Gene Ames Jr. is a fourth generation oilman whose wildcatter grandfather drilled his first well in 1913 in Cushing, OK. “I really know the oil field,” said Ames, 83, whose grandchildren are now in the oil business – “That makes six generations,” he says proudly – and is still drilling himself, as managing partner for San Antonio-based Compadre Energy , Ltd. “I was raised in the East Texas oil field.