Fredrick "Fred" Stump

Back in 2013, I noted my many thoughts of my experience with Fred through our years of working together at Graves Drilling and after I left the company. Here are a few of my thoughts on Fred. Betty and Fred are true sole mates. One of the best recollections of Fred was when interviewing with him, for a position at Graves Drilling in November 1982. Fred was a very gentle-sole and made me feel very much at home from the beginning. He was easy to laugh and had a smile on his face most every time I went into his office. One of the things that I recall fondly of Fred was he always had a minute to listen to whatever was on your mind. Naturally, I could sit and visit with and listen to him all day, but we knew we needed to actually work. He was such a kind and friendly person to me. Got-ta Love Fred One of the things that I chuckle about, when I think of Fred, Dick Linehan and Harry (? The oil man who officed near our office on the 8th floor of the Union National Building), was that the first thing every morning, when they got to the office, all three of them would meet in Fred’s office and decide where/when they would meet to go to coffee that morning. Then when they returned from coffee, they would all meet back in Fred’s office to decide where/when they would go to lunch. After lunch they would gather again in Fred’s office to decide when/where/which group they would meet for coffee that afternoon. This isn’t to say that they didn’t do plenty of work for the company, but rather, they knew that it was important to stay connected (network as we now call it) with others in the field. Drink any coffee lately, Fred? I met Fred in Nov. of 1981. He always had a ‘good’ story to share of his life during his 50+ years in the oil patch. He would share personal experiences of his life on the site and some of the interesting things that happened with the rig and rig hands. He told stories of times with Charlie, Thelma and Tug Steincamp. I could tell quickly that he really missed Tug after he passed. (Tug died shortly before I came to work at Graves.) Fred was a good friend, and this world needs more friends like Fred. Although I have not worked directly with Fred since 1995, he and I would try for the first 10-yrs after I left Graves, meet at least once a year for lunch to catch-up. He has never changed. Fred always had at least one good ear to listen to anything that was on my mind; reminisce the “old days” at Graves; or update each other on our families. Due to Fred’s health and my increased workload and responsibilities, we haven’t had much of a chance to get to lunch in the last years of his life, I have been and will always miss those times together with Fred. It is always as though we had seen each other just a week before and could pick-up on our friendship immediately. Thanks, Fred for being such a great friend and inspiration. These are just a few musings of my knowing Fred. I am certain that his other friends and especially his family, which he adored, miss him every day. Continue to think of Betty and the family. Prays are with you all. Tricia Glidewell