The Petroleum Club put on its best for the event.
In accepting the PBPA Top Hand award on Jan. 19, Tim Leach turned the event into a celebration of his own “top hands” and a tribute to Midland, the Permian Basin, and the people who make their shared world special.
It was a “roast” of sorts, as master of ceremonies Steve Beal led the string of Concho Resources leaders who shared their memories of Concho Chairman and CEO Tim Leach and Tim’s wife Amy, but in the end, after the jokes and jibes, it came down to heartfelt appreciation for Leach and Leach’s own heartfelt appreciation for his family, friends, coworkers, and community. Accepting the honors in front of the most heavily attended event in PBPA history, Leach became the latest in a long line of esteemed Top Hand recipients.
Joe Wright, Mark Wellen, and Tucker Bridwell were among the well-wishers
Steven Beal, former president of Concho Resources, served as emcee.
who took the podium to have fun with and pay tribute to the man who built what is now the largest publicly traded company based in Midland. Concho Resources employs more than 600 staffers—and it’s still growing.
In accepting the award, Leach expressed his thanks in a talk that concluded with the following remarks:
“My personal story is probably very similar to many people who came out here and found success in this region,” he said. “We came out here 30 years ago. I was newly married, I had a brand new engineering degree, I had a job offer, and I think that that was all that I had. And it didn’t seem to matter. It seemed like there was plenty of opportunity out here back then.
Leach, center, accepts the plaque from PBPA Chairman Doug Robison, right, and President Ben Shepperd.
“We recognized right away that this was a special place,” he said. “We were accepted. And we made lifelong friends that now are as close to us as family. We found a church that helped us raise our children but also helped us find purpose in life. During my 20s… I got to work with people and be around people like Murray fasken, John Cox, Jim Henry, Ted Collins, Earle Craig, Bill Kennedy… I mean, for a 20-year-old guy, what a great opportunity. And being around those people, I learned things that affected the way I thought about this region and the way I thought about business. Then in my 30s, when we were at Parker and Parsely, I met the people who would eventually form Concho with me… We got to work on these enormous complicated transactions with Sheffield and Dunn and other people, and it was a terrific learning experience.
“So I really realize the kind of opportunities that Midland has given me, and what that has done to me is that it has created a real sense of gratitude to Midland.
“Now, all of us, over the last 30 years, we’ve seen lots of highs and lots of lows and I don’t think that’s going to change. This is going to be a volatile business that we are in. But I think we’re going to have to learn to live with
It was a time for sharing industry news as well as feting a deserving honoree.
this boom for a little while longer. [laughter] You know, I don’t think I have ever seen times that are this good, and I don’t think we have seen the best times yet. But when the times have gotten really bad out here, as you can tell from the pictures [a Pointpoint slide show of photos had been playing all evening] we went fishing. [laughter] And when the times got really good, we went fishing… But it’s really been great.
“And when I think about all the opportunities we’ve had out here, well, as Ben Strickling told me, when he reflects back over time, Ben said, ‘I think it was easier to live in the low times, because during these booms life just gets really, really complicated.’
“Well, I think this boom is here for a while, and I look forward to living through those complicated times with all of you. [laughter] Right here in Midland. I think we are just going to have to suffer through this boom together.
Tim and Amy Leach.
“Thank you so much for this great honor. I am deeply appreciative.”