Robert Blair

Roughnecking Robert Blair

During the 1950's in the Four Corners area, it took a different kind of man to work out in the oil fields. They were known as "roughnecks" and led lives full of danger, excitement and hard work. These men loved to work as much as they loved to play and camaraderie was a necessity; whether they were out on an oil rig hundreds of miles from civilization, or getting lost out in the wilderness while on a fishing trip. Robert Blair wrote about his adventures working and playing with men who were not only some of the most skilled men in America, they also became life-long friends of his. He traveled all over the Four Corners area working on oil rigs, hunting in the Colorado mountains and digging up ancient remains in New Mexico. The beautiful mesas, clear rivers, and exquisite mountains and vegetation are all referenced with great admiration. It was a different world back then. Men were happy to be Americans and proud of working outdoors for a living. Robert's story is lots of fun and at times sad, but to get a glimpse of these men' lives during that era, is quite fascinating.