Tiger Oil Company Memos: Letters From Possibly The Worst Boss Ever

Sick of your boss? The next time you're ready to quit, compare yourself to Edward Mike Davis, the CEO of the failed Houston oil firm Tiger Oil. (Hat tip to Boing Boing.)

Gathered by Letters of Note, the memos, all of which were apparently written in the 1970s are masterstrokes in the art of tyrannical leadership. The highlights include: commands to avoid speaking to Edward Mike Davis, to avoid idle conversation and personal calls -- and, case you're wondering, Edward Mike Davis does "not appreciate people coming into my office and helping themselves to my candy, cigars, medicine, and other personal items."

The Houston Pressdug up the letters a few years ago, and E&P ran a series of posts in which it heard from a handful of readers who had encountered "Tiger Mike."

Real or not, check out some of the most disturbing of the memos -- and check out the full collection at Letters of Note.

MEMORANDUM

DATE: December 9, 1977
TO: Payroll
FROM: Edward Mike Davis
SUBJECT: Sick Pay

Effective now, employees will be docked for the time they are off sick, unless I authorize you to pay them. This is for Tiger Oil - Houston Office - employees.

(Signed)
EDWARD MIKE DAVIS

And here's another gem in which Edward Mike Davis instructs his employees to avoid talking to him:

MEMORANDUM

DATE: January 13, 1978
TO: Landmen, Geologists, Geophysicists, Engineers, or To Whom It May Concern
FROM: Edward Mike Davis

This memorandum is an addendum and in addition to the "Memorandum To All Monthly Salaried Personnel" dated January 12, 1978.

This is for Steve Chamberlain, Bill Durr, Wayne Rogers, on down.

When you are on the road or out doing my business, that is exactly what I expect you to do 100%. I do not want any fabricated expense accounts, drinking or carousing around on my money. Telephone calls for business purposes only will be accepted -- not personal.

This will apply to all geologists, geophysicists, and whoever the hell it may concern who works for me.

If you don't like it, you can do the same thing the ones in the first memo got told -- pick up your check! If it doesn't apply to you, and you have not violated this, you don't have to worry. If you have violated this, correct it by not doing it any more. All I want to do is run a good orderly ship -- or rather than that, run it like the Army.

If I don't pay you enough money to do these things you want to do personally, then I suggest you ask for a raise or quit and get another job.

Don't take advantage of me, because I am going to be looking down your throat. You need the job -- I don't!

Do not speak to me when you see me. If I want to to speak to you, I will do so. I want to save my throat. I don't want to ruin it by saying hello to all of you sons-of-bitches.,

(Signed)
EDWARD MIKE DAVIS