Turner Valley - Talisman honors long-time residents

Turner Valley - Talisman honors long-time residents
Energy company names wells after local oil families

By Tara Merrin Staff Reporter

The family of a man killed at the Turner Valley Gas Plant in the early 1970s, was named as one of eight families to have an oil well named after them. The Martins received the honor from Talisman Energy during a ceremony in Turner Valley last week.
“I actually had a tear in my eye when they told me,” said Gene Martin. “It really means a lot to the whole family.”
Martin, who has worked as an operator in the oil and gas industry for 33 years, attended the event on behalf of his father Sam and uncle Art, who both died doing what they loved. “Between the three of us, we have nearly 100 years in this business. It’s too bad my dad wasn’t here— this would have meant a lot of him,” he said.
Martin’s father died of a heart attack while working in the field in 1967. This was just four years before his uncle was killed by an H2S gas leak at the Turner Valley plant. Art was one of only two area oil and gas workers to ever be killed while on the job in Turner Valley.
“They had a leak there that night and he was unlucky enough to be the one working there at the time,” said Martin.
On Wednesday, Talisman Energy area foreman Blair Mackie publicly announced the names of the eight family names chosen for the oil wells. Among these are the Herriman, Howe, Martin, Davidson, Boyd, Page, Nichols and Kennedy families. A sign will be posted on the fence in front of each well to identify each one.
Mackie said the families, which all represent oilfield workers or land owners, were chosen based on information gained by talking to longtime members of the community.
“Did we get them all? Certainly not, but we are not done yet” he said. “This is something we plan to keep up over the years.”
Gerald Herriman has been dealing with oil and gas companies since purchasing his land in 1951. He said he earned his oil well.
“We weren’t treated very well back then, but every year they get better and better,” he said, adding he was happy he was being acknowledged by Talisman. “This is great.”
Red Kennedy, who began working in the oil and gas industry in 1929, made a special trip from the senior’s lodge to the Turner Valley Legion to personally accept his name-plate. The 100-year-old said he enjoyed every minute of the 37 years he spent working in the field.
“In 1929 you did everything. It was great— they treated me good,” he added.

From: THE OKOTOKS WESTERN WHEEL, Feb. 2 2005, Vol.30 No.26