Dean & Traci Harvey

I am Dean Harvey,

I was pretty much an unknown geek, Ha! I married one of our classmates Traci Davidson who was our valedictorian. How did I manage that???? We have been married for 44 years and have 6 beautiful grandchildren (Gracie, Lilly, and Ivan, Ben, Em, and Eli). My oldest daughter (Annie) has a career in the oil and gas industry. Her husband (Casey) is a perfect match for her. My youngest daughter (Jackee) graduated from Texas A&M as a math and science teacher. She does not use her degree but is one of our project leads at our company. She married one of our employees and Has two kiddos.

Traci and I have been best friends for a long time. She is my other half. She helped me out of my geekiness. I have been a lot of places since those days. I worked for Mobil Oil for 15 years before taking a severance package and starting my own training consulting company. We sold our business to Baker Energy in Houston, Texas 18 years ago and have been in Houston since then. We built a global training organization at Baker and have brought several of our old friends from Odessa to Houston to work for us. Ten years ago we left Baker and started another consulting business named AXIS, LLC. It has been fun. Can you believe that I make a living by speaking in public? I guess people change.

I like to drag race, waterski, road race sport bikes, ride dirt bikes, and fly radio controlled helicopters/airplanes. I had to give up road racing because of a bad crash that I had years ago. I hated to turn in my leathers but it was the right thing to do.

I am a devoted Christian and understand that the only reason that I have such a good life is Jesus Christ.

That is pretty much me, God first, family second, and work third. Sometimes, I get the last two mixed up and have to rearrange the order, Ha!!!

I pretty much was a no name geek. I worked after school and took D.E. during my junior and senior year and worked at night. There wasn't much time for dating and other activities (Not that I could have gotten a date anyway). I was a good student and respected my teachers. I graduated 11th in the class. The one thing I wish I had done is try a little harder and end up in the top ten.

Traci and I knew one another in school but did not date. I did not ask her out because I feared the rejection of her turning me down, Ha!!!

I sat behind her in Mrs. Duncan's English class where we had to keep a journal. She still has that journal and one of her daily entries is a prayer asking for God to help her find her husband and take care of him. I was right behind her totally oblivious to what was ahead of me. I think that is such a cool thing the way God works his miracles.

I took one semester of college when I got a job with Mobil Oil. I went to the school of hard knocks. It has served me well.