James W. Kendall
Jim
Kendall is truly one of the few people that you can say that no one
has a bad word to say about him. Jim has been active in the
oil business since he graduated from college in 1950 and went to
work for Lohmann & Johnson Drilling Company until this current time,
as he now participates in numerous exploration projects.
Jim was in the United States Navy from 1943 to 1946. He graduated from Evansville College with a B.S. Degree in Geology in 1950. After graduating, Jim started working for Lohmann & Johnson Drilling Co., Inc. doing wellsite work.
In 1953 Jim started Kendall-Davis Drilling Co. with Carl Davis. Their first rig burned up in a gas blow-out in Point Twp., Posey County, IN. Next they bought a second drilling rig in 1964 and rebuilt rig #1. They increased to 3 drilling rigs which was a 24/7 job on the radios (Jim’s wife Jeanette did this). Jim bought out his partner in 1973 and the company name was changed to Kendall Drilling. At one time Jim had a partial interest in two other drilling companies. Jim sold his rigs and most equipment in 1996.
Leases once operated by Kendall Drilling are now operated by his son Craig (Hydrocarbon Investments, Inc.) Jim has had interests in thousands of wells drilled throughout the United States. Jim still invests with operators who he knows and trusts.
When asked what is essential for success in the oil business, Jim replies, hard work (mental & physical), money, perseverance, luck, and foremost a loving and understanding wife and family.
Jim Kendall is a good example of how oil people should be viewed, “good, honest and hard working.” All of us would be proud to have so many people love and respect them as Jim Kendall does.