C. R. “Dick” Pelton, 83, died on Thursday, Sept. 16, in Miami, Florida, from complications following heart surgery. Dick was born and raised in Miami where he developed his lifelong love for the sea.
He graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a degree in geophysics and joined Continental Oil Company (Conoco) in 1951. At that time, all new employees were assigned to a geophysical field crew as “doodlebuggers” to begin their training. Dick’s education was in geology, but he had a natural aptitude for and understanding of electronics and the instruments used for geologic exploration. After completing the required training, he worked on several field crews and then transferred to the geophysical section in Ponca City, Oklahoma, as a development geophysicist. He designed and built the Pelton plotter, which made possible a much improved method of curved path ray plotting. He then began work on a project which would have a great influence on the rest of his career. Dick was assigned to assist in the development effort of the vibroseis system of exploration. He worked on the design of a new and improved vibrator and also on a completely new design concept of vibrator instruments which used solid state devices instead of vacuum tubes. He was involved through all of the design, manufacture and field testing of this equipment.
Vibroseis was beginning to be accepted by the geophysical industry as a viable exploration tool for data acquisition. The tool needed better equipment in order to reach the potential capability suggested by the theory. Dick perceived this as a unique opportunity. Therefore, in 1968 he resigned from Conoco and in 1969 started the company that bears his name.
The company began in a very small way as most entrepreneurial ventures do. The product was good, but the use of the vibroseis method needed to grow a little more. It did grow, and so did Pelton Company. Pelton vibrator instruments were continually being improved to give better control of the vibrators and to give the user an ever expanding capability to change the output of the source signal.
In 1975, Dick moved part of his operation to Puerto Rico and started Pelco Caribe, which manufactured the plug-in modules used for the vibrator instruments. This was a successful venture, and in 1977, Dick moved to Puerto Rico. He bought an Irwin Ketch named the Doodlebugger in honor of his early days in exploration and sailed the Caribbean.
Soon he needed another project and turned his attention to St Croix where he purchased property in 1979. He had seen a well built marina in Fajardo, Puerto Rico, and decided he would like to build one on St Croix. Many applications, meetings and permits later, construction was begun on Green Cay Marina. Dick bought a dredge in Oklahoma and had it shipped to the Caribbean for the initial phase of construction. Some of his happiest hours were spent on bulldozers and backhoes shaping his dream of a first-class marina. It opened in 1983 and was filled to capacity when completed.
After Hurricane Hugo in 1989, he repaired damages to the marina and completely re-built the adjoining Tamarind Reef Hotel. By now the Doodlebugger had been replaced with Pioneer Woman, a Hatteras long-range cruiser on which he thoroughly enjoyed cruising.
Finally “retiring” in 2003 with the sale of the hotel and marina, he and Marcy enjoyed life between St. Croix, Harbor Springs, Michigan and The World, a residential cruise ship.
Dick was a very special man, with a zest for life and a twinkle in his blue eyes.
He is survived by his wife, Marcy; daughters: Kathy (Mark) Doane, Nancy (Bob) Willet and Janet (Doug) Camp; grandchildren Mica (Jose) Perez, Matt Doane, Dan Willet, Carol (John) Osterhaus and Keith Willet; great-grandchildren: Ashton and Aiden Perez; brothers-in-law: John “Dooly” Arnette, Sid Jenkins and Pat Hoagland; sister-in-law, Julie Hoagland; niece, Lauren (Eion) More; and nephew, Will Hoagland. He is also survived by special friends: Ethel Agatha James and Roberto Parrilla.
A memorial service and celebration of life will take place on Nov. 26 at the Lord God of Sabaoth Lutheran Church on St Croix.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Sister Emmanuel Hospital for Long Term Care through the Mercy Hospital Foundation. Checks should be made payable to:
Mercy Hospital Foundation
3663 South Miami Avenue
Miami, FL 33133
In Memory of C. R. (Charles) Pelton
