59114 George C. Yax flip book V6

My Story
Living The American Dream
“Just As It Happened”
A • Pictorial Autobiographical Memoir • By
George C. Yax Businessman
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The Deepwater Horizon oil spill, also known as the “BP Oil Spill”,
is considered the largest marine oil spill in petroleum history.
It happened on April 20, 2020 in the Gulf of Mexico off the Louisiana Coast. A massive 210 million U.S. gallons of oil escaped into the Gulf
when the Deepwater Horizon platform exploded.
It was capped in June 2020.
AMPOL, founded as a subsidiary of American Oilfield Divers(AOD) in 1993, was contracted as BP’s primary offshore oil spill responder. In 1997, Kirk Headley as Presidient & CEO
and George Yax acquired AMPOL from AOD, Inc.








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q F O RWA R D q
The Publisher, without George’s knowledge, asked the following AOD employees to share memories of their experiences working with George at AOD.
Lee Avery • When I think of George, the first word that comes to mind is “large”. After all, he is a very big dude. He has a booming voice. He is a commanding presence in any gathering. And he has always dreamed large. All these components led to him become a huge success in his business ventures and personal life.
George has always been a calculated risk-taker. Starting a new company in the volatile oilfield service industry is a perfect example. He had hardly gotten AOD started when we entered the great oilfield depression of the 1980’s. It was brutal. Remember “stay alive until ‘85; Get it fixed in 86; chapter 11 in ‘87 “? Most companies were slashing overhead costs, including the lay-off of thousands of employees just to survive. They hunkered down - many went bankrupt. George, like all great entrepreneurs, sensed an opportunity to expand and create a larger market niche for his company.
Traditionally, for subsea operations the oil company customer contracted the support vessel directly and then separately contracted the dive company. The diving equip- ment would be shipped to the dock and loaded on the vessel. At the conclusion of the job all the dive gear would be off-loaded at the dock and shipped back to the opera- tions base. It was a time-consuming, inefficient, and costly process.
George surprised everybody in the industry by buying several small vessels at bank- ruptcy prices. The “smart” people ridiculed his purchase of these boats and predicted that it would break AOD. Instead, George turned the industry on its head by pre-loading dive gear on each vessel. AOD then was positioned to offer a complete vessel/diving service package. This concept thrived in the weak market because it was less costly and much more responsive to customer needs. Instead of “falling on his ass”, George changed the template for success in the diving service business.
Our relationship really began in 1984 when AOD hired me. In 1989 George asked me to join him on a trip to Scotland. We had learned that an Aberdeen-based
Lee Avery • Larry Cooper • Charles Crochet • Joey Hernandez • Wayne Wilson • John Woods


service company was willing to sell its sub-sea pipeline connector subsid- iary. George and I both thought it could be good fit with AOD’s turnkey service focus. I was selected for the trip because I had worked from 1974 to 1980 at a competitor of Big Inch.
We traveled to Scotland in late October 1989 and signed a purchase agree- ment on Halloween day. We casually walked into the office of the Neil, CFO and chief negotiator; Neil had a huge stack of papers on his desk. He introduced us to a new participant- the Chief Attorney. They handed us the stack of papers to sign. I asked if this was a letter of intent. Neil said, “Hell no Lee. You sign this and you have bought it”. I requested that George and I be allowed to step out for a minute. Out in the hall I asked George if we should first pass this contract by our lawyer or the AOD Chief Oper- ating Officer, my supervisor, Sonny Freeman. He didn’t hesitate. “Hell, no Lee, I trust these guys”. So, we signed the purchase agreement. I had been given the honor to see the ultimate risk-taking deal maker in action.
On the drive back to the hotel, George surprised me when he said that I would be the President of the new subsidiary. He had a lot more confidence in my readiness for the job than I did. I was scared to death. I will always be grateful for George’s support - it changed my whole career. And the revived Company provided a platform for many future employees to start a new successful career in the connector business. They are the ones who made it happen.
George accomplished several much bigger transactions in his career. In 1992 he took AOD public. And several years later, he sold AOD to a much larger European company at a stock price triple its final listing on the stock exchange. George told me early in our acquaintance that he had sold a couple of compa- nies earlier, but he had always “sold low”. He was determined that the next time he would “sell high”. Dreaming big, taking risk, and working hard paid off.
On a personal note, George was a very emotional guy - especially in regard to his family. He has an out-sized heart for those he loves. I was able to meet his delightful Mother several times. George and his Mom shared a mutual love which few attain.
My wife Kay and I had the pleasure of meeting and getting to know his wonderful wife, Necia, on a trip the four of us took through England and Scotland in the 90’s. The two of them are perfect traveling companions and just a lot of fun to be around. So, returning to my original premise, I would use the word “Large” to best describe my friend George.
In business and in his personal life, he has always lived both to the fullest.
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Larry Cooper • My great honor to be able to tell you of my sincere respect for you as a businessman, and how lucky I was to have had the privilege of working with you.
The opportunity you afforded me to join AOD, become part of this great compa- ny with great people, and to realize financial success, along with many others, was a dream come true.
I will forever be grateful, and I know your book will be something special.
Charles Crochet • With respect, I’m pleased and honored to have the oppor- tunity to say a few words in this Forward of your Autobiography. Back when it meant a great deal to me, you gave me an opportunity to become part of some- thing new and exciting, AOD. Together Your Team built AOD into the Industry leader in the Gulf Coast Diving Business.
I will never be able to fully express my sincere thanks for everything you did for me, and for your steadfast determination to make AOD the most successful diving company in the Gulf, which made a lot of us successful as a result of your many sound business decisions.
A very Special Thanks to you My Friend.
Joey Hernandez • Little did I know I was going to work with a man / group of guys that he and Dave Davenport put together in a down turn market. We turned out to be a dive company that changed the industry in more ways than I can explain. It was a pleasure being a part of it. I do not know of any other company that the upper management did as much as George Yax did to show his appreciation to his workers. It is still talked about today. Again, I am glad I had the pleasure being part of AOD.
A little history on myself : I started with AOD in January of 1983 at 50.00 dollars a day to rebuild the bow on the Pard 1 and install diving equip- ment on it (2-month project). Two days later they gave me 100.00 dollars a day and a month later I was issued some stock. During the diving sea- son I was a supervisor and in the off season (January to March) I would convert seismograph vessels into dive vessels (American Eagle, American Star).
As you know the hunting camp was for customers during deer season


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and the working men of the company after deer season ended. My first trip there was a real experience being from South Louisiana (flat lands) hunting rabbits, ducks, squirrels all my life to going hunting at the zoo in the mountains was a really big deal. I did not have a gun so I bought a Ruger 7mm from Dave Davenport.
My first high speed run to the back of the ranch with George was an ad- venture. When we got to Ryle canyon and got into the stand right about dark. We waited until about 10 o’clock before the moon came out. The first thing to show up were the cows, then a really big hog came right in and started eating. We would have to wait for the cows to move as they were between us and the hogs. At Ryle, you are shooting up hill slightly with the feeder on a little flat spot. We could see the hog between the cow’s legs, George asked me if I thought I could hit the hog and not the cow. I said I think so. The moon was really bright and it was not a long shot so he said have at it. The cow was not hurt and the hog weighted 286 lbs. It is now mounted in my office.
Thank you for everything my friend, its been a great ride.
Wayne Wilson • George, we will always be friends and have mutual re- spect. When I first met you in 1969 and learned you had a vision of creating the most professional and safest diving company in the Gulf of Mexico, I knewIhadtobeapartofit.
Working with you was my greatest professional adventure, you kept your word, peoplereciprocated,andyoumademanyofusmillionaires. YouareanExtraor- dinary Businessman, husband, and father, and you are the REAL DEAL.
I will always look to you as a brother and friend, and I’m so happy Necia and you are living Your American Dream at Trail’s End Ranch,
John Woods • It is indeed a pleasure to let you know how much I respect you, and how lucky I was for the privilege of working with you at AOD. You gavemeanopportunity tobecomepartofyourgreatcompany,withagreat team of people, and by all of us pulling together, we made AOD the Diving Industry leader in the Gulf.
It is with great admiration that I thank you, Necia and the boys, and for the kindness you all gave to me. You are the kind of man that tells you something and means it, and always stands by your word, no matter what.
Best wishes for your book, and thank you my friend for everything.


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1981
Distinguished Honors
Honorable Discharge, Spec. 5 U.S. Army
Alpha Tau Omega • ATΩ Zeta Mu W.M. (President)
1966
Bachelor of Business Administration Degree Sam Houston State University
1967
Professor of Geography & Master’s of Business Administration Degree Sam Houston State University
1962
1966
1973
Founded KD Marine Divers, Inc.
Founded S & H Divers, Inc.
Founded American Oilfield Divers, Inc.
Founded International Divers Supply, Inc.
1993
Chairman of the Board, American Inland Divers, Inc. NASDAQ Public Offering, American Oilfield Divers
1997
Louisiana Entrepreneur of the Year Retired to Trail’s End Ranch, Medina, Texas
Distinguished Alumni Sam Houston State University
Business College Hall of Honor Sam Houston State University
Alpha Tau Omega • ATΩ Zeta Mu Hall of Honor
Published Author • ‘My Story’
1979
1983
2008
2013
2018
2022


George C. Yax
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Future Businessman
George, while working on his Masters Degree at Sam Houston, had his sights set on his Dream of
“Building Something Special”.
And, he shares it all with you in this richly detailed Pictorial • Autobiographical • Memoir.
Go on this incredible journey with George through the ups and downs of the Gulf Coast’s emerging and dynamic offshore diving industry. Seen through hundreds of photos from the very beginning.
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From risking it all, to achieving his ultimate success, Living The American Dream.
1967, “Awarded my Master’s Degree, now here I come”!


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Founder, Chairman, and CEO
American Oilfield Divers, Inc. (AOD). George C. Yax proudly shows us his original stained glass Artists replica of his Company’s logo.
This beautiful artwork is in George’s office at his Trail’s End Ranch, Medina, Texas.


Dedication’s
To Those Who Dream Their Dream To Those Who Dare To Live Their Dream To Those Inspired To Share Their Dream To Those I Dedicate My Dream
•
And a special thank you,
to the Incredibly Talented Team at American Oilfield Divers, Inc. Without their dedication, and the devotion of all
our employees and friends, Fulfilling My Dream would not have been possible.
•
To Larry ‘Duffer’ Dunham,
my Friend, Brother & Publisher, without whose Inspiration, Tireless Production Expertise, and Publishing Knowhow, I may never have finished this book.
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“And all my love to my wife Necia, and our sons Porter and Roger.”
Thanks to All, George.
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Copyright 2022 George C. Yax
1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2
All rights reserved. YAX Business Philosophies at the end
of this book, may be copied for personal use only. No Other Part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever, without written permission of George C. Yax.
For more information contact J. S. @ HH • BR549
•
Larry ‘Duffer’ Dunham
Book Design & Creative • Production Editor • Publisher Dunham Creative Communications
972-632-0076
5857 Legacy Dr. • Suite 2105 • Frisco, Texas, 75034 [email protected] [email protected]
•
Michael High
Adobe Creative Cloud Consultant
GJG Business Consulting & Management Services 469-476-0293
•
PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
•
One Book at a Time
4680 Beltline Rd. • Addison, Texas 75001 • 972-392-2679 Jack Granoff www.onebookpub.com


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My Story
Living The American Dream
“Just As It Happened”
George C. Yax • Businessman & Author
A Note Of Thanks To My Friend George.
xAs George’s longtime friend and ATΩ Fraternity xxxxxxxxx xBrother for over 60 years, it has been my honor,
xto be asked by him to work on his ‘Magnum xxxOpus,’ ”My Story”. George asked that I
xxxxexplain my role in the production of xxxxxthis ‘Masterpiece’, “my words not his”. xxxxxThis was the experience of a lifetime. xxx II got to design the book cover-to-cover, xorganize the Contents, write the photo captions,
produce the Adobe digital production files, supervise the printing process, and provide overall publishing services. However, the real credit goes to George, who did the incredibly hard work of writing his over 100 page manuscript, using only his right index finger, and providing the hundreds of photos used. It’s simply amazing how he could recall all the names, dates, places, and business transactions that took place in his remarkable round-the- world adventure. He and Necia have truly “Lived The American Dream”.
George, with Love & Respect, I Thank You. Larry ‘Duffer’ Dunham


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Contents
FORWARD ..................................................................................................... 2 PROLOGUE ................................................................................................... 13 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................ 15
Part 1 • The Early Years .......................................................... 17 GROWING UP FAST ................................................................................... 18 HIGH SCHOOL ............................................................................................ 29 U.S. ARMY ..................................................................................................... 35 COLLEGE ...................................................................................................... 39
Part 2 • Working On The American Dream............................ 49 CAREER PATH ............................................................................................. 50 DIVCON HOUSTON................................................................................... 54 DIVCON MORGAN CITY ......................................................................... 59
2 DIVCON LONDON .................................................................................. 63 DIVCON AFTER LONDON ...................................................................... 81 ACTION DIVERS ........................................................................................ 87 K D MARINE ............................................................................................... 91 MARTECH ................................................................................................... 101 S & H ............................................................................................................. 109
Part 3 • Living The American Dream ...................................... 117 AMERICAN OILFIELD DIVERS ............................................................... 119 RETIREMENT No.1 ..................................................................................... 195 TRAVELING THE WORLD & ENJOYING LIFE .................................... 211 TRAIL’S END RANCH ................................................................................ 229 AMPOL .......................................................................................................... 243 RETIREMENT No. 2 .................................................................................... 265 MORE TRAVELING & MORE HISTORY ................................................ 289 CONCLUSION............................................................................................... 299 YAX • BUSINESS PHILOSOPHIES ........................................................... 307


Prologue
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I started interviewing with Shell Oil for a job prior to receiving my BBA. I had been broke all of my life and just wanted a good paying job. (An Army PFC only made $77 a month which
was less than hauling hay paid.)
But I was turned down by shell because I did not have an MBA. This allowed me to accept Dr. Scott’s offer to teach “Introduction to Geography—161”, in order to acquire my MBA. Graduating with an MBA raised my salary expectations and Houston was obviously the location for the type of job that I wanted (high paying).
My dear Aunt Jesse’s best friend just happened to be the Placement Director for Rice University and sent word not to mess around with Sam Houston’s placement service which she considered second rate, if that. She would give me more and better job opportunities, and she did.
After a couple of dozen interviews, my personal preferences boiled down to two opportunities; Tenneco Oil that offered a salary well beyond my expectations, and a small diving company, named Divcon, Inc. Divcon’s offer was a third less that Tenneco’s. Which direction should I go? Do I start climbing the Tenneco Corporate ladder or venture off into an unknown situation? This was a life changing decision.
As you will read, I took the offer from Divcon which was opposed to my high salary goal. My thought was that the diving business was a small, but well defined industry with no ladder to climb.
Once I learned the industry, I could do what I told Dr. Scott when he asked me to stay at Sam Houston to teach Geography as a profession. My reply was that I wanted to build something.


Prologue
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It took me six years of learning the diving industry before I started building my first company. I don’t know where I would have been had I taken the Tenneco offer?
Today, I am satisfied that I made the right decision, as this led to a profitable and highly successful business life. However, there were stressful times, and there were years-long periods with no salary at all. But that is all part of my story and I hope you find it as interesting and enjoyable to read, as I found it interesting and enjoyable to live.
In 1971, Divcon had 13 of its dive-crew, diving under
Bay Marchand Fire, the World’s largest oil field fire. This massive fire had 21 wells burning in an area no bigger than average back yard.


Introduction
I retired exactly 25 years ago in 1997. Since that date, my family has encouraged me to write the story of my business
career. It was not until my Fraternity’s Alumni Association requested my story last year, that I started giving this biography some thought. Even though I type with one finger, end sentences with prepositions, and have had many brain cells evaporate over the years, I agreed to give it a shot.
Once started, I found recalling past events and recording them as best as my memory serves was fun and gratifying, and I was disappointed when it was brought to my attention that previous Career stories uploaded on the Alpha Tau Omega (ATΩ) website, which required a password to access, went “public” on the Internet. So I reluctantly stopped the project, not wanting any private information floating around ‘out there’ for fraud reasons, if nothing else.
Sometime later Larry “Duffer” Dunham, the Association’s extremely brilliant and talented Historian and the originator of these Brother “Did You Know” Stories suggested turning my story into a book. While nobody is going to waste their time reading it, this idea allowed me to continue writing. I HAVE truly lived the American Dream and maybe this book might encourage some young person to pursue their Dream knowing that it can actually happen.
The last chapter of this book is the Conclusion. Following it is an Appendix, in which I have listed what I call my Business Philosophies.
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Introduction
These are the principles I used to build and grow my Companies.
Hopefully, there is some value in them for anyone wanting to do the same.
Also, some of them address personal advice that might help non-business people advance in life.
You can find them on page 307, so please check them out.
You may help yourself to these Business Principles, and may they may serve you as well as they have served me.
Best regards and I hope you “Dare To Dream Your Dream”.
George C. Yax.


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Part 1
The Early Years
Uncle Dick and George age 2, give a snappy salute. WW ll was in its 3rd year for the United States.


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Part 1 • The Early Years
Growing
Up Fast
1941 -1955
Young George Yax, even at
age 10, has that happy but determined look that says, “I want’a grow up fast and Build Something Special”!


Growing Up Fast
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L-R- One year old George & brother Dick working out sleeping arrangements...“Move over a little George”. Next two photos are George’s first Christmas. He must have been an exceptional baby too, as these photos were taken at 11:00pm Christmas Eve, Merry Christmas young George.


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Part 1 • The Early Years
1943-At two years old, I loved the outdoors & I still do.
Little brother Dick and I were inseparable.
Above, in 1944 Dick and I “Enlisted in the U.S. Play-Army. Because I’m the oldest and have a lot more experience in military matters than broth- er Dick, I’m giving him a little close-order drill instructions”. We are wearing real steel pot helmet liners, and shouldering special-made real-toy rifles... It was well known that you “Don’t Mess with Texas or the Yax Brothers, Ever”!


Growing Up Fast
Left two- Yax brothers are in the 6th grade, and already experienced deer hunters. We are not too pleased to have to take time to pose for this photo... we were lean, mean, hunting machines.
We were inseparable and loved to do everything together when possible.
Mom liked to dress us like twins a lot, except
I didn’t go for the 4” rolled up cuffs on my Levi Jeans... “Where’s the flood Dick”
Below- 12 year old George at left, working on that ‘girl killing’ smile & a sporting a new Hair ‘Do’.
Center-15 years old, nailed the cool smile, and got an even bigger ‘Do’.
Right- George can also be serious when the situa- tion calls for that, just read on in this story and you will see just how serious things can get.
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was born 3/14/1941, in Houston to a New York Yankee and a 5th generation Texas Lady. My mother was something really special. Hundreds of kids in Rosenberg, Texas (now my age) only knew her as
Mom”.
She managed a teen hangout at the Episcopal Church known as the “Teen Canteen”. But, her prime contribution was positive advice for literally hundreds of kids with problems.
I have always tried to be a positive person, but I could not even come close to “Mom”. Many of my classmates from High School barely remember me,
Part 1 • The Early Years
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but they all remember “Mom”.
Top left- Me, Mom, & Dick, and Mom’s ever-present beautiful smile, as she shows in all the photos.
No wonder all the kids at the Episcopal Church Teen Canteen loved her. She truly cared for all the kids, all
the time, and it’s no wonder that they felt like she was their Mom too... Our Mom was a Wonderful Lady.


Growing Up Fast
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Above- Mom and me. Right- Mom was a real beauty in 1930, and my Dad was a real lucky fellow. Below- Mom hosts a farewell party for me, as I’m heading off to join the Army.


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Part 1 • The Early Years
Top L-R-Mom 1956. Necia & Mom always got along great, I think because Necia was the daughter she never had. Mom driving my boat.
It was always a good time when we could all get together at Mom’s home in Crockett...“the good ole days”.


Growing Up Fast
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Top- Christmas 1965 & 1993 at Dick’s home.
Mom said she wanted professional pictures taken of the family. These two were taken in 1995 just before she passed. Below, me & Necia with our sons Roger and Porter, and our Mom. Mom was very happy we could get our family photo done for her.


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Part 1 • The Early Years
Above- My Dad had several studio portraits taken in 1930, eleven years before I was born.
Left- Dad in his usual business attire in his Houston office in 1946. He had the qualities of a good business man, guess some of that rubbed off on me.
We had a happy and loving family, especially on Christmas Day, shown below in 1945.


Growing Up Fast
My dad was born in Buffalo NY in 1885 and died when I was 6. He 27 got to Texas as soon as he could and started a small photo engraving business in the old M&M building downtown Houston, now
owned by the University of Houston. His company was fairly successful. Dad
was a serious salt water fisherman and duck hunter and I inherited his Brown- ingAuto-5,12ga.duckgun,whichisoneofmyproudestpossessions. Being
only six at the time of his death, I only have vague memories of him, but they
are all good. He died of a cerebral hemorrhage in 1947.
After his death, Mom remarried and we moved to California for three years, and then to Rosenberg, Texas. where my step-dad, Wally Wallington became a “disc jockey” for KFRD. That was 1951.
My brother Dick was 11 months younger than me, but after the 3rd, we were always in the same grade. (He skipped a grade—I didn’t fail one.) We were extremely close. Our address was 1036 Sally Ann Drive, Rosenberg, Texas.
It was a 2 bedroom/1bathroom and maybe 1,000 sq. ft. home with no air conditioning.
It cost $8,000. The best thing about it was that it backed up to Mr. Stern’s 200 acre cotton field that we considered our back yard. Down the street about 100 yards away was what had to be a 2,000 acre unfenced woods which we considered our private playground for hunting, exploring, and building camps and tree houses. It is a subdivision today.
In 1951, when we lived here there were no big trees in the yard, no fence, and no bushes, much prettier now.


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Part 1 • The Early Years
Above- Dick and me, and our two 4- legged pals loved playing and hunting on Mr. Stern’s 200 acre field. It was a great place to grow up.
Right- I used to love when Dad would give me ‘horsey’ rides, especially this one on my first Christmas in 1941.
1946 and the family back in Buffalo NY where my Dad was born. Mom had Dick and I dressed alike again doing the ‘twin’ thing.
Dad was an avid fisherman & duck hunter, and from the looks of the pho- to, he was pretty good at it. Not sure what the limit was back then, but I’d guess he got there. I’m so happy that those genes were passed on to me.


High School
High
School
1955-1959
George age 18, gives his Fiance Diane Delmar a ride to class. Sometimes they would even ride inside the Pontiac.
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Part 1 • The Early Years
Above- 6th grade, George is 5th on top row & his ‘4-eyes’ friend, Donnie Hartfield is 4th on bottom row. George still has the ‘killer’ smile and the ‘Do’ going. Right- Dianne Delmar with “Granny”. Be- low- White Tux on High School Graduation Day, 1959. Bottom right-
(center) She was ‘Everybody’s Mom’.


uring the summers from the 8th grade through High School, Dick and I worked for a hay hauling contractor who picked up hay bales for all the big plantations around the area. He had a small Ford tractor and a 40’ flatbed trailer and was paid by the bale. He drove
the tractor and Dick and I and three other kids picked up the 50 lb. bales and stacked them on the trailer. Three kids would be on the ground throwing the bales onto the trailer with two kids on the trailer stacking them so that we loaded the maximum number of bales it would hold.
There was no conveyor like we have here at
the ranch today, just lift and throw. When
the trailer was full, we got to ride on it to
wherever the hay barn was to cool off. Then
we would stack the bales in the extremely large plantation barns that felt more like ovens. This often amounted to throwing each bale up 5 levels to the top of the barn with each kid throwing every bale. Our pay was $7 per day/$35 per week. It was with this pay that I bought my 1st car for $185; a 1948 Dodge with Fluid Drive and a whip antenna. Mom got me a hardship driver’s license based on family necessity when I was 14.
One memory from the 7th grade in Jr. High really stands
out. At that time, the seating arrangement in the classrooms
was done by alphabetical order. Being a Y, I was normally
seated in the back of the room. I really thought that I was
totally stupid because my brother Dick and the other kids
seem to catch on to lessons while I did not. Then one day
a classmate, Donnie Hartfield came to school wearing a new
pair of glasses. He was getting the “four eyes” treatment
from the other kids when I asked if I could see them. My
whole life changed the second I put them on. I discovered
that trees had individual leaves and weren’t just big green
blobs. Mom had my eyesight tested and I was 20/400 near sighted and I got “coke bottle” glasses. My grade point average shot up immediately and I lost that being stupid feeling.
Back then, car models changed every year and horsepower was a big thing because gasoline was around $0.12 cents per gallon. Mom had to have a car so Dick and I talked her into buying a 1954 Buick Century. This model was the small Buick body but with the big Buick engine and it was fast. Drag racing was a big part of teen’s lives growing up in Rosenberg, Texas. It seems that somebody
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High School
D
Dick & me taking a Juke Box break from the hay bales.
7th Grade and feeling a whole lot smarter in
my new glasses.


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“Brother Dick and I were proud it was the fastest car in Rosenberg”, of course I had no personal knowledge about any of that?
was always challenging somebody else to a drag race on the farm to market road going to Booth, and all the kids from several grade levels would be there to watch. It turned
out that until the ’57 Chevrolet’s came out, nothing could beat that ’54 Buick; absolutely nothing. It became a major status symbol for the Yax boys.
Part 1 • The Early Years
My father’s will left Mom a reasonable estate
plus $5,000 each for Dick’s and my college education,whichwasadequatein1947. When
Mom’s estate money was gone, so was Wally,
our stepdad. He was a good guy and helped get
me involved in guns and hunting. His father
owned the huge South Main Gun Club in
Houston where we went on many weekends.
After he left, Mom’s mother—Granny, moved
in with us and was a major influence on my life.
Along the way, Mom had to use one of the $5,000
scholarship funds to make ends meet. This was a major family concern during our senior year of High School.
We got engaged when she was a Sr. and I was a Jr.
Also back then, few kids went to college. They normally became engaged during their senior year and married after graduation and lived around Rosenberg. I became engaged as a junior to a cheer leader, Diane Delmar whose family was wealthy and who was a year older than me. Her previous boyfriend was in her class. He didn’t like this at all and never stopped trying to win her back. Diane enrolled at Southwest Texas in San Marcos while I was a senior. I go into this because this ex-boyfriend went to the University of Texas and became a maritime
lawyer. Twenty-three years later in 1982 he
sued my company during our first year in business on a totally phony issue. The lesson is that you have to be careful
whose girlfriends you take away. Diane, knowing that I couldn’t afford to go to college is who suggested that I join the army.
Wally and Mom during the good times.


High School
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Top-In case you didn’t recognize the guy behind those ‘Foster Grants’, it’s me George. And like Dick and our High School buds, I’m feeling pretty cool about being Seniors. Above- Wally was a good guy. Left- Me with High School mate, Johnny Bryson.


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Part 1 • The Early Years
Top- This is Dick’s and my bedroom while we were in High School. Would you believe we were never robbed, even once, just saying! Above- Just had to have one last look at ‘The Rosenberg Buick Bullet’, this little beauty was just as fast and as she looks mean. Left- I was feeling pretty ‘studly’ at the High School dance, sporting my brand new 10-gallon cowboy hat, until Dianne said, “hey Cowboy, is that a sweet potato in your pocket, or are you just glad to see me”?


U.S. Army
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U.S. Army
1959 -1962
20 year old U. S. Army Spec. 5 Yax, George C., Looking Sharp and Standing Tall! George was offered a promotion to Platoon Sergeant (E6) if he would re-up for another 3-year hitch. But due to an overzealous 2nd Lt’s. petty harassment, George realized he needed to go to college, get a degree, and seek another career opportunity. After his Honorable Discharge, he not only got his BBA, but he also earned his Master’s Degree in Business Administration.


Part 1 • The Early Years
Di t
36
ck was the good-looking and musically
alented part of the family, think Ricky Nelson. When we graduated from Lamar Consolidated High School in 1959, I
joined the Army so that he could go to college. Besides marrying Necia and pledging ATΩ, joining the Army was the best thing I ever did. The Army took a confused, disorganized, undisciplined kid and
put the fear of God in my butt in addition to making me “organize” my life which has benefited me ever since.
Dick went off to college...
“hey boy—get this little spot, get that little spot”.
I looked him over knowing I could rip him apart in less than 45 seconds and was probably smarter than he was, now that I had glasses. So, why was he telling me to “get that little spot”?Then it hit me—he went to college. BANG!! From that minute on, I was dedicated to getting a college degree.
After Basic, I spent two and one-half years stationed in a corn field six miles east of Alvarado, Texas. The corn field contained a Nike Hercules Anti-Aircraft Missile Battery. I was a Range Track and Missile Track opera- tor. Each year we would travel to McGregor
Range north of El Paso for live fire exercises to
Pfc. Yax, George C.,
... while I went off to the Army.
An incident at basic train- ing taught me that I “had” to go to college. It was about 11:00 pm and I was mopping the orderly room floor which had probably been mopped 20 times that day by other recruits. A young 2nd Lieutenant
sitting behind the Officer of the Day’s desk kept telling me
E5 Yax and an E4 buddy looking sharp.
fire one Nike Hercules and one Nike Ajax Missile at jet drones at a range of up to 75 miles. Computers would give the results of


these firings and we never missed impact of over six feet. (P.S. -- ICBMs later made anti-bomber missiles obsolete overnight.)
During this time period, I got lucky and met another girl which caused me to break up with my fiancée Diane.
My enlistment was for 3 years and I was discharged a Spec-5 on August 4, 1962. I was promised a promotion to E-6 if I reenlisted, but that “hey boy, get this little spot” thing had altered my thinking. Meanwhile Mom had remarried to “Mr. Bud” Shivers and moved to Crockett, Texas.
Army’s very sharp ‘Tip of the Spear’, and I got to Range & Track these Bad Boys. Not one Soviet ICBM ever penetrated South Texas Airspace! Top right- C Battery Radars, NCO Club, Barracks, Mess Hall, Drill Team, I’m 1st in line and looking good! Below- Our Firing Team got
2 Hits-2 Missiles (perfect score), I’m center 2nd row seated.
37
U.S. Army
Top- Nike Hercules was the


38
Part 1 • The Early Years
As you can tell at top, I had all the cool Army offensive moves down pat. But the real truth is I really enjoyed ‘most’ of my time in the Army, especially being a part of the Nike Anti-Aircraft Missile Battery. Bottom left- David Krause and me 1962. It was good to see my ole Army buddy David after 50 years, and I don’t think either of us has changed a lick.


College
College
1962 -1967
39
George, in addition to being a campus ‘Hunk’, was a
College Geography Professor, and President (W.M.) of the Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity (ATΩ). During his two years as W.M., ATΩ was No.1 in just about everything on the Sam Houston campus.
Shown here at his MBA Graduation, he was now on his way to “Building That Something Special”.


40
ong about this time, my Uncle Dick, Mom’s brother was going through some of my Dad’s old files. Mom always said that Dad’s awyer and executor, Ben Blum stole everything worth anything
from his estate, but in an old folder, Uncle Dick found a single stock certificate. It was either Curtis-Mathis or a company that C/M bought, and I don’t know the number of shares. This was one of the companies that developed television. Regardless, it was worth enough for me to go to college, without even having to work.
In the meantime, my brother Dick had gone to Southwest Texas and was
a big man on campus. He was the president of his fraternity, among other positions, and kept bringing home the most beautiful girls. He was the guitar picker of a rock band and a stud at S W Texas. He told metocomethereasI would be a walk-on.
Part 1 • The Early Years
Al l
The “beautiful girl” part almost swayed me but following in the footsteps of my little brother was against my moral fiber (whatever that is) so I
enrolled at Sam Houston, not knowing anyone except an old girlfriend, plus Dick’s old girlfriend, Connie Cole from Rosenberg. She was a Zeta and, in my opinion, the most beautiful girl on campus. BJ Thomas was giving a concert on campus that 1st semester and Connie & I had a date to go. (It was a “mercy” date on her part.)
Brother Dick went to Southwest Texas and became a ‘BMOC.’
BJ, being an old friend from Rosenberg (and his having the hots for Connie) dedicated a few songs during the concert to Connie Cole and George Yax. This brought up the question by a number of fraternity guys—who the hell is George Yax (being with Connie Cole), and convinced me to go through Rush. Mr. Bud’s
BJ Thomas, center with the mike, was not yet the Famous Superstar singer that he would become in a few short years, was a regular at the ATΩ House. As he would do many times, jamming with Worm, Rolo, and the ATΩ Brothers.


son, Sonny Shivers had been a Delt at Sam and convinced me to join a fraternity, Delts of course.
41
College
Prior to Spring Rush 1963, I took up playing bridge in the Student Union Building. I cannot remember why because I was never much of a game player, but it was playing bridge that
I met Necia. Spring Rush was starting, and she and I went to a number of rush & blanket parties and obviously hit it off. It was at an ATΩ party that I met Roger Adams (another rushee) only to find out he was Necia’s brother. We became Pledge Brothers and today, he and his family live here on the ranch.
My Army enlistment called for three years active duty and then three years of inactive reserves which meant that you didn’t have to do anything except standby to be recalled if there was a national emergency. Around October 1, 1963, I received a letter from the Army saying to pack my bags, get my affairs in order and standby to be recalled. The emergency was the Cuban Missile Crisis.
I am still standing by. The second letter never came.
My enlistment in 1959 kept me from being drafted for the Viet Nam war. Dick was not that lucky. He had already graduated when drafted, married, and had a son. It was noticed at basic training that he had leadership qualities and was
Necia and I really hit it off, and ATΩ became a big part of our lives, still is. Below is my Pledge Class, the “Eshingigus”8”. Keith Collins not pictured. Robert Earl Hutson bottom right, was not a pledge brother, but was initiated with all of us. Roger Adams is far left bottom row.
offered Officer
Training
School after
which he be-
came a second
Lieutenant and
then sent to
Viet Nam. He
was a Forward Observer for an artillery battery stationed at Dong Ha right on the DMZ. He resigned from the Army as a Captain.
Captain Yax, Richard M.,
Viet Nam Veteran, retired.


42
Part 1 • The Early Years
My 1963 Zeta Mu Pledge Class, The ‘Eishingigus 8’ l-r- Lamar ‘Whip’ Wilson, Me, Bill Jackson, Keith Collins, Bubba Myers, Don Good, Roger Adams (my brother-in-law), and Frank Heide.
I was initiated in 1963 into the ATΩ Brotherhood,
a great day indeed! Our 1966 ATΩ Zeta Mu Composite,
I was elected Zeta Mu W.M.(President) in 1966, see top row center below.


College
43
Top-1966 Dad’s Day parody, “Remember the Alamo”. That was back in the good ole days when you could still bring your cannon to school.
Above- Summer 1963. Above right- Necia’s Graduation 1964. Right- ATΩ Brother Jerry Shaddix and me at ATΩ 100- Year Conference, Brother Steve Otis took photo.
Far right- 1967, Just Graduated and received my MBA Diploma, man was that ever a Happy Day. Now I was ready to take on the World... and I Did!


Part 1 • The Early Years
44
had to be an ATΩ even though Bruce Evens and Laird Dunham (both are just a ‘hair’ better Brothers now) were big time turnoffs. Throw in McAfee. At this point in the story, I can honestly say that pledging back then was a hell of a lot harder than basic training. It was damn sure not a walk-in.
However, it took a bunch of individuals and made them into teammates and brothers. It was so hard to get in that once you were in, you were going to protect the Chapter at all costs. (I don’t ever remember having anyone fail to pay their dues back then. It just didn’t happen.)
During the summers, I cut right-of-ways for the Rural Electricity Administration (REA) around Crockett, Texas. This was a breeze compared to hauling hay and I was totally in shape after doing no less than 10,000 push ups while pledging.
After being initiated, I roomed with Ronnie “Worm” Wamble for two years until he graduated. What a guy. This started a life-long friendship through thick & thin. After Worm graduated, I roomed with Joe Smith for the next year.
Almost immediately after becoming an ATΩ, I became Zeta Mu’s “Rush Chairman”. Rush was a hard sale
back then because Sam Houston
was both a cowboy and a “suitcase”
college with around 5,000 students. Suitcase meant that everyone
went home every weekend, maybe because Walker County was “dry” back then.
My thought was the only way to
keep the Zeta Mu Chapter No. 1 on campus, was to bring in exception- ally good guys. This had an impact on my salesmanship development which helped me greatly during my business career. I rank sales- manship and the willingness to
After Larry “Duffer” Dunham graduated in 64’, his old roomy “Worm” and I became roommates, and began our life-long friendship. He was genuinely a really sweet guy, Worm not Duffer.
The ATΩs just appealed to me. After meeting Tom Evens and Jerry Hooper, I


take a risk, as the two keys to business success.
45
In 1965, I was elected Worthy Master (W.M./President) and VP of the IFC (Inter-Fraternal Council). I always liked to say that I had to save the Chapter from the previous W.M.’s administration (Harper’s) but the truth was that ATΩ
College
1964 Necia graduated and
began her teaching career in Pasadena.
was kicking butt. Incidentally, I was a Busi- ness Major with Economics, History and Geography Minors. Necia graduated that year and moved to Pasadena to teach.
About 2 months before I graduated in 1966, Dr. Scott, the head of the Geography Dept., called me into his office and asked me to student teach 12 hours of “Geogra- phy 161—Introduction to Geography” the following year, which would allow me to get an MBA.
I was interviewing with Shell Oil, pre-gradua- tion at that time and declined. After at least five interviews with Shell, I was told that the job went to Sheldon Hays, a Delt from
SAM that I knew “because he had a Master’s Degree”. BANG!! I then went back to Dr. Scott to see if the job offer was still open—it was and paid $100 per month, plus that year the “Cold War GI Bill” went into effect providing
Married on June 25, 1966.
I got my BBA and my MBA in this building, named after ATΩ Brother Robert Earl Huston.
another 100 bucks per month. Necia and I got married the summer between my BBA graduation and the start of my MBA. She quit her teaching job in Hous- ton and went to work at the First National Bank in Huntsville, as a teller, making


46
$99 a month. We moved into the Claridge Apartments which were the nicest in Huntsville at the time and she owned a
Part 1 • The Early Years
Necia was a bank teller making
the ‘Big’ bucks, had a new car, and we were living in the Claridge Apts. & living large!
brand new Dodge Dart. We were in Tall Cotton.
During Class Registration, Dr. Scott and I sat side by side at the Geography registration table. He told me to cut my classes off at 30 students each, which
I did for the first Semester. However,
at the Spring Registration, there were students waiting in line to take my classes, why I don’t know, and I couldn’t turn them away. I ended up with 76 for one class and 79 for the second. Dr. Scott said, “You will be sorry”, but I never was.
I had to get the English Building Auditorium next door to the Geography Build- ing to teach my classes. (Both buildings have since been torn down.)
Dr. Scott never gave me any advice as to how to teach nor did he ever audit my class, so I did things differently. First, I told the students not to buy the 161 textbook (because I didn’t want them to know more Geography than I did). Necia’s uncle had given me 25 years of National Geographic magazines and I used related articles in them to illustrate the lessons along the lines of the textbook. This seemed to work well plus I required a term paper which Dr. Scott did not. At Joe Smith’s wedding, after I graduated, one of my ex-students told me that I was the reason that she changed her major to Geography (probably not a favor) so my approach must have worked. Dr. Scott offered me a per- manent teaching job which I declined, telling him that I had to go out and build something in order to see what I was made of. His comment was that teaching was building young minds. That wasn’t enough.
At the end of my last teaching semester, and after I had turned in my student’s grades to the Register’s office, three Delts came to my office. One of my students was a Delt pledge and due to skipping class, attitude, failing grades and not turning in his term paper, I gave him an F. They said that F dropped his Grade Point Average so that he couldn’t be initiated and would I consider bumping it up. I explained that the grades had already been turned in but I would try to raise it to a C. They said, “you don’t understand—he needs an A”. After a lot of explanation to the registrar I gave him an A.
Fast Forward: Exactly 50 years later to the year, Necia and I were driving to San Antonio and received a cell call from the University saying that a person from