Arctic Directory October 2015: PESI mourns the loss of Donald Parker

Petroleum Equipment Services Inc. announced that former Vice President of Operations Donald Parker passed away in Seattle, Washington, on June 25.

Parker was born March 23, 1946 in Laurel, Mississippi. His career started in the 1960s when he went to work on rigs in Mississippi and Louisiana. In the mid 1970s Parker began working for Christensen Diamond Products Co. He later moved to Alaska and worked as the Alaska manager for Christensen Diamond Products Co. following the completion of the trans-Alaska oil pipeline.

In 1981 Parker became involved in PDC bits the first of which was run in Cook Inlet and arrived at the rig under armed guards. He continued working for Christensen Diamond Products Co. and was located in California until 1987, returning to Alaska in 1988 to head the combined Christensen Diamond Products Co./Baker Directional, holding that position until 1992.

Late in 1992, Parker and his wife Linda moved to Georgia and ran a remodeling company until his return to Alaska to work with PESI until his retirement in 2013. During his time at PESI, the company grew tenfold. Through his efforts Parker became a leader in bit development for Alaska through PESI’s drilling tools division, took part in the longest core job in Cook Inlet, the longest PDC bit run in Swanson River, the first PDC bit to drill through the conglomerate zones in Prudhoe and became a leader of the ASTECH thread protector division. “Perfect” was Parker’s positive outlook motto and with that he set high goals for safety, instilling that culture with the PESI employees that continues today. Parker was also a connoisseur of fine cigars.

---

Did you find this article interesting?

Tweet it

Digg it

Print this story | Email it to an associate.

Click here to subscribe to Petroleum News for as low as $89 per year.