Rathole , Drilling , Inc .
20 Plus Years of Servicing Texas Shale Plays
By Jennifer Larivey
Rathole Drilling , Inc . is an oilfield service company that has been in business since 1981 . James McClelland was the founder of Rathole Drilling , Inc . and had one rig for 10 years when he asked Gary Mills to join the company . February 1991 was the beginning of the great success Gary Mills has been able to develop . He built the company throughout the years and in June 2010 he owned 40 % of the company stock and he bought out the partnership from Mr . McClelland . Gary was the familiar face of the company . When asked what has been the contributing factors to his success and growth he says , “ I contribute my success to a lot of hard work , many hours , being a man of my word , honest , not taking advantage of people , good business ethic , and I ’ m very good to my employees .” He has great employee retentions with 75 % to 80 % of his employees and some have worked for him over 20 years . He has very little turnover and he says his open door policy has always been the key to the loyalty of his employees . He says , “ My people are not just numbers . I treat my people like family and I am very old fashioned . Any of my crew guys could walk over and ask to speak to me at any time .” Mr . Mills talks about how there are investors who want to buy his company and his decision to keeping the company is something he is very proud of . His company and his people mean so much to him that he cannot just let it go . He realizes that once he decides to sell he has no say in the decisions being made and how his people are treated and no one can treat them better than the way he does .
The management of Rathole Drilling , Inc . consists of Mr . Chris Graves as Vice President and Mr . Taylor Mills , Operations Manager and their entire support management in the field . Mr . Mills proudly speaks about Chris Graves as his Angel who came in to his life at the right time . He calls Chris Graves , Vice President , his adopted son . “ Chris took over the operations a little over two years ago . I have been blessed to have Chris running the company while I am able to enjoy my time with my lovely wife .” The company has expanded into the West Texas area , with Chris Graves , Vice President and Taylor Mills , Operations Manager . They have 12 rigs right now in operation with 2 in East Texas and 1 in West Texas and are expecting to add 3 to 4 more rigs in the Permian Basin Shale . Mr . Mills speaks highly of Chris and says , “ He runs the company , I don ’ t have to worry about it . He takes good care of it .” Chris Graves is honest , hardworking , and stands by his word and follows the leadership of his mentor Gary Mills . When speaking to Chris about the future of Rathole Drilling , Inc . he positively speaks about the expansion and growth of the company . He is certainly always looking to improve the quality of service to his clients which include companies like Pioneer Natural Resources and EOG as well as many others . Mr . Taylor Mills has excellent people skills and continuously services the contracts and companies by developing the business relationships that his father has developed over the years . Mr . Mike Ramsey and Mr . Johnny Aguilar are two employees , who have been here from the beginning . Mr . Mills says , “ I will jump over the moon for you if you are loyal .” Mike Ramsey runs the Bryan office and has for many years . Mr . Mills says , “ I treat people like human beings and not numbers . I am not any better than any of my people . I came from the poor side of the tracks and I never forget that .” When he speaks of his men he proudly says , “ They would jump over the moon for me and I would do the same . I can relate to my employees . I ’ ve been where they have been many times in my life and I don ’ t forget that .” The employees at Rathole Drilling , Inc . are proud to be a part of a legacy of grace and humbleness that comes from the leadership . You sense the camaraderie and love they have for one another and the great respect they have for Mr . Mills .
Mr . Gary Mills is very respected not only as an Oil & Gas Business Leader but also as a loving family man . Mr . Mills talks about how one of his life changing moments was when his lovely wife was diagnosed with a life threatening disease in October 2010 . It was at this time that he felt it was time to be there for his family and “ take care of Momma .” His priorities are now to enjoy the extra time he has with his family . Mrs . Mills has recovered very well and she and Gary are enjoying their time with their grown children and grandchildren . Mr . Mills is the owner of a Baja Race Team called Mills Motor Sports . He says that this is something he can do and enjoy with his sons . “ Taylor , Nick , and I all like cars and we have that in common ,” says Mr . Mills .
Rathole Drilling , Inc . continues to raise the bar of safety and thrives on being the absolute highest quality service company in all of
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