MIKE CRIDER

For as long as I can remember, my career has revolved around the oil & gas industry. It was a tough life, but it was one I took to naturally. I was drawn to the work, the challenges, and the satisfaction of knowing that what I did mattered, that we were keeping the oil flowing.

My first taste of the trades came from working alongside my father. He was a refrigeration mechanic and a proud member of the pipefitters union. He taught me the basics—how to measure, calculate angles, and fit pipes. He never used a calculator, so we did the math on the back end of his welding truck longhand. He’d call me out of school at 15 and I’d ride my bike to job sites where we’d “sweat pipe,” soldering copper pipes together. I was just a kid, but I earned apprenticeship wages, and the work stuck with me.

After high school, I had my heart set on joining the union as an apprentice pipefitter. Unfortunately, there just wasn’t room for me, so I found work wherever I could. Eventually, I ended up in the oil fields, where I met George Romango. George was the lead welder and pipefitter, and he saw something in me that made him want to teach me the trade. He mentored me, not just during working hours, but after work and on weekends too. He taught me to weld, and more importantly, the math that would make me a good pipefitter.

George took me to Red Wing Shoes to get fitted for my first pair of boots. Those Red Wings became a symbol of my journey, and as far back as I can remember, there’s always been a pair or two of Red Wing 866s in my house. When my son was little he would help me oil my boots in the garage. When he finished 8th grade, I gave him his first pair of 877s.

Over the years, I’ve had the privilege to mentor the next generation, giving second chances to people who need it most. I’ve hired employees from detention and treatment facilities, offering them the opportunity to learn a trade and build a better future. I buy all of my employees Red Wings, and every year I buy them warm socks to go with their Christmas bonus. For some of them, those boots are the most valuable personal item they own. It’s about giving back, about investing in people and watching them grow into their potential, just like George did for me all those years ago.

I’ve had a good run—40 years in business for myself, a lifetime in the oil fields. As I begin to pass the business on to my son, I can’t help but feel grateful for the journey I’ve had. From the lessons my father taught me, to the wisdom George passed down, to the hard work and sweat that built this business, it’s been a long and rewarding journey. I know my son is ready, and I’m proud to stand by his side as he takes this next step. Name and reputation are everything in this business, and I know he’ll carry on the legacy we’ve built together.