Marathon

Marathon runs in my family. My great-grandfather worked the oil boom for the company that later became Ohio Oil (maybe Standard Oil), which later became the Marathon Oil Company. My grandfather worked the oil fields straight out of high school and worked his way up to regional managment of the oils fields of Crawford County/Southern Illinois and Indiana. My dad, one year and 3 three months after I was born returned from Military service to work for Marathon. A few years later my Uncle, (my mother's brother) got on with the Marathon Pipeline. I come from a strong race of Marathon men.

I remember in the 80s when Exxon Moblie was threatening to buy out the company and everyone I knew gathered around the county courthouse for a parade/demostration. I was young, but I remember it as vividly as the bright red shirt and hat I was wearing. The shirt said in large white letters (My Dad and Grandpa Work for Marathon, and the back I think it said "and uncle too") I remember the feeling of solidarity and deep and abiding purpose. Of wanting whatever it was that everyone else wanted...so badly!

My granddad has since retired, My dad has over thirty years in with the company (now Marathon Ashland), and my uncle spends much of his time at the company headquarters as a trusted advisor to the big cheeses. While I don't have pumpjacks, injection wells, and tank batteries in my future, I have recently joined their ranks....

Growing up I remember that the gas station on the corner of Adams and Main in Oblong had a large oval sign with a half naked Greek runner on it. The sign said; "Marathon Best in the Long Run." That runner was Pheidippides the runner said to have run the 26.2 Miles from Marathon to Athens to bring the news of the battle. As I understand it he died. Thankfully I didn't

Today I ran 26.2 miles as a participant in the Chicago Marathon.

Now I'm a Marathon Man too...