Claytie: The Roller-Coaster Life of a Texas Wildcatter

31. "Being who he is, is more important than him being in politics. He wouldn't have fit, ever."

By any measure, 2006 was a banner year personally and professionally for Claytie and his company: a year that presumably buried forever any haunting memories of bankruptcy and bank failures and the painful dispersal of many of his entrepreneurial treasures. “Things are too good,” he fretted facetiously. “That’s why I’m worried; when and where is the next shoe going to drop?” His Aggie Muster speech in 2005 had been a personal milestone, as were the Texas State Historical tribute and the Shikar-Safari awards that followed for both him and Modesta. The honors would spill over into the new year with his selection as the recipient of the 2007 Kupfer Distinguished Executive Award, named for 1954 A&M business administration graduate Harold F. Kupfer and recognizing professionalism, enthusiasm, and dedication to service. In campus ceremonies spread over two days, Claytie joined a renowned group of previous honorees ranging from Army Gen. Alexander Haig to the former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach; they included such familiar business luminaries as Michael Dell, Herb Kelleher, H. Ross Perot, Ray Hunt, Boone Pickens, and Richard Rainwater. His acceptance remarks were vintage—sprinkled with Claytieisms and self-deprecating stories that stressed the importance of entrepreneurship , integrity, salesmanship, risk-taking, and of course, an Aggie education. Meanwhile, elder son Clayton Wade had moved from Alpine to Midland with wife Kristy and toddler Aubry and was learning the Being who he is, is more important than him being in politics. He wouldn’t have fit, ever.” 31 “ A N E W M I L L E N N I U M 389 production end of the oil business working full-time for Clayton Williams Energy Inc. The couple’s second son, Claytie and Modesta ’s seventh grandchild, was born in November 2006 and christened Chance Everett Wheat Williams. Sons-in-law Greg Welborn and Jerry Groner were blossoming in the oil patch, Greg in the land end of CWEI and Jerry with his own Midland-based company. Son Jeff took over the High Lonesome Ranch and became engaged to a young woman from Austin, Erin Lauren Dwyer. Meanwhile, daughter Kelvie’s September 30 marriage to Timothy Herron Cleverdon of Midland was an enchanting event for the entire family and provided Claytie still another son-in-law to terrify. (“I’ve mellowed,” he swears.) Tim, who spent twenty years in oil and gas marketing, had launched his own company, called “Bee Busters .” After learning of the earlier adventures of Claytie and sons-inlaw Jerry and Greg, Tim approached his future father-in-law with Claytie and Modesta walking under a sabre arch formed by the Ross Volunteers during the Kupfer Award honors at Texas A&M, 2007 390 P A R T F I V E caution. After a series of mostly sleepless nights, he had decided to seek Kelvie’s hand in marriage in a face-off with Claytie at the Alpine ranch. But several attempts misfired. Finally, during the Christmas holidays of 2005, Tim caught him at the ranch and they sat down to chat. “I did notice that he was unarmed—a good sign,” Tim said. “A ‘dramatic pause’ occurred, which I took as my cue to begin.” There was this exchange: Tim: “Claytie, I’d like to talk to you about Kelvie and me.” Claytie: “I thought it might be something like that.” Tim: “But it’s good news . . . and she’s not pregnant!” Claytie laughed. Tim (stammering): “The bottom line is . . . I love Kelvie . . . and I think she loves me . . . and, uh, uh, I’d like to have your permission . . . and your blessing . . . to propose to her!” Claytie: “That’s great. I’d love to have ya. She’s my baby.” Tim: “I know.” “He welcomed me with open arms,” recalled Tim, sounding both surprised and relieved. “It was great.” When Tim called Modesta with the news, she admitted she might just shed a joyful tear. “Me, too!” said Tim. Meanwhile, on the financial front, Claytie’s expanding and encouraging exploration activities were invigorated by yearlong oil prices that flirted with $80 a barrel but mostly ranged from the low $60s to the mid-$70s while dipping briefly into the $50s in the fourth quarter. CWEI stock, which all but disappeared from the charts in the mid-’90s, bounced around in the $30 to $40 range much of the year and hit a record $55.33 in one quarter. Examining the...