Phillips' Chuck Darling

Jen Ransom, PNA staff writer

Basketball All-American Charles “Chuck” Darling was part of Phillips Petroleum Co.’s first geologic field party to come to Alaska in 1953. The party, headed by chief geologist Phil O’Rourke, was in the Katalla-Yakataga region to double-check the drill site recommendations based on a geological assessment made by the U.S. Geological and Geophysical Surveys.

Darling, a member of the Phillips 66ers — Phillips National Industrial Basketball League team — spent his evenings in Alaska running up and down the beach in waders, in an attempt to train for the upcoming season. He played a scrimmage game the day after he returned from Alaska.

In 1956, Darling played on the U.S. Olympic team, helping the team bring home the gold medal from Melbourne, Australia.

“The opening ceremonies at the Olympics take your breath away,” said Darling in a 1984 Denver Post article.

Depicted here is part of a photo collection of Darling’s basketball career with Phillips. Darling worked as a geologist with Phillips for 29 years, and then joined the exploration department of Celeron Oil and Gas in 1981. He is now retired and resides in Centennial, Colo.