4 out of 4 stars
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Bill Barrett: Rocky Mountain Wildcatter by William Jay Barrett is a memoir I wanted to read to get out of my comfort zone. I have definitely not regretted my decision. On the contrary, the book turned out to be a revelation from many perspectives. Built on Bill’s family history, biography, and career, the book is a reverent tribute to the past, a wholehearted thank you for the present, and a powerful belief in the future. Although I am not a typical reader of inspirational biographies, Bill Barrett’s personal and professional life is genuinely eye-opening and motivates you to reach your full potential.
The book spans over more than 300 pages. Exceptionally organized, it includes 17 chapters followed by an epilogue, an afterword, 10 appendixes, acknowledgements, and a memory book from Barrett Resources Corporation. The wonderful family pictures were delightful to look at. I could only imagine what amazing must have been to live in such a big family. To give you just an example, one photo from Bill and Louise’s 68th wedding anniversary features no more than 48 family members. Accordingly, Bill dedicates this memoir to his family, but also to his family of employees from his two companies.
My favorite parts of the book were the first three chapters that the author writes to honor his past. He is a member of the sixth generation of his family in the USA with three more to follow. Bill Barrett leaves no stone unturned when it comes to his family history. Originating from Northwestern Europe, the Barrett family took root in America almost 250 years ago in Hawkins County, Tennessee. Driven by nostalgia for the role the Barretts must have played in shaping the country’s history, Bill shares whatever historical evidence or family stories he could learn on prominent members of every generation. For instance, his great-uncle, Stephen Melvil, was an author of historical books and a friend of Teddy Roosevelt, Howard Taft and Jack London; he was also the author of a biography of the famous Geronimo and the first white man ever to be adopted by the Apache tribe at the time.
You could easily get lost in all the names and stories Bill Barrett mentions. However, this never happens because his writing style is coherent and articulate. Born in Topeka, Kansas, on January 9, 1929, Bill Barrett comes from a family of 10 children. Relying exclusively on his childhood and teenage years, the second chapter follows the ups and downs of living in a big family during the difficult years of The Great Depression and The Dust Bowl. I was utterly impressed by the huge amount of details concerning each family member. The images of his mother, Myrtle Anna Huss, and of his sister, Marjorie Pauline, stand out from the crowd. While the former instilled in him his work ethic and sense of responsibility, the latter was an example of fortitude, perseverance, and wisdom. Despite being wheelchair-bound, Pauline chronicled her daily life and commented on the cultural, historical, and social customs of the era.
Bill’s life journey is nothing but amazing. The book seeks to explore how young Bill, who used to help with the family poultry business and farm, became the founder of a multi-million dollar company. Married to Louise Kuhn and father of seven children, Bill Barrett could be easily seen as a role model both in his personal and professional life. Chapters four to fourteen focus on his 60-year career as a Rocky Mountain oil and gas exploration geologist. Even if I had no clue about Bill’s professional field, his passion for his job kept me tuned in throughout some pages that otherwise might have proved too technical for a layman. For me, it was fascinating to read Bill’s recount of different significant moments in his career. From a simple employee and then an independent oil and gas operator, he managed to pave his way up to the top. In 1993, Bill Barrett, the CEO of Barrett Resources Corporation, was given the Wildcatter of the Year award, the highest honor an exploration geologist in the Rockies could achieve.
I am recommending this book to all those interested in reading inspirational memoirs. With modesty and humility, Bill also surveys his failures and disappointments in chapter 15. Nevertheless, he ends his memoir on an optimistic note. Chapter 16 deals with the lessons he learnt, while chapter 17 includes some final thoughts about his family and hopes for tomorrow. Specialists in the field of oil and gas exploration would certainly find the book enlightening. Laymen like me would learn a lot from the extraordinary life of a man who knew how to get surrounded by the love and respect of his family, friends, and colleagues. The 10 appendixes testify to all the stories and anecdotes included in the book. I was particularly moved by the appendixes containing extracts from his sister Pauline’s diary or those with questions and answers from his brothers and sisters as well as his colleagues.
Apart from one or two instances of extra commas or a missing relative pronoun, the book is wonderfully edited. Reviewing it was no easy task considering the numerous aspects the author tackles. I am rating it 4 out of 4 stars. My hope is that future readers will highlight some of the other noteworthy things in the book. As Bill Barrett confesses, he always worked to turn his companies into V.I.P. companies, that is, companies of Vision, Integrity, and Performance. These principles added to strong family values to make him not only a successful businessman, but also the steadfast pillar of an incredible family.
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Bill Barrett: Rocky Mountain Wildcatter
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