Paul N. "Red" Adair is a man whose name has become synonymous with fast, successful wild-well control.

A native of Houston, Red began his career in the old industry with Otis Pressure Control Company. He later joined the M.M. Kinley Company, where he worked with Myron Kinley, the original pioneer of oilwell fire and blowout control.

In1959, Red formed The Red Adair Company and has since become known as 'the best in the business." Red Adair was the first person to ever control underwater wild wells and was also ther first to control one on a floating vessel. Another of his "historic firsts" includes the first U.S. well to be capped while on fire.

Red literally pioneered the development of today's effective, and most successful, wild-well techniques and equipment. This includes the Semi-Submersible Firefighting vessels, as well as other systems, used both on and off-shore. The development of such necessary equipment grew from Red's experiences in "one of the most dangerous and highly specialized fields" in the world.

Boots Hansen, a native of Houston, has lived with adventure all his life. At age 17, Boots enlisted in the U.S. Navy's Submarine Service. During the World War II, Boots served in the Pacific aboard the Nautilus SS-168. He was introduced to oil well firefighting through his avocation as a race car driver.

It was at the old Arrowhead Speedway in Houston that he met "Red" Adair, fellow speed boat and car racer, and friend for more than 20 years until business disagreements severed the relationship.

He has fought oil and gas well disasters of all types in virtually all places where energy is produced. The experience and knowledge to control wild wells safely, efficiently and with concern for the environment has helped catapult Boot & Coots to the head of their field.

Coots Matthews was born and raised in Porter, Texas. After finishing high school in 1941, he went to work for Reed Bit Co. In 1942 Coots joined the Army Air Force. During World War II, he served in Europe as a tail gunner on B17 bombers with the 96th Bomb Group, 338 Bomb Squadron. In 1943, while flying 25 missions over Germany and France, he was awarded the distinguished flying cross, air medal, three oak leaf clusters, purple heart, and two presidential unit citations.

Coots returned to the states in early 1944 and received a medical discharge in April 1945. He worked at various jobs until he joined Halliburton in 1947 and worked his way up through the ranks to become a special tools operator.

He left in 1957 to join Myron Kinley, the pioneer oil well firefighter. It was at Kinley's that he first met Boots Hansen and Red Adair, both Kinley employees at the time.