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Eddie Chiles | |
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| Born | (1910-05-11)May 11, 1910 |
| Died | August 22, 1993(1993-08-22) (aged 83) |
| Known for | Owner ofTexas Rangers (1980–1989) Founder ofWestern Company of North America |
Harrell Edmonds Chiles (May 11, 1910 – August 22, 1993) was the founder of theWestern Company of North America and an owner of theTexas Rangers. He was also the paternal uncle of actressLois Chiles.
Eddie Chiles was born inItasca, Texas to Harsh Edmonds Chiles and Jewell (née Files). After graduating fromWentworth Military Academy’s Junior College inLexington, Missouri in 1929, he worked as an oil patch roustabout and as a merchant marine[1] before hitchhiking toNorman, Oklahoma in 1930.
In 1934, he graduated from theUniversity of Oklahoma with a B.S. degree inPetroleum Engineering.In 1939, after working as a Sales Engineer with Reed Roller Bit Company inHouston, he founded theWestern Company of North America. He started the company with two trucks and three employees. Western served the petroleum industry with technical services required in the discovery and production of oil and gas. The company grew to become a majoroil services firm, primarily in acidizing,fracturing and cementing. At its peak, the Western Company had over 5,000 employees and annual worldwide revenues of over $500 million. During the 1970s, the Western Company also operated anoffshore drilling company run by Mr. Chiles' brother, Clay Chiles. The company was sold toBJ Services in 1995.[citation needed]
Chiles bought the Texas Rangersbaseball team in1980[2] and served as chairman of the club until1989 when he sold the team to a group of investors that included the futurePresident of the United StatesGeorge W. Bush;[1][3]New YorkstockbrokerRichard Gilder (who later married Chiles' niece, Lois); Frank L. Morsani; and theMack family.
As an advocate for a smaller and less intrusive federal government, Chiles was also known for his 1970s radio commentaries. His trade-mark sign-on "I'm Eddie Chiles, and I'm mad as hell," created an incredible demand for bumper stickers that read "I'm mad too, Eddie!"[2] Western also featured television commercials telling viewers"If you don't have an oil well, get one – you'll love doing business with Western!" Through these conservative radio commentaries, Chiles became a folk hero in the southwest section of the nation.[3][1] He died inFort Worth, Texas on August 22, 1993, at the age of 83.
Chiles was married to Fran Hafer, and had two children from a previous marriage, Jerry Edmond Chiles and Carol Ann Chiles Ballard.[1]