16 hours ago
Our father brought his dreams to life. That makes him a superhero to us.
This weekend, fortunate families everywhere will celebrate fathers. Maybe you're thinking of the lessons learned from your dad ― from baseball to fishing or, in our case, in business.
As leaders of a global aerospace and defense business started by our dad, every day we walk halls that were dreamed of, hustled for and quite literally paved by our father. We recognize that's a gift. As the years go by, we find ourselves reflecting on our company's humble beginnings and everything Dad did to build this company.
As brothers, we have had front row seats to the evolution of a family business, and our core values are rooted in how that business was started.
It started with our own personal superhero.
In our eyes, our father, Phil Busey Sr., has always been a giant among men. As young boys growing up, we did not know exactly what a lawyer was. We just knew our dad worked hard, dressed in great-looking suits, kept an office at the house and had a nice office in a big building in downtown Oklahoma City. He had a car phone in his superfast red Oldsmobile Toronado Trofeo in addition to a phone in his briefcase. Physically, he was to be admired. A former college baseball player, Dad ran laps around the block most evenings and lifted weights often. He was the most muscular dad on the block. We considered him a real-life Superman.
His career had its share of turns over the years. By the time we reached the later years of high school, the financial pendulum had swung in a different direction. We watched and admired our dad's continued work ethic in the face of challenge after challenge.
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By the time we were in college, our dad was driving a beat-up Mercury Sable. Refusing to take on debt for our college education, he made the drive to Weatherford to take us to the Southwestern Oklahoma State University bursar office to pay for our education little by little. Still a physical presence as always, he made sure to teach us the importance of good education, financial stewardship and putting family above all else. He would often preach to us that blood is the thickest of bonds.
Our dad began building Delaware Resource Group (DRG) when we were in college. Not long after the company was formed in 2002, times started to get better. Recognizing the major risk he and our mom put themselves in to start the business, Dad seized the opportunity to build something big and opened the door for us to join him for the ride.
Just a few short years after DRG was formed, we joined the company full-time. Dad was quick to include us in all aspects of the growing business. He taught us how to manage, observe and deliver what the customer expected. Most importantly, he taught us about respecting all people and treating everyone with care and kindness.
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Dad's health took a major turn just over 11 years ago. Our muscular, athletic father was stricken with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) and forced into a wheelchair. Despite this, he continues to teach us lessons in business and now in fatherhood, as we try to follow his example with our own children. We continue to admire the love and support he shows our sister in her pursuits educating young people, as well as the unwavering commitment he has shown our mom through the years.
Because of all he has accomplished, his outlook on life, mortality and finding joy in everything life offers has become far more amplified.
Today, the global business our father founded continues to grow, and because of him, it is making a lasting impact in Oklahoma City and across the world. While he retired from DRG over two years ago, he remains a presence in our halls, but more importantly, in our lives.
We are forever grateful.
Brian Busey and Philip Busey Jr. are the CEO and president, respectively, of Delaware Resource Group, an Oklahoma City-based aerospace defense company founded by their father in 2002.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: On Father's Day, we thank our dad: DRG founder Phil Busey Sr. | Opinion
