It is painfully clear that the telecommunications debacle eclipsed in size all recent investment bubbles, whether they involved dot-coms or oil wildcatters.

Around the turn of the century, an oil wildcatter dug a well on the site, but, disappointed at finding only hot water, capped the pipe and left.

To Bush admirers, the candidate's time as an oil wildcatter constitutes proof of rugged individualism of the kind celebrated by generations of Republican orators.

George W. Bush, who went off to Texas to be an oil wildcatter, never had a chance to learn these lessons about the power of nuanced, fact-based analysis.

Her father was an oil wildcatter who moved from town to town searching for a gusher that he never hit.

In 1983, Stanley Shuman, Murdoch's investment banker, introduced him to Marvin Davis, the oil wildcatter who had seized control of 20th Century-Fox.

He looked like a rancher or an old-time oil wildcatter; his steel-blue eyes promised no nonsense and warned that he would take no bull from anyone.

Dr. Kirpatrick, who will be 68 in November, was born in Duncan, Okla., the daughter of an oil wildcatter.

Playing an active role in running the farm and working for successful local entrepreneurs like oil wildcatter Harry Moran sparked his early interest in business.

Carter was born the son of an oil wildcatter in East St. Louis, Illinois.