John Reginald (Reg) Summers-Gill
Born July 2nd, 1924 in Radisson, Saskatchewan, the son of English
parents who immigrated to Canada after
the First World War. My father was a banker and in those days bankers moved around, hence
I lived a time in Wadena, Saskatchewan and grew up through my teens in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
Joined the Canadian Navy, (RCNVR) in spring of 1942 and was sent to Calgary, Alberta,
July 2nd (my l8th birthday) to undergo a nine month training program to learn
trade skills in order to become an Engine Room Artificer. Shipped out to Halifax in spring
of 1943 and further training before going to Sea on the HMCS Wallaceburg, (a convoy escort
flag ship) as a fourth class ERA. Sailed the Atlantic until July 1945 when I was
demobilized. Returned to Saskatoon, looking for work and ended up a bank messenger in
Saskatoon and from there to Maidstone, Saskatchewan to train as a teller. An accident to a
bank teller in Lloydminster (Bank of Commerce) in 1946 resulted in a transfer to
Lloydrninster where I worked until October 1, 1947 when a job at the office with Husky was
offered me by Bill McWhinney, then office manager.
At that time Husky was very active at Lloydminster - with the building and start up at
the Refinery as well as drilling for oil. The Husky office had moved from the upstairs of
the Stuart Wright building to a part of "Al's Garage" both on the Meridian
Avenue (50th Avenue).
Bill Williams (Husky Bill, as he was known) was the senior Husky Manager who supervised
the refinery construction and turned it over to Pete Campbell who became Refining Manager
- Shorty Willard was Pete’s right hand. Meanwhile, Husky Bill moved
into the field operations. My first job was calculating and
recording oil deliveries to the Refinery known as Run Tickets, initially prepared at the
scalehouse, (truck weight loaded and empty as well as the percentage of BS&W (Bottom,
Sand and Water). Really a snap after you1d done a few.
My first real introduction to the Oil Business was courtesy of Husky Bill who would
come into the office and jokingly say "Boy, if you want to know what it's all about
first come out with me." Well my response was "0k, after work." So my
education began with evening trips out to the drilling and service rigs. I stopped going
after a couple of all night sessions "sitting on wells" with Bill and the
geologists - returning in the morning to be dropped off at work while Bill would say
"I’m going home to sleep."
Doing Run Tickets became a real bore (no challenge) so I used to complain to Bill
McWhinney that I needed a change. Well the chap that looked after payroll used to imbibe
and one morning about the time the payroll was to be prepared he failed to show up. Well
Bill said to me "you’re always wanting a challenge, see if you can do
the payroll." Well I did it - the guy was fired and I got the job - just like that I
went from $l40/month job to $175/month. That was a big promotion in those days.
In December of 1948, the office, about ten of us, was moved to Calgary to
space on the mezzanine floor of the Greyhound Building. I recall talking
on the phone to someone back in Lloydminster when the party
said, "Where the 'H' are you?" You see they announced the arrivals and
departures of buses all day and the sound carried throughout our offices. Our stay was
short lived there and we relocated above the Underwood Typewriters on 8th
Avenue.
It was in 1949 that I met Bernice Birney who became my wife in July 1951. Shortly there
after Husky transferred me back to Lloydrninster to head up a Payroll/Personnel
Department. We set up in the Shaw Petroleum offices over the Toronto Dominion Bank,
corner of 50th Avenue and 50th Street.
Husky had purchased Commonwealth Petroleums and Russell Shaw Petroleum, both drilling
and servicing companies. The payroll jumped from about 100 to 300. Those were busy times.
Husky Bill was still there along with a number of peers, all involved in drilling and
servicing wells.
Help was scarce so we had arrangements with the Royal Cafe and Roy Phillips to
house, feed and clothe new hires. Part of the setup involved me delivering pay
cheques or otherwise ensuring these employees paid their bills.
The Refinery was also expanding. The Company set up Insurance Benefit programs for the
employees - with John McNulty from Cody, Wyoming in charge and I was John's Canadian
liaison. I toured the rigs quite frequently, usually with Bill Williams, to talk to
employees about benefits, payroll matters, etc. We had a memorable trip to rigs in
Kindersley and Yorkton accompanied by our wives.
Then in 1955, Husky hired a guy
named Harding (from Eastern Auto factory) to head up a new Employee Relations Department.
We did not hit it off and I requested a transfer and was moved back to Calgary to head up
Accounts Receivable under my old boss Bill McWhinney. It was in this job that I became
knowledgeable about Refining products and marketing traffic operations.
A year or two later, Husky purchased refineries in Fort William and Moose Jaw. Pete
Campbell, the refinery manager at Lloydminster, was moved to Calgary to become a Vice
President and set up a Refineries Management group to oversee three Canadian Refineries
and the Refinery in Cody, Wyoming. I was transferred to Refining to join Pete
Campbell’s group as Administration Supervisor responsible for standardizing and
coordinating all refinery records and procedures.
In this capacity I often traveled to Cody, Lloydminster, Moose Jaw and Fort William, a
very interesting period in my career.
Meanwhile at home, Bea and I raised three children, Ron and Wendy born in Lloydminster,
and Diane, shortly after our transfer to Calgary.
Husky underwent a major transformation in 1963 with the building of the
"Yo-yo" pipeline for heavy crude - Lloydminster to Hardisty. The refineries at
Fort William and Moose Jaw were shut down - their tankage becoming terminals for crude oil
and asphalt products.
In September 1963, I was sent to Lloydrninster Refinery to run the office until a
suitable replacement was found for Clayton Reeves, who was leaving Husky. From September
to December, I resided at the Thunderbird Motel in Lloydminster along with my good friend
Tom Ferris who was also transferred to the Lloydminster Refinery from Fort William.
My temporary status was changed to permanent in December 1963 and Bea and I moved the
family over Christmas back to Lloydminster - perhaps the most trying time of our lives.
However, it wasn’t long before we settled in the Lloydminster lifestyle again and
became active in the community. Husky built new offices in Lloydminster on the
Saskatchewan side to accommodate both field and refinery offices. Leo Cavanagh (Refining
Manager), my staff and I moved to the new quarters, commonly referred to as "The
Palace."
In 1970, Bea and I were blessed with our youngest son Jim - who in 1986 as a
High School project built a demonstration oil derrick.
In 1976 Leo Cavanagh transferred to Calgary and good friend Vic Juba became Refinery
Manager. The new refinery as stands today was commissioned in December 1982. Prior to its
construction (December 1976) Husky had its only strike at the refinery - 76 days long
during the winter. Management didn't want to shut down for fear of the freezing weather. A
northern camp was set up in the plant and a number of us non-union personnel were housed
in the plant to keep it running. I was among this group and surprised everyone by calling
back my old Navy training to do various steam pump maintenance, shop work, fire brick
laying and many other chores. A new adventure was an assignment to clear the staff parking
lot of snow prior to the return of the workers.
In the years to follow, four floors were added to the "Palace" and the new
refinery was built. Vic and I and office staff moved to quarters at the new refinery as
many changes in company operations and methods started appearing.
My work as I loved it also started to change with the introduction of personal
computers, head office 'hands on' and more. I think it was in this period that I first
started serious thoughts of retirement. Bea and I built a new home and I ventured for a
short time into the housing development business in anticipation of retirement. The market
went flat and I escaped without any serious consequences.
It was about this time that several business people encouraged me to run for City
Alderman, which I did and won a by-election in 1981.
I served on council a total of nine years winning 4 elections. While on council I
served on most all committees, liking "properties" and "finance" the
best. Also served on the Community Futures Committee and the Lloydminster Economic
Development Authority.
In 1985, I retired after 37 and a half years with Husky Oil - a relationship that was
rewarding and memorable and today I still reminisce of all the friends and good times and
the pranks.
In 1986, I was honored as Oilman of the
Year at the Lloydminster Oilmen’s Annual Bonspiel, an honor which was very
meaningful to me. I am a Life member of "Lions" by sponsorship of
Lloydminster and Westbank Lions having served Lions in most offices including President,
Zone Chairman, Deputy District Governor and Convention Chairman. Prior to my city council
election, I served 4 years on the city Recreation Board (3 years as chairman). Other
activities included Chairman of Internal Transportation for Lloydminster Winter Games - A
Canadian legion member and several other projects including Building Chairman of the
Lloydminster Communiplex.
In 1990, Bea and I retired to Westbank,
BC., wintering in Yuma, Arizona where we still winter but now have our permanent home in
Kelowna, BC.
We busy ourselves with our four grown children who have their own families and jobs, of
whom we are very proud. Ron, the oldest is in Calgary married to Kay and they have three
children. Wendy is married to Ed Benoit (well known family in Lloydminster) and
lives in Westbank. They have three children, one who lives in Lethbridge with her wee son
(our first great grandchild). Diane is in Surrey, BC. and married to Murray and they have
two sons. Jim who is married to Suzanne lives in Taylor, BC.
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