ILMA Compoundings – November 2018 - 56

PORTRAIT
Clark Thompson
President, Colorado Petroleum
"My dad would tell me 'Do the
right thing even if it hurts,' and
also 'This is the oil business -
you have to be an opportunist,
just don't be greedy.'"

Clark with his daughters Kathleen (left), Rebecca (middle) and Tarryn

FOUNDATIONS OF TRUST
"My father was financed to buy Colorado Petroleum by the widowed owner. Offers from other companies were greater, but she
was convinced my father would continue the business as they
would. I was 12 years old and started that day in the summer
working on one of the packaging lines. My father would finish
his work during the week, then he, the sales manager and fleet
manager would join us in the plant on Saturday. These guys
didn't need to be asked, they just showed up. Those principle
behaviors are what shaped my life for years to come."

LAUGH ABOUT IT
"I try to keep a sense of humor every day. I'm afraid if you
don't, with all the pressure of running a business, having a
family and all the crazy stuff happening in the world and politics, you'll go nuts."

A SURPRISE VISIT
"Until lately, my wife Judy and I didn't travel much outside of
work, aside from short road trips we could take with our four
kids. Good friends Sally Pavlica and John Campbell encouraged
us to take some trips, including Italy, where we rented a house
on the Amalfi Coast, tested our driving skills (Sally won) and
visited the Vatican and Coliseum with a private tour guide -
a walking encyclopedia.
"The best part of the trip was John meeting his cousin for
the first time, unannounced. After driving around this area
for a half-hour we stopped on a country road one last time
for directions. Waiting for John, I notice a sign knocked down
in the ditch with the restaurant name we were looking for,
confirming the directions John was given. Once at the location,

NOVEMBER 2018

| COMPOUNDINGS | ILMA.ORG

I couldn't help but listen to John and his cousin battle their
language barrier. His cousin stood at bay with arms crossed
and a look on his face that said he wasn't buying it, until John
whipped out a picture of his dad and uncle together. Then his
cousin looked at us like we were all part of the family! They
invited us inside a beautiful restaurant and fed us, wined us,
introduced us, hugged us, gave us a tour of the farms - a real
Norman Rockwell inspiration. I should have filmed it for the
next reality show!"

GIVING BACK
"Judy and I spend a fair amount of time doing fundraising
events for organ and tissue donation. We manage a nonprofit
called Take Jake Inc. in name and honor of our departed son.
Benefits include Endowment Scholarship at Metropolitan State
University, Children's Hospital of Denver, Brent's Place, among
other charitable causes. Our largest event is a car, truck and
motorcycle show in June. This year is the 10th annual show,
and I am committed to have my 1968 Mustang ready."

RAISING 'EM RIGHT
"Growing up in the plant, that hands-on experience taught me
things I would never have learned in a class. I have done some
of that for my kids, you know: 'Ya graduated from a big ol'
university - great. Come down, I have a shovel with your name
on it.' My daughters had multiple positions and learn much
faster than me, and therefore graduated from the plant much
younger. My oldest, Tarryn, is marketing manager, Kathleen is
human resource manager and Rebecca is a lab technician."

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ILMA Compoundings – November 2018

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