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60102araD1R1.qxp:60102araD1R1 10/11/07 4:25 AM Page 1 > Jabal Las Vegas 2008 Unveiled > Texas Ties Link Generations > Mandaville Addresses ‘New Islamic Media’ > Goldings Return Treasures > Cultural Center Staked Out for Dhahran PLEASANT DAYS > 500 Celebrate at Brats Biennial FALL 2007 ’ FLYBOYSTOLD FAIRCHILD STORY Al~AyyamAl~Jamilah 60102araD1R1.qxp:60102araD1R1 10/11/07 4:25 AM Page 2 DON’T MISSMISS JABALJABAL LAS VEGAS 2008! Calling all Aramcons and friends—to Jabal Las Vegas 2008, the 26th biennial Annuitants Reunion, Sept. 29-Oct. 1. Reuinon hosts Albert and Karen Fallon have provided a package of reunion registration and hotel reservation information, along with an outline of activities, events and meals, in the reunion insert in this issue of Al-Ayyam Al-Jamilah. Next year’s get-together is special because it coincides with the 75th anniversary of the signing of the Concession Agreement that launched the oil enterprise that is today’s Saudi Aramco, an event that will be celebrated by the company throughout the year. The reunion is being held at the luxury Paris Hotel on the famed Las Vegas Strip, with all facilities close by. Visit www.parislv.com for detailed information. The Fallons urge guests to register by June 1, 2008, but note that hotel reservations should be made as soon as possible to take advantage of special prices available now. The last time the Annuitants Reunion was held in Las Vegas, in 1990, it drew a record 1,272 guests. The Fal- lons hope that Jabal Las Vegas 2008 will set a new at- tendance mark. The reunion starts with registration Sept. 29 be- ginning at 10 a.m. (Sept. 28 from 4-6 p.m. for “early birds”). There will be a casual dinner Sept. 29, a light “Viva Las Vegas” supper reception Sept. 30 and a semi-formal gala on the final night, Oct. 1. In between, there will be plenty of time to share old times and absorb new news. As usual, golf, ten- nis and bridge tournaments are also on tap, along with the Sidelines exhibit of attendees’ crafts, hob- bies and other accomplishments—one more way for you to catch up with old friends, and let old friends catch up with you! “We’re delighted to bring you this reunion,” say the Fallons. “We hope that you will attend for some fun in the sun.” > Cover: Saudi Arabia’s pioneering aerial survey—carried out by Dick Kerr, Charley Rocheville, Joe Mountain and Russ Gerow—was memorialized on the cover of the September 1936 Standard Oil Bulletin in a striking “old meets new” scene that looked posed had it not been for real. While eating chow at the Henry-Brown camp at Hafar al-Batin one evening in 1935, Gerow observed the scene and remarked to Kerr that it would make a great photo. It was one of Kerr’s best. Standard Oil Bulletin image copyrighted by Chevron Corporation and used with permission; Dick Kerr photo copyright R.T. Gerow collection. 60102araD2R1.qxp:60102araD2R1 10/11/07 5:10 AM Page 1 pleasant days ContenFatll 20s07 2 4 30 The Mail Center Mosaic In Memoriam Features Cover Story ‘Magic Carpet’ Charted Path to Petroleum Treasure > In September 1933, Standard Oil of California hired Continen- tal Air Map Company to chart a large part of its Arabian conces- sion prior to drilling. The story of the aerial team helped put Saudi Arabia on the oil map is told here for the first time, through the lenses of the participants. 10 7 8 20 Texas Ties & Flying Brat-Turned-Academic Goldings Return Old Link Generations Eyes ‘New Islamic Media’ Treasures to Kingdom Rodney Burge in Dhahran got two gifts Peter Mandaville highlights the impact Artifacts bound for the kingdom jog fond from his dad, Hank: a love of flying and a of al-Jazeera, blogs, chat rooms and memories of journeys of discovery in the link to Texas that now spans six comic books on “hearts and minds” of Eastern Province and around Arabia. generations. Muslim youth. 22 24 29 New Cultural Center Slated Five-Hundred Celebrate at ‘Ahlan wa Sahlan’ for For Dhahran Brats Biennial In-Kingdom Reunion Want to help preserve the history, Aramco Brats, family members and friends Ali Baluchi says, “Ahlan wa Sahlan,” traditions and accomplishments of the enjoyed their 11th biennial get-together in and outlines plans for the second kingdom and the company? Here’s how. South Carolina—the largest of many Annuitants Reunion in Saudi Arabia, gatherings from Costa Rica to California. March 9-18, 2009. Read all about it! Al-Ayyam Al-Jamilah, “Pleasant Days,” is produced for annuitants, families and friends of Aramco, now Saudi Aramco, and its associated companies by Aramco Services Company. President and CEO, Mohammed Y. Al-Qahtani. Director, Public Affairs Department, Deya A. Elyas. Editor, Arthur Clark. Design, Pixel Creative. Fall 2007. ISSN-1319-1512. 1 Address correspondence to: The Editor, Al-Ayyam Al-Jamilah; Aramco Services Company; P.O. Box 2106; Houston, TX 77252-2106. 60102araD2R1.qxp:60102araD2R1 10/11/07 5:11 AM Page 2 The Mail Center Pictures at Royal Visit 1945-62. I was delighted to be part of the >>May 11, 2007 group that went back to Saudi Arabia in 2000. What an emotional experience it was for me to … Regarding the photos of the King’s “go home” at long last. I couldn’t believe the visit to Dhahran in 1947, I can’t positively changes that have taken place. identify anyone…. However, Paul and I were Having the opportunity to visit the old there and our sister Jan. I was five years old, stomping grounds of my childhood and Paul 3 1/2 and Jan two…. I also wrote a poem teenage years—swimming in the Gulf, the about the event, though I’m not completely house I grew up in, the Surf House and movie satisfied with it. theater in RT, of course the school, hobby farm, David Lunde and Khobar, our only real shopping outlet was [email protected] one narrow dirt road, but it was a mecca to >This photo of King ‘Abd al-‘Aziz meeting us—was a surreal experience for me. I hope young members of the Aramco community on In his poem, Meeting King Abdulazziz Jan. 25, 1947, was used on the cover of Forever we will be able to do that again in 2009. ibn Saud, Lunde talks about how he met the Friends, published in 1999. Al-Ayyam Al-Jami- Caryll Hayden Goodale monarch: lah readers and photo-file research provided 5641 Shadow Ridge Dr. … The King held out his huge, hard hand the names of some of those at the gathering. Castro Valley, CA The King is flanked by Aramco executives and took mine so gently and his [email protected] James MacPherson (left), and (right) by T.V. Sta- kind, serious eyes smiled into mine. pleton and American Consul-General Waldo “Al-Hamdu-li-l-laah,” he said, Bailey. Life magazine photographer David Dou- >>June 1, 2007 and I never could have guessed glas Duncan, flash held high, shoots across the A friend (Kate Muris, née Kathy Home- that 53 years later I would be telling king’s shoulder. In the immediate foreground wood) sent me copies of some photos of King (l-r): Sandra Zadorkin, Maureen Rentz, uniden- this story to his own delighted sons ‘Abd al-‘Aziz Al Sa‘ud’s visit to Dhahran on Jan. tified and Rick Squires. Wearing the tall white in their palaces in Riyadh and Jiddah. 25, 1947, asking if my sisters and I appeared in hat in front of MacPherson, Dorothy Jean May- Al-Hamdu-li-l-laah, indeed! field; two places farther on with hand at mouth, photo #47257. Marilyn Bunyan; right profile with Saudi cap in Lunde notes that he returned to front of interpreter, Joe Brassfield; boy with Saudi Arabia in 2000, with a > King ‘Abd al-‘Aziz back to camera wearing cap, Dick Engen; boy to right and above bent elbow, Michael Sin- group of 18 fellow Aramco Brats meets members of the Liston Hills’ family. gleyn; boy in black sweater, Myles Snyder. led by Michael Crocker, where he Photo courtesy Evelyn Squires. met a number of princes and told Yes, indeed, we them about his audience with are in that photo. Our their father in 1947. The trip took names were then place the year after the publication Cindy Hills (back to of Forever Friends, a book of sto- camera), Pat Hills (the ries and photographs from Brats six-year-old with two compiled by Crocker, by the King bows in her hair, ‘Abd al-‘Aziz Foundation for Re- Claudia Hills and search and Archives in Riyadh. Ed. Fern Hills (our mother). Cindy and >>July 24,2007 Claudia are twins (1 1/2 years old in Janu- ary 1947). I have an original picture of me greeting Our father was Liston F. Hills, who the king. I was five years old at the time and started out as an electrical engineer when he remember it very well. He was enamored with > Two girls with black hats on left: Alice first worked for Aramco in 1937. He eventually Fullmer and Judy Webster; third girl on left, my VERY blond hair and signaled for me to ap- became president and CEO of Aramco, retired in in white collar, Mollie Kennedy; fourth girl proach him. He touched my hair with both 1976 (I think). My parents … died in 1990 and from left with white hat, Dorothy Jean May- hands and said in Arabic, as the translation field; fourth girl from left in white coat, Caryll 1991 in Oregon, where they had retired.