William "BILL" Martin

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William Dan (Bill Jr.) Martin

February 28, 1947 – May 26, 2025

Bill Martin, age 78, passed away on May 26, 2025 at home in Vernal, Utah.

Bill was born on February 28, 1947, in Bakersfield, California, to Willie Dalvis and Bertha Louise (Gretlein) Martin. He grew up knowing nothing other than the hard work and rough lifestyle of chasing oil booms from California to Oklahoma and various states in between. At the young age of 14, Bill took his first job on a rig. By 15, he was a derrick hand. Before turning 18, Bill enlisted in the US Air Force, where he would be stationed in Thailand during The Vietnam War. With only an 8th grade education, they found Bill to be mechanically inclined and he was put to work as an aviation mechanic. Bill may have spent more time in the “brigg” as many of you know, he had a slight issue with authority. Upon completing his time in the service, Bill returned to Woodward, Oklahoma; where he worked for his Uncles Gene and Kenneth at Martin’s Rathole Service. From there, he worked a short time on the North Slope in Alaska.

In 1972, Bill and his father settled in Utah with one worn out bucket rig. A short three years later, Bill took a break to be a lake bum. After deciding that wasn’t going to pay the bills, he entertained the idea of going to China to train operators on the bucket rigs he was familiar with. Before his departure, he was contacted by American Quasar Petroleum Company to acquire the equipment needed to start his own business. This was the beginning of Bill Jr’s Rathole Drilling.

On December 15th, 1978, he met LeeAnn on her 21st birthday. They married November 17th, 1980 in Las Vegas, Nevada. They were blessed with two children, WD and JaLee. Through many booms and busts, Bill and LeeAnn devoted their lives to building a lasting legacy. In addition to his drilling company, Bill co-founded Big 4 Cementing. In 2007, Bill made the tough decision to step away from everything he knew and sell the companies to ProPetro Services. This allowed them the freedom to spend more time trapshooting; the sport they grew to love. They made many lasting friendships. Bill obtained his Grand Slam in the Amateur Trapshooting Association in 2005 at the Spanish Fork Gun Club. In his career Bill shot over 357,000 registered targets in 21 states and Canada. He made it a point to shoot the Hawaii State Shoot in Maui while there for JaLee’s wedding. The party of a lifetime! Bill later found a passion for the Tucson Trap and Skeet Club where they would later spend their winters. Bill’s generosity supported the expansion of the club, as well as the Trapshooting Hall of Fame in Sparta, IL. Bill and LeeAnn were inducted into the ATA Hall of Fame in 2014 and the Utah State Trapshooting Hall of Fame the following year.

After spending the majority of his early family life building a business, working days on end and sacrificing many days away, Bill made it a point later in his life to spend as much time with his kids and grandkids as possible. Bill enjoyed spending time with his family no matter the activity. He spent many years during the fall in the Bookcliffs hunting elk and deer with family and friends. In true Bill fashion of “never doing anything half A*@” the elk camp was more like a KOA campground with every amenity possible. Many good times, memories and stories were made and told at that hunting camp. Bill also enjoyed gardening, and once again your typical garden boxes wouldn’t quite suffice. Living in a subdivision didn’t give Bill the room he wanted so he chose to purchase the house next door. After demolishing a perfectly good house, he created the garden he envisioned. Bill had a way of commanding respect from the board room to the bar room. You would always know who and where Bill Martin was. Bill impacted many lives and made an impression everywhere he went. His generosity was felt by many people, organizations, and charities across the Uintah Basin and the trapshooting community alike. We feel that most people will agree that with Bill’s passing we lost an oilfield legend. His grandkids will miss their Papa Bill.

Bill is preceded in death by both parents, and in-laws. Sisters Donna Ward, Diana Sullivan, and Dorice Parker. His nephews Ronnie Ward and Cliff Parker. Bill is survived by his wife LeeAnn, Children: WD (Danielle) Martin, JaLee (Chase) Fladeland. Five Grandchildren: Denton, Demri, and Dreya Martin; KesLee and Kate Fladeland. Brother Pete (Lori) Martin, Sister in-law Vicki (Tom) Anderson; all of Vernal, Utah. Along with many nieces and nephews.

Funeral Services for Bill will be held Friday, May 30, 2025 at 11 AM at the Uintah Conference Center

A Visitation will be 9-10:45 am at the Conference Center.

Burial will be in the Vernal Memorial Park.