WorldWide Drilling Resource

In Memoriam Ronald F. Irish, Jr. (1966~2015) The Maine Ground Water Association sadly reported the passing of Ronald F. “Ron” Irish, Jr. on December 9, 2015, at Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston with his family and friends at his bedside. Ron was born September 28, 1966, in Peterborough, New Hampshire. He attended schools in Rindge and Jaffrey. He worked in the family business, Irish Well Drilling, Inc. for the past 28 years drilling wells and installing pumps in Eastern New Hampshire and Western Maine. He enjoyed hunting and especially fishing with his daughter Sarah, and riding his Harley motorcycle with his many friends. Ron is survived by his beloved daughter Sarah, stepsons David and Michael, mother Linda, father Ronald, grandmother Ernestina, several sisters, nieces, nephews, and other extended family. The management and staff of WorldWide Drilling Resource ® extend their sympathies to Ron’s family, friends, and colleagues. Ed Malzahn (1921~2015) The Ditch Witch family was deeply saddened to announce the passing of the company’s founder and industry icon Ed Malzahn on December 11, 2015, in Perry, Oklahoma. He changed the way the world’s utility infrastructure is installed and maintained when he launched the first service line trencher, the Ditch Witch model DWP, from a small machine shop in Oklahoma, in 1949. Now known as The Charles Machine Works, Inc., the company remains a leader in the industry it essentially created. Recognition of Mr. Malzahn’s accomplishments as an industry leader and innovator included his induction into the Oklahoma Inventors Hall of Fame, American Rental Association Hall of Fame, Construction Equipment Hall of Fame, and North American Society for Trenchless Technology Hall of Fame. He was also named inventor of the year by the Oklahoma Bar Association: Patent, Trademark, and Copyright Section. Mr. Malzahn is survived by his three children, nine grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren. The management and staff of WorldWide Drilling Resource ® sends their condolences to the entire Ditch Witch family. Earl Sexton (1926~2015) Earl Sexton of Joelton, Tennessee, passed away Wednesday, December 30, 2015, at his home. He was born September 22, 1926, in Scott County, Tennessee to the late Will and Mindy Sexton. In addition to being a retired exploration drilling contractor, he also owned S.E. Sexton Drilling Company and was a member of New Hope Free Will Baptist Church. He was preceded in death by his brother J.L.; grandmother Olivia Griffith and Aunt Arlenie Sexton, the two ladies who raised him. He is survived by his wife of 53 years Betty; sons Jim (Barbara) and Eddie (Stephanie); daugh- ter Me l ody ; f i ve grandchildren; one great -grandson; sister Jerry; niece Peggy (Ph i l l i p) ; nephew Bill (Pam); as well as several other loving great- nieces and great- nephews. Themanagement and staff of WWDR wish to convey thier deepest sympathies to Earl’s family and friends. Lest we forget... WorldWide Drilling Resource ® FEBRUARY 2016 48