Pooles around the world

RANGELY I What a remarkable journey it has been, from Florida to Rio Blanco County and all around the world, for Julius and Lomell Poole, long-time Rangely residents.
Julius served in the United States Navy during World War II, from Dec. 27, 1941, to 1945. He was on board the USS New York for one year and took six trips across the Atlantic to Ireland, Scotland and Casablanca, Africa, driving Hitler out of the area. He returned to Isla Pines, Cuba and was stationed in Key West, Fla., for his final stint with the Navy. While in Florida he was a “submarine chaser” along the eastern sea board, searching for enemy German submarines. The USS New York was recommissioned in 2009 and many members of the crew, including Julius, gathered in New Orleans and then in New York for the christening of the new ship, which has 7.5 tons of steel in the bow from the fallen Twin Towers to represent the heroism of the ship then and now.
Julius came to Rangely in June 1948 searching for a better job in the oil field. He found a job and returned to Florida for Lomell. The two were married in Georgia on Sept. 19, 1948. They traveled back to Rangely in a 1941 Ford. It took nearly four days to make the trip.
When Julius first came to Rangely, he worked for R and R Well Service and Lomell worked for the local drugstore. Julius worked for R and R for nine years before he and his friend Hershel Pilcher decided to go into business together. Their plan began during a Sunday afternoon conversation and led to an extremely successful business called Colorado Well Service that started in 1957. They started their second business Bi-Co Rental, which rented equipment to the oil field well services. At one time, the business had 90 frac tanks that were built in Texas and they would drag them up to Colorado as the freight costs via train were too expensive. The business venture was the result of endless hours of labor and an incredible vision. At one time they employed 200 people and had work in Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Nevada, New Mexico and Idaho with shops in Evanston, Roosevelt, Vernal, Grand Junction and Rangely.
“They were good for each other. Each had what the other didn’t,” Lomell said of the partnership between Julius and Hershel.
We were good friends and good partners, we learned something and put it together,” Julius added. Putting things together was the phenomenal start to the business, but staying together was an admirable accomplishment. The business partnership continued until they sold the business in 1978. The business was sold to Crutcher Resources from Houston, Texas, and Julius stayed on with the company until 1982. He retired that year and he and his wife embarked on many incredible journeys together.
They began with a dinner on the 107th floor of one of the Twin Towers in New York, followed by a day on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. Quite a feat for a couple that earned their living from modest beginnings in Rangely, Colo.
The two have traveled to more then 50 countries, including remote islands separate but affiliated with the 50 countries. They’ve visited all seven continents and have been on the far ends of the world. They traveled to many of these destinations by way of 21 different cruises. They were members of a travel club out of Denver and flew to destinations such as the Easter Islands along the way. The two have walked on the Great Wall of China, cruised the Antarctic Ocean and ridden in a hot air balloon. They traveled to Africa where Julius had been during the war. The world map hanging in their home has tacks marking everywhere they have traveled. They were fortunate enough to take four of their older grandchildren with them on many of their trips and in 2009 they took their last cruise.
When asked what place he likes the most, Julius responded with a radiant smile, “Rangely.”
The Pooles have four children, two boys and eight years later, two girls. They have 10 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren now. Lomell was very active in the school while their children were growing up and they have donated a great deal of money to various causes in Rangely.
Julius said, “I would rather spend it here rather then send it to Washington D.C.”
They enjoy the home they have built for themselves after many years of hard work.
Lomell also served on the hospital board for six years. They have seen many changes in Rangely since 1948, from a time when everything was dirt from Meeker to Dinosaur. They believe the changes have been good for their town, from the college to the new hospitals and schools built through the years.
Lomell said, “Rangely developing has been good.”
They attend the First Baptist Church now. Julius helped unload the lumber for the chuch in 1948. At that time the work was all done by hand and the process of unloading that much lumber took all day.
They have enjoyed the friendly people in Rangely and cherish the memories they have of the area.
The Pooles believe life is not always about the destination, but about the journey, and what a journey they have taken. They have seen and done more than many “big town” entrepreneurs. Their roots, however, remain strong in Rangely. The work ethic they learned growing up on farms in Florida created a foundation that has stood the test of time for these 89-year-old residents. Time is obviously something they have never wasted.