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The oil business was crucial to two long careers for Wayne Harris.
When the standout linebacker was with the University of Arkansas, he would spend his summers working on the oil rigs around the midwest.
It served as training for football, and he would have a Hall-of-Fame career with the Razorbacks from 1958-60.
Harris then came to the CFL for a pro football career, and he was pleasantly surprised to find out oil was big business in Calgary.
At that time, as is the case with a handful of players now, CFLers have jobs outside the game and Harris was no different, despite being a perennial lineman-of-the-year winner.
So in 1961, Harris started with CanTex Drilling, moving up to become vice-president before leaving the company when Jerry D'Arcy sold it in the late 1990s.
After that, he went on to work with CE Franklin before retiring last year.
Because of the career in oil and that two of his three kids were born in Calgary, the 71-year-old never went back to Arkansas, staying in Alberta where he can closely follow the Stampeders.
"I wouldn't change anything from what I did, on both sides," said Harris, who was named the greatest Stampeder in team history in a recent Calgary Sun poll.
"I'm happy about football and my career in the oil industry as well."
Harris was nicknamed Thumper for his devastating hits on the football field, but those who worked with him must have wondered why he was so feared.
At 6-foot, 190-lb. for most of his playing days, Harris wasn't a physically intimidating presence.
Once he got the fire in his eye, he couldn't be blocked.
His career highlight was in 1971, when he was named Grey Cup MVP of a Stampeders victory.
He retired after the following season and concentrated on his other career.
"When I came up here, I couldn't think of anything but football," Harris said.
"I would have paid them to play.
"I enjoyed it a great deal. We had some good seasons and a couple bad seasons.
"When they start rebuilding, a lot of your friends may be missing the next year. It's part of the game."
In his post-playing days, Harris was once again connected to the Stampeders when his first son, Wayne Harris Jr., played with the team in 1982.
"I enjoyed that a lot. He didn't play long," Harris said. "He gave it a whirl. He grew up playing the game, and I didn't try to coach him. I just gave him a bit of advice in preparation for camp and stuff like that."
Cooper Harris made the CFL as well, playing with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats from 1997-99, while Wayne Harris Jr. is still involved as coach, working as an assistant with the University of Calgary Dinos.
IAN.BUSBY@SUNMEDIA.CA