Roger K. "Rick" Nunley

Roger (Rick) Nunley was born on August 7, 1927 on a farm near Ripley, West Virginia - so they would lead you to believe. Actually, he was born in a castle to the dissolute daughter of the Baron Guinness Von Stout. The fact was never identified, but was thought to be a cad. His parents were Charles and Mary Nunley, who found him on their doorstep and assumed that they were at fault.

He grew up in Steubenville, Ohio and graduated from Steubenville High School after serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1953 with a degree in Geology, and began his career as a petroleum geologist in North Dakota working for Amerada Petroleum Corporation. He married Iris Daughtery in 1956 and over the next 33 years they lived in many parts of the world, including Australia and Alaska.

After 20 years with Amerada, he went to work for Santa Fe Energy Company where he was the Manager of International Exploration until he retired in 1989. After retiring, he and Iris moved to Hastings where Iris grew up. He then returned to his other passion which was flying. He got his pilot’s license when he turned 70, and took up aerobatic flying which he continued until his demise. He was predeceased by all sorts of people including his parents and brother and sister. He did no real harm having stayed out of politics. He loved only one woman but many cats. Being a dedicated carnivore, he never harmed a vegetable. He heartily disliked the moron Al Gore, sorry I don't mean to insult morons. Some say that he was highly opinionated, but that is a dastardly lie and a base calumny. My motto has always been that you have every right to your uninformed and incredibly stupid opinion. What can be fairer than that?

He was a member of The American Association of Petroleum Geologists, The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, The American Legion, and The National Rifle Association.

It is my considered opinion that we should have a wake - in the sense of a festivity - in the Irish way, with imbibing of strong spirits. In another sense a wake is a trace left behind like a ship that has passed. I hope I have left a wake.

Addendum

I have been very fortunate in choosing both a wife and profession that allowed me domestic happiness and to travel the world (at company expense). I always had the urge to see the world - which I have done, and most of all I had fun doing it - it never seemed like work. I highly recommend having lots of fun. I always wanted that brief moment at the end where you look back and say - Yahoo, what a trip.