James W. Roach Jr.

I was born on June 6, 1924 in St. Louis, Missouri. graduated from high school in 1942 then enlisted in the Army Air Corps in October 1942. Married in May 1943. James attended Army Communications school from January to June 1943. I was shipped overseas in December 1943. Stationed in India and flew the supply route over the "Hump" (Himalaya Mountains) to bases in China. Jim received Honorable discharge in November 1945.

I enrolled in college in 1946. His first son was born in June 1947, but couldn't afford to stay in school and moved to Bakersfield, California in 1948.

Part time jobs: Choir director for various churches for 35 years. Excellent health as I usually see a doctor only once each year for a physical exam.

1949: Monterrey Oil Company, Bakersfield, California. Employed as clerk in the field office. Transferred to the Long Beach, California main office in 1952 an was promoted to accountant. Worked with accounts payable, oil production statistics and payroll.

1960: Monterey Oil Company was purchased by Humble Oil and Refining Company (now Exxon)., Humble immediately sent me to a three week seminar on economic analysis in Houston, My duties became mostly with oil industry economic analysis and Federal tax calculations.

1966: Transferred to THUMS Long Beach Company, a consortium of five oil companies formed to develop the off-shore oil field in Long Beach, California. The companies were Texaco, Humble (Exxon), Union, Mobile and Shell (THUMS). The accounting department consisted of about 35 employees. I was promoted to Staff Accountant in 1969, Senior Accountant in 1972 and Accounting Supervisor in 1978. My duties included supervising accounts payable and receivable departments, pro-ration of production and royalty to 93 participants (land owners), comply with complicated Federal tax laws as listed in the Federal Register, monthly balance sheets, invest and inventory records, dealing with auditors, correspondence to other oil companies and Unit participants and personnel administration.

1981: Extra Energy Corporation (oil company from Houston) approached me to set up their main office in Long Beach. I finally told them that I would give then two years and retire. duties included hiring new personnel. Supervising all phases of accounting, production pro-rations and tax calculations.

1983: Retired I took my retirement account from THUMS in cash and invested in income properties. I also bought damaged houses in good areas, remodeled and sold.

1989: Sold California properties and moved to Scottsdale, Arizona. The economy in the Phoenix area was very poor from 1988 to 1993. I purchased two large apartment complexes, expecting the economy to recover. It got worse. I finally lost everything and declared bankruptcy in 1993.

James passed away on April 26, 2012. He is survived by his two sons Jim Roach and David Roach; two grandchildren James the IV and Jennifer Fragassi; four great grandchildren Jack, Nate, Luke and Kennedy.