Problem was I hadn’t studied to be in oil and gas. I had a double major in history and health and physical education and a master’s in education. That wasn’t really preparation for exploration and production. So I applied to law school. In the meantime, another opportunity presented itself… In the spring of 1981, the Denver Broncos handed me an NFL contract for my signature. It was Dan Reeves’ first year. Football fans will remember the “Orange Crush Defense.” Craig Morton was the quarterback.
The salary was $45,000 per year. That was a lot of money in 1981.
I signed the contract and called my wife: “Sweetheart, we’re rich!”
Later that spring, I traveled to Denver to attend the Broncos’ rookie camp. It was eye opening. I was working out with the best of the best. Fast, strong, and quick from the best schools in the country. It was an elite club. But the summer before fall camp, I received my acceptance letter to law school at Oklahoma City University. As you know from my story in the previous chapter, Oklahoma was right in the middle of the oil boom of the late ‘70s and early ‘80s.
The opportunity was too good to pass up – even for a chance at NFL fame.
While in law school, I got a job as a landman for Southwestern Energy. And when I graduated in 1984, the president came in and said, “How do you like Denver?”
“I was there once,” I replied.
“Well, you’re going again to open our new office.”
He offered me a raise from $30,000 to $45,000 a year.
I accepted and called my wife: “Sweetheart, we’re rich!”
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