Most of the chiefs Paul had met were fairly buttoned-down bureaucratic types. Lester “Tick” Harrelson was about five-foot-six and 140 pounds. He had a shock of dry hair through which he was constantly—and ineffectively—running a hand. His tie was loose, and he had trouble keeping his shirt tucked in. But he was a pro, and his people worshiped him. Tick and Donny Johnson, president of Sardis Oil and Tick’s polar opposite, met Paul at the gate at Bush International in Houston. All Tick and Donny had in common were cowboy boots and hats and a commitment to the problem at hand. Johnson was a big man with a long gait, and while it appeared he would be more comfortable in a workingman’s clothes, his suit was clearly custom-made. “Good to see you again, Doctor,” Tick said, introducing him to the oil magnate. “Welcome back. Glad you’re back in the saddle. This boy’s a hero, Donny.” Donny Johnson looked approvingly at the bruises on Paul’s face.
