George & Rhonda Stewart
George and Rhonda Stewart are the first couple inducted into the Hall of Fame. With a combined commitment of over twenty years to the Senior Wildcatter’s, it is only fitting that they were honored together.
George was born August 25th, 1951, in Sterling, Colorado. Rhonda was born May 21st, 1952, in Evansville, Indiana, and moved with her family to Sterling in 1962. George Stewart and Rhonda Rideout met in Sterling Junior High when George was 13, quickly forming a bond that would last a lifetime.
They were married on June 6th, 1970, just three weeks after Rhonda graduated from high school. Their marriage remained strong for 52 years. Together they built a family that includes two sons, Kelly and Kevin, five grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
George and Rhonda lived in Sterling until July of 1979, when they transferred to Casper, Wyoming. Like many in the oilfield, relocations followed: Dickinson, ND in 1983; Odessa, TX in 1990; and finally back to Casper in 1993, which became their permanent home.
George’s Career
On January 4th, 1969, George began his 46-year career in the oilfield. He worked for Toltek Drilling for over 5½ years before joining Rucker Acme Tool in 1974. Through a series of company transitions — NL Industries, WR Grace (Homco), and Weatherford International — George remained with the organization for over 40 years.
George retired on March 20th, 2015.
Throughout his career, George held many roles including roughneck, driller, truck driver, shop hand, trainee fisherman, fishing tool supervisor, district manager (Casper, Dickinson, and Odessa), and technical advisor. He trained numerous professionals in fishing tools and casing exit operations, conducting classes for engineers, field personnel, and students at institutions such as the Colorado School of Mines, the University of Wyoming, and Montana Tech.
Senior Wildcatters Involvement
George played in the regular Wildcatter’s Tournament for approximately 10 years. He joined the Senior Wildcatter’s Board of Directors in 2008 and served for 14 years, including 5 years as Chairman. He always valued both his time on the board and participation in the tournament.
Rhonda played a vital role in supporting the organization. In the early years, team photos were not standard practice. Rhonda introduced and managed the tradition of taking and distributing team photos, ensuring every participant had a keepsake. This often required working late into Friday night developing photos so they could be handed out Saturday morning. Eventually, the process transitioned to mailing photos so she could enjoy the event alongside everyone else.
Personal Life
George enjoys spending time with family, working in the yard, and golfing.
Rhonda was deeply devoted to her family and had a passion for crafting and her church, Paradise Valley Christian Church. She was especially committed to ensuring accessibility in the church’s Imagine More Building Project, drawing from her own experience using a wheelchair.
Sadly, Rhonda passed away before seeing the completion of this project.
George has built many lasting friendships throughout his career. Rhonda was known for always putting her family first and for her unwavering devotion to those she loved.
