Oil Field Discoverer "Whitey" Passes Away
Dr. Ogden Wells NinePhotograph Contributed by Wendy Nine
Dr. Ogden Wells Nine, known to Aramcons as "Whitey" passed away at the age of 80 years on April 8, 2006 in Springfield, Missouri after suffering a debilitating stroke. He was not ready to go. He had expected to live many more years but we do not choose the time of our passing.
Born in Baltimore, Maryland Whitey spent most of his childhood in Jackson Heights, NY. He attended an accelerated program and graduated high school at 17 after passing the Regencies. He joined the Navy and had hoped to become a pilot. Due to a mix up in medical charts, he was turned down and instead did his active duty as a Gunnery Instructor in Pensacola, Florida. After the Navy, Whitey attended Muhlenburg College in Allentown, Pennsylvania, where he met our mother, Jane Preston. He graduated in 1949 with a degree in Geology. He received his Masters Degree from Rutgers University in 1950 and decided to continue on for his PhD, which he earned in Paleontology in 1953.
Whitey went to work for Bethlehem Steel and took a job in El Grillo, Halesco, Mexico as a geologist in a Manganese Mine. He loved it but our mother did not and so a new solution was called for. Whitey discovered Aramco and went to work in the New York office in 1955. After a visit to Dhahran, he decided to transfer there. Our family joined him several months later.
Whitey worked in Exploration from 1957 to 1972 when he was transferred to Aramco Services in Croydon, England. He remained there until he retired in December, 1976. Whitey spent much of his time out in the Rub al Khali looking for oil. He has been credited with finding at least one large field. After leaving Dhahran, he worked for the Shah of Iran but was forced to leave the country when the Shah was deposed. He was never paid for his work.
Upon retirement, Whitey bought land in and around Eminence, Missouri. He raised cattle for several years, continued to collect ancient Middle Eastern coins and became an avid gun collector and excellent marksman. He loved bushhogging and walking his land. He was a very popular man around town and many will miss him.
He is survived by his sisters, Annette Cassidy, Maxine Max and Billie Kaufman, his
ex-wife, Jane Nine, his children, Wendy Nine, Suzanne Nine Swanson and Lt. Col. Tom Nine, and his grandchildren, Owen, Airell, and Alden Swanson, Stephanie and Skye Sosinski.
A viewing and service were held in Eminence on April 10th and 11th.Whitey was then cremated and his ashes were scattered near the barn where he had hoped someday to build a home.
Condolences can be offered by contacting:
Wendy Nine
50 Summit Road, Apt 5
Keene, NH 03431
(603) 357-0737
WendyNine@gmail.com
There is much that we do not know about our father's life and career. If anyone has stories or memories they would like to share with us, we would love to hear them.