Wayne Woolsey

Wayne Woolsey isn’t winding down, but he is adjusting.

An oil and gas man for nearly 60 years, Woolsey trimmed his company’s activities this year as oil prices have cratered, just as all exploration companies have done. But he’s still buying leases and drilling, at a slower pace, in southern Kansas.

He is also pushing ahead with exploration of 240,000 acres in southern Illinois and Indiana. He said the company has spent the last four years drilling 10 vertical wells and a horizontal well there, gathering information on the geology of the area. He said that it’s still early, but results are encouraging.

But Woolsey, 84, doesn’t ignore his age. A few weeks ago, he kicked himself upstairs, taking the title of chairman, and named his long-time treasurer Scott Frazier as president. Woolsey said he still has a say on major projects and remains hands-on with exploration and production.

So, after unloading some of his responsibility, how often will he come into the office?

“Every day,” he said, “as I have for the last 50 years.”

He’s still in good health, he said, although he’s “screwed together” with screws and metal plates in his back and jaw and has two artificial knees.

“I have a time getting through airports,” he said.

Woolsey said he still works because he likes it, and it’s certainly better than some of the alternatives.

“I like to golf – about three times a year,” he said. “I like to fish – maybe twice a year.

“What am I going to do, stay home and watch TV?”

This story was originally published September 2, 2015 at 7:32 PM with the headline "Wayne Woolsey."