In a long forgotten era
When the mountains were much younger,
When the fishes were a-jumping,
And the cotton always high
Four men lived in greater Houston
Dreaming of some independence
Since the master they were serving
Was not making good on promise

One was from the Emerald Island
Where the whiskey is aplenty
And the people warm and friendly
While the earth is cold and damp
One was from the lower countries
Tall as others in that region,
Since the short ones drowned in flooding

That occurs there now and then.
Two were from across the ocean
Where the world is new and vibrant
From Nebraska and from New York,
Via Florida the latter

Thus they set out, started planning
Doing offshore engineering;
Working projects with a challenge,
Building up a reputation
For good work and fine employees,
Sharing vision and the profits.
But so they could meet this challenge
On a quest they then departed
For the funds that were required:
only sunrise comes for nothing

There amidst the rocks of Finland
Where the darkness often lingers
And the snow falls on the water
That the frost has turned to solid,
But where also at midsummer
Sunlight turns the night to day, and
People singing and rejoicing,
Running naked through the forest,
Drinking potent koskinkorva,
Dancing round the fires burning.

There he lived the Lindroos Harry
Building ships for eastern neighbors
Through the ice these went a-breaking,
Clearing paths for man and commerce.
Thus they break the isolation
Of a frozen Gulf of Finland,
And the chilly Russian Arctic.
Through the Kara Gate they go then,
Or the narrow strait of Vaigach

Willem then called Harry Lindroos
See if Valmet would be willing
To support a fledgling start-up
Selling expert engineering
To the oil and gas behemoths
And the smaller independents.
Since the Russian trade was ailing,
And a new direction needed,
This idea soon resonated,

Then there were negotiations
With attorneys sharp as sickles,
Who saw problems and disasters.
But the engineers prevailing,
Using logic and excitement,
Soon shook hands and signed the papers
And the deal was done so swiftly.
To the sauna they departed,
In the searing heat they wallowed
Whipping skin with fresh-cut saplings,
Then to dip in ice-cold water,
Chasing moisture from their bodies,
So the beer would taste the better,
Celebrating this new venture.

Here they were, the Four Consultants,
Argued some, then named it INTEC
Jan was their administrator.
They hired people, ordered paper,
Step-by step they started growing,
Brick-by-brick they built their wall.
In their office freshly painted,
They waited for the Holy Client
To send business and income.
But what came was something different
T'was a red coat with a summons
Charging them with misdemeanor
Breached fiduciary duty;
Drag’em in and hang’em higher!
Finns alerted to these mishaps
In support they came a-running,
Hiring even sharper lawyers.
And the judge, who heard the parties,
And the heinous accusations,
Spoke: "The cow has left the barn and
You will never see it back there,"
told accusers to go hither,
Leave the gang of four alone.

Off they were and built their business,
Working hard but making money
Was not easy as was hoped for.
Just as things were looking upwards,
Oil and gas went through the bottom,
Projects cancelled, budgets shriveled,
So the belts were tightened more.
With renewed determination
They sought other forms of income
Fiber optics, farming fishes,
Flogging many JIP's
This then kept the fires burning,
Even though the wood was soggy,
And the smoke made many teary.

Far away they looked for business,
Up the Amazon they ventured,
And in cold Canadian waters.
Taiwan terminals were conquered,
Slowly business got better.
Contracts happened, were completed,
Focusing on waters deeper,
Where the sunlight doesn't venture,
Scary creatures swim and slither.
There the gas and oil wells flourish
Needing trees, controls and flowlines,
And the trunklines back to daylight,
So the country can stay heated,
Or cool off, as the case may be.

Through travails and great successes
Gang of Four still hung together,
Doing what each one was best at,
Till they thought: where is this going?
And decided that the prospect
Of one dying in the saddle
Lacked distinct imagination,
So a long-term plan was crafted
To assure the life of INTEC,
independent of the Partners.
For a buyer they went looking,
who would see strategic plusses,
but leave well enough alone.
This quest took them many places
Till they found the best solution.

Heerema became the owner,
Known for big and deep construction
Of things fixed and also floating,
In the deep and stormy waters.

Then the Four as per agreement
A disappearing act they started.
First the husker from Nebraska,
Then the Irishman among them,
Third the white-haired man from Holland,
Leaving only Dave McKeehan
Of the early pioneers.

New blood to the top has risen,
Making sure the group is vibrant,
Visionary and creative,
Always mindful of the values
That came from the first beginning,
So that at the age of twenty
INTEC is assured of future,
Taking on the toughest projects
At the greatest depths of oceans,
And the highest mountains peaks.

Some of us who have departed
For the green fields of retirement
On the horse that we rode in on.
From the distance we are waving
To employees and old friends who
Helped get INTEC into orbit,
Made sure that the group kept growing.
At this juncture we must thank them,
Since without their solid effort,
And the faith that good will happen,
There would hardly be a party
For our company's adulthood.

Here then is the INTEC saga
Which we know will sure continue
Future chapters will be written
Of heroic deeds and conquests
To be told for generations.
But for now, a celebration.
Raise ye glasses, sing the anthems
Be they heard in all the places
Where there is an INTEC presence,
And our wish: ad multos annos!

By: Willem Timmermans

Gene and Yvonne have three children–aged 24, 21 & 17 years–all based in the home they bought when they we arrived in Houston! Eldest daughter Tara worked at INTEC as a summer internist and is now a Journalist for the Woodlands Community Newspaper. Middle daughter Amanda is in UT Austin studying fine arts. Son Mark is a High School senior and wants to study Astronomy, possibly in Leiden, Netherlands. Yvonne is from Holland, and Gene is from Dublin, Ireland; they have tried to bring their children up with a mix of cultures from both of their homelands, while making them American as well!

Gene's passions include mountain hiking and biking. He hikes in Switzerland every other year, and in Colorado and Big Bend, Texas whenever he can get a chance. He does the MS 150 Houston-to-Austin bike ride regularly and plans to participate again this April on the BP team. Gene also takes Yoga classes at the INTEC offices, (a great stressbuster!). He is a Boy Scout leader and goes camping all over Texas every few months. Apart from muscle-powered sports, his other passions are Astronomy, reading, and learning foreign languages.

Why is he still in INTEC after 18 years? He subscribes to the INTEC Core Values, he likes the engineering challenges, and enjoys the stimulation of working with an eclectic bunch of people with such disparate backgrounds.