THE MAGAZINE FORTHETHE SAUDIMAGAZINEMAGAZINE ARAMCO FORFOR RETIREES RETIREDRETIRED WORLDWIDEARAMCONSARAMCONS PLEASANT DAYS SPRING 2013 COVER STORY pted A Ado ramcon’s S AT A TURE N EXHI ION PIC BIT Page 16 INSIDE 11 Trekkers Tackle Picturesque Prescott 12 Jungers Reveals Secrets of Success 20 Ann Rhea Befriends Students from ‘Home’ 22 Antiquities Donors Honored at ‘Roads of Arabia’ 28 Retirees Weather Sandy’s Fury CONTENTS DEPARTMENTS 2 MAIL CENTER 4 MOSAIC 8 HOLIDAY EVENTS 32 IN MEMORIAM 16 Adopted Aramcon’s Pictures at an Exhibition Colbert Held formed friendships with many Aramcons during two decades 11 in the Middle East. Now the 95-year- old retired geographic attaché and diplomat has taken the cream of his Trekkers Tackle Picturesque Prescott collection of 19,000 slides to mount On hikes choreographed to challenge the savviest septuagenarian, longtime Aramco “Middle East Patterns: Places, People trekkers discovered themselves on trails that wound by petroglyphs, past rocks from the and Politics,” an exhibition at Baylor moon and through breathtaking landscapes. They were also spooked by snakes and University that vividly highlights the apparitions, the former even scarier than the latter, during their Arizona reunion. region’s landscapes and history. 12 20 Jungers Reveals Ann Rhea Secrets of Success Befriends Students Former CEO Frank Jungers, who grew From ‘Home’ up professionally with the company Ann Rhea began a voyage of and left a deep imprint in the discovery when she moved to Dhahran process, looked back on his career nearly half a century ago. Now she during a visit to Dhahran with his is helping young Saudis enrolled in wife Julie late last year. Here, they universities in Atlanta, Ga.—such view a model of the King Abdulaziz as 21-year-old Rawaa Felemban, Center for World Culture, under right—navigate their own journeys construction in Dhahran, with in America.”“What I can give these Haitham Jehairan, Public Relations students is someone who appreciates Dept. publishing director. where they are from,” she says. Cover: Former Dhahran Consulate Deputy Principal Officer Colbert Held chats with Baylor University graduate student Corrine Peters at his exhibition of 250 photographs focusing on the Middle East, which runs through May 15 at the Waco, Texas, school. Photograph by Arthur Clark. Al~Ayyam Al~Jamilah ADDRESS CORRESPONDENCE TO PRESIDENT Ahmed M. Alzayyat “Pleasant Days,” is produced for annuitants, The Editor, Al-Ayyam Al-Jamilah DIRECTOR, PUBLIC AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT Ali M. Al Mutairi families and friends of Aramco, now Saudi Aramco Services Company and Aramco EDITOR Arthur Clark Aramco, and its associated companies Overseas Company, P.O. Box 2106 DESIGN Graphic Engine Design by Aramco Services Company. Houston, TX 77252-2106 SPRING 2013. ISSN-1319-1512 [email protected] 22 Antiquities Donors Honored At ‘Roads of Arabia’ Debut Barbara Deines Martin, daughter of retirees Adam and Violet Deines, was among the new crop of antiquities donors who received thanks from Prince Sultan ibn Salman in ceremonies at the opening of the landmark “Roads of Arabia” show in Washington, D.C., in November. She wore ancient bracelet pieces from the kingdom in modern fittings. 28 Retirees Weather Sandy’s Fury Rosemarye and Marty Levine, photographed by their daughter Wendy (www.wendylevine.com) on a visit to Houston, Texas, in 1998, experienced their fair share of shamals during their 1981-92 sojourn in Dhahran. But nothing prepared them for Hurricane Sandy, which slammed their New Jersey home last fall. MAIL CENTER Artifacts Story Catches Eye June 1, 2012 I and my wife (née Katherine Miesh) were Aramcons from 1956-66 in Dhahran. “Kitty” worked in Exploration and I was a dentist. This explains how I am on the mailing list to receive Al-Ayyam Al-Jamilah. The article regarding artifacts that ap- peared in the Fall 2011 issue (“’Home Paul Mandaville sketched out this plan of a Sweet Home’ for Artifacts”) is what Bubble House and sent it to his wife Maxine prompts this note and the enclosed in 1945, with a note saying he hoped it photo. It shows how one local artist would solve the “housing problem.” (Peg Lucas) utilized shells, glass sherds Apparently, just one was built, in Dhahran. and even portions of bracelets to fash- ion a flower and vase. not forget them till death. I am proud Dr. Robert L. Pokorney that I worked in one of the biggest oil Apt. B211 companies of the world and its whole 1700 Washington St. set-up was up to the mark. Springfield, IL 62701 When I was reading Al-Ayyam Al- Jamilah, my eyes became wet remem- bering Aramco. the answer to our problem....” Shahid Husain A Dhahran of mushrooms perhaps 755-Zaidi Society would have been a nice fit with a theme Meerut (U.P.) 250002 of the “Dammam Dome,” but no closets? India Jim Mandaville [email protected] [email protected] NOTE: Paul Mandaville joined Aramco in 1944 and moved to Ras Tanura in 1948. Bubble House Jim, his mother Maxine, his brother Jon and Resurfaces his sister Judy joined Paul the same year when conventional—not bubble—housing October 9, 2012 had become available. In last year’s Fall issue of Al-Ayyam Al-Jamilah you asked if anyone could provide information about the interior Aramco in Beirut arrangements of Aramco’s experimental November 24, 2012 “Bubble House.” I just came across a letter from my father dated Sept. 15, … I am going through boxes of slides 1945, that had a rough sketch of one as from the years spent with Aramco in part of his continual discussions with my Beirut, 1949-60. This part of the opera- mother about “the housing problem.” tion was different in many ways, but It is interesting that people were appar- still part of the [company’s] history. I see ently using the term “Mushroom City” that there are groups calling themselves First Copy Brings in anticipation of more being built. I was Aramco Brats, etc. but this differs from Tears of Happiness surprised to see that each of the two those in Beirut. bubbles was divided into two rooms. I was also wondering if you have a September 19, 2012 Paul wrote a brief description to go place for these pictures to be shared I received the first copy of Al-Ayyam along with the sketch: “These houses with others and their children? It would Al-Jamilah (Spring 2012) and it was a are really not as bad as they sound, be very educational if a picture could be great pleasant moment for me. and they will provide quick housing. accompanied with a small info piece by I worked in Aramco from September They are built by blowing up a canvas those in the know. I have attached one. 1981 through 1988. My first assign- balloon and spraying concrete over it Obviously it is of goat herders, but is it ment was in the Tower Building, Dhah- in layers with a gunite machine. They in Lebanon? What is the back story of ran, and afterwards the remote area of have used them with excellent results these flocks in the ‘50s-‘60s, etc.? How Safaniya at Nariya Pump Station. in housing projects at home and they has life changed in these 60-plus years? Those years in Aramco are the most really look nice from the pictures the Mary Wells [email protected] memorable period of my life and I can- company has of them. Let’s pray it is ABOVE: GEORGE FOBES 2 SPRING 2013 Al~Ayyam Al~Jamilah said we lived in Abqaiq, they acted as Former Photographer though “WHO would EVER want to live THERE?!!” Has ‘Cracker’ Cover I told him I was sure it had changed December 5, 2012 a lot since they were there, and Every once in a while, each of us has Goat herders in Lebanon? If you know, proceeded telling him of some of our some good news to celebrate and I and have a story about them or other “niceities.” Linda’s married name is Ba- am pleased to share mine with you. tales from life in Beirut, please contact con, and her parents are Mr. and Mrs. The airline Flybe is currently running Al-Ayyam Al-Jamilah. W.H. Schrieman. Anyway, it was a very a feature on industrial photography interesting “chance-meeting!” [with my photographs] in their inflight NOTE: If you have vintage photos of Aramco Martha Moore magazine! An online version can operations, activities or sites associated with [email protected] also be seen at: HTTP://flybebusiness. Aramco that you would like to donate to the magazinecloner.com/6/. archives of the King Abdulaziz Center for Anyone involved in metals should World Culture in Dhahran, please contact find this interesting…. It’s worth tak- The Editor, Al-Ayyam Al-Jamilah at arthur. Thanks for Fall Issue ing note of how [email protected]. The center is also December 3, 2012 a relatively dull seeking papers related to the company, and Thank you for the copy of the Fall industry can “spar- artifacts and heritage items including cloth- issue of Al-Ayyam Al-Jamilah, which I kle” with some ing, to preserve and exhibit. am enjoying very much. The story and good lighting. photos in the Peter Mandaville article I am especially Small World! were a treat to see! The photos of that delighted to have wonderful camping trip [to the Saudi- the prestigious November 30, 2012 Qatari border in 1978] brought back front cover.... Per- NOTE: Ray Stevens shared this letter from a many great memories. haps at this time former Aramcon. I enjoy reading your magazine from of year, it really Just had to tell you all the little coin- cover to cover, as I do Saudi Aramco could be called a cidental items that happened to me World.