American Oil and Gas Reporter - August 2016 - 40

2016 Permian Basin International Oil Show

Sparkman, PBIOS Still 'Standing Tall'
By Danny Boyd
Special Correspondent
ODESSA, TX.-Exhibitors and attendees at this year's Permian Basin International Oil Show will have at least one
thing in common with PBIOS President
Monnie Sparkman: staying power.

have been exhibiting for at least 10 shows.
That is 20 years or longer. The industry
has seen a lot of changes over the past
two-three decades, and any company that
has been around that long has learned
how to succeed in both the good times
and bad," says Sparkman, president of
Liberty Fishing & Rental Tools and

"When the recovery
happens, it could happen pretty quickly. We
want to be sure we
are ready when the
demand comes back."
MONNIE SPARKMAN
President
2016 PBIOS

"Standing Tall" is the theme of this
year's edition of the biennial oil show,
scheduled for Oct. 18-20 at the Ector
County Coliseum and Fairgrounds in
Odessa. Sparkman says show organizers
selected the theme to remind the industry
at large-as well as show volunteers and
the Permian-area businesses they own
and work at-to take courage as companies
work to weather the downturn.
"This is nothing new," he says. "We
just need to keep on trucking, and before
long, the industry will recover."
The theme also underscores a commitment to working hard and planning
ahead, both of which are major common
denominators among industry veterans
such as Sparkman. In fact, he points out
that many of the show's long-time exhibitors have managed prior downcycles
and exemplify a commitment to stability
and prudent management.
"I think more than half our vendors
40 THE AMERICAN OIL & GAS REPORTER

Capitol Oil Well Service, both based in
Odessa.
Like the Permian Basin itself, the
PBIOS has been through its share of ups
and downs over the years, but Sparkman
points out that the show's value to exhibitors and attendees alike is never greater
than when industry business conditions
are difficult.
"The show brings together those who
are facing business and technical challenges in the field with those who have
the solutions to optimize well operations
and improve economic performance," he
says. "Attendees can get up to speed on
the latest technologies and services, and
it gives equipment and service providers
exposure to potential customers from all
sectors of the industry."
As of mid-June, 97 percent of exhibit
space was full and the remaining space
was expected to fill quickly, Sparkman
reported. "We have lost some exhibitors

from past shows, partly because of consolidation in the service sector, but new
exhibitors are taking their places and the
show is approaching 100 percent exhibition
capacity," he updates. "There will be
some new faces at the show along with
many familiar ones."
Held in even-numbered years, the
PBIOS long has been known as a "working
man's oil show," a title befitting homegrown Permian Basin companies and others who comprise the list of show participants. However, it also reflects the fact
that business always has been conducted
at the show. "One sale made during the
show or from contacts made at the show
can recoup the cost of exhibiting and
then some," Sparkman notes.
Industry Roots
Sparkman's industry roots extend back
to the experiences of his father, Bobby
Sparkman, and uncle, John Brown, Bobby's brother-in-law. The two men worked
for Penrod Drilling in Houma, La., when
Brown opted to move to Odessa and start
Liberty in 1958. B. Sparkman joined him
in 1961. Along the way, Monnie was
born in Henderson in East Texas, where
relatives still live.
"At the time Uncle John started Liberty,
they had two reverse units and one truck,
and moved their own rigs and essentially
did everything themselves," Sparkman
relates.
B. Sparkman was named vice president
in 1967. After Brown's passing in 1969,
Sparkman bought his sister's interest in
the company in 1973. Monnie attended
Odessa Permian High School and Odessa
College, and then joined his father full
time.
"I drove a truck for two years, operated
a reverse unit for 15 years, and then ran
fishing tools for another 13 years," Sparkman recalls.
In 1999, he and his brother John

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