly vacation occurred in the fall, they went to the States to meet each others' family. (STORY) Pat's mother, feeling that somehow being married in Spanish would not see the knot truly tied, arranged a second marriage ceremony in Merced, California. Consequently, Bob and Pat were well married when their first son, David, was born in 1958. John and Steve followed in short order. The three were Bob's pride and joy. John and Steve predeceased Bob. (BIO) In 1964, excited by stories of the oil boom in Libya, North Africa, Bob left Gulf and the family moved to Tripoli, the capital city. Bob was employed by Oasis Oil Company, the largest U. S. company in Libya. His first assignment was District Superintendent in turn of each of the three main oil fields in the Sahara about 800 miles from Tripoli. He served also at the port on the Bay of Bengazi where the tankers loaded Oasis produced oil. After two years, and having more than 'paid his dues' living in the desert 6 days a week, Bob was transferred to the corporate headquarters in Tripoli where he assumed the title of Manager of Production for all the Oasis oil fields and the port. Operating in Libya was difficult under the best circumstances. The Arab-Israeli War of 1967 and the ripples of unrest it caused screened out many Americans who left the company. Pat and the boys had the exciting adventure during that war of being evacuated from Tripoli by the US Air Force. The revolution when Muammar Ghaddafi took over in 1969 and formed an extremely restrictive society marked the beginning of even more stressful times. The new government interfered with oil company operations in ways that made it very difficult to carry on business. Bob, however, kept his end of the business going and was made VP of Production and Engineering in 1974. Bob left Oasis in 1978 and the family came to Denver to live. Bob tried several career directions and looked into other overseas job opportunities, but settled eventually on opening a small auto glass company, BR Glass. The years in Colorado afforded Bob many opportunities to enjoy the out-of-doors in ways that had been impossible while living overseas. The family camped and used their 4x4 for discovery trips to many remote and primitive areas of Colorado, Wyoming and Utah. A great joy to Bob was the chance to resume hunting trips with his brother and sons. Pat and Bob also spent many camping trips observing and enjoying wild life. (Story) In a remote corner where Colorado Utah and Wyoming come together, just over the hill from the old outlaw hangout on the Green River, Brown's Park, there is an area where magnificent elk thrive. Bob determined his last hunting goal would be there. He applied for a hunting license there for each of eleven years before he was successful in obtaining a permit. Every year, Pat and Bob would go up and camp there while he took a drive each sunrise and sunset to study the herd. It is in the special place that some of Bob's ashes will be scattered. His hunt, and it was his last, resulted in the antlers he is posing with in the photo on the board. The only place with a large enough space to hang them was above Pat's kitchen sink which explains why, in case you're curious, he is standing on the counter to pose. (BIO) Bob enjoyed his work at BR Glass and was very fond of all his employees there. They awarded him the "Best Boss in the World" plaque on the display table. He approached retirement with a feeling that he had accomplished all he set out to do. He will be greatly missed by all who loved and admired him. 79, passed away April 3, 2006. He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Patricia; and son David. He was preceded in death by sons John and Stephen. A Celebration of Life was held Friday, 3:00 PM at Horan & McConaty Family Chapel, 1091 S. Colorado Blvd., Denver. In lieu of flowers donations are suggested to Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, P.O. Box 8249, Missoula, MT 59807-8249 or charity of choice.