• Originally published March 8, 2011 at midnight, updated March 8, 2011 at midnight

Decora Study Club members recently celebrated their annual red dress and guest day at the Victoria Women's Clubhouse. Featured speaker and member, Victoria Grimes, related her fascinating adventures as one of the first two women hired by Shell Oil Company in 1976 as a roustabout in the California oil fields, a job she took to help provide income for her four children and jobless husband. Although small in stature, Grimes held her own as her first task was to dig a ditch through asphalt. At the end of the day, she wearily climbed onto the bus for the ride home with blistered hands and feet, so tired she could hardly move. But her true grit met with favor in her employer's eyes, and she was soon on her way toward advancement with Shell Oil. Grimes shared anecdotes of being a woman in a man's world and humorous encounters with men, who believed her place was nowhere near a drilling platform.

Overcoming obstacles of strenuous labor, hazardous working conditions and personnel issues, Grimes rose to the ranks of the first female foreman west of the Rockies, Offshore Manager off the coast of Louisiana and Point Barrow Operations Liaison in Alaska, before retiring two years ago. The mother of six children and 19 grandchildren has created a legend that will follow her for generations to come.

Decora President Lillian Alex presented the nominated slate of officers for the coming year and announced plans for the upcoming Federation of Women's Club conference in Victoria. Hostesses for the day included Pam Fitch, Norma Franz, Jacquie Fritz, Helen Grant, Betty Marr, Carol Moore, Beth Person, Mary Jane Schurtz and Marcy Worsham.

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