29 OCTOBER 2025 WorldWide Drilling Resource® In Memoriam Benjamin P. “Ben” Schatz (1931~2025) With great sadness, the ChemGrout® Team shared the passing of founder Benjamin P. “Ben” Schatz on August 1, 2025, at the age of 94. Ben was born in 1931, at the family homestead in Eagle Butte, South Dakota, the youngest of nine children. Farming wasn’t his calling, so life began to look up when his parents moved to Rapid City just before his freshman year of high school. Ben appreciated the many opportunities and jobs available in the city, and after graduating, went on to study civil engineering at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (SDSM&T). His studies were interrupted by the Korean Conflict, so with his best friend, Ben enlisted in the Navy where he learned sonar and radar technologies. After four years of service, he returned to SDSM&T to complete his degree. He married Alice before graduating, then moved to Jackson, Michigan, to begin his first career job. Various jobs took Ben and family to Illinois - Blue Island, Wood Dale, and finally settling in Des Plaines, where he found his life’s work at ChemGrout®, retiring a few years ago at age 91. He enjoyed a wonderful life - one he often described as “lucky.” Though what Ben considered luck, may have a lot to do with his hard work and dedication. He was an engineer, business owner, avid vegetable gardener, a devoted husband to Alice for 68 years, and the proud father of five children. There seemed to be nothing mechanical Ben couldn’t build or fix. The equipment he designed over 50 years ago is still in use all over the world. For years, his weekends were filled with building an addition onto the home in Des Plaines to accommodate his family, and he was always ready to lend a hand with a neighbor’s home project. Ben is survived by Alice; his children Carol (David), Joseph (Jeanne), Julie (Peter), Thomas (Fisher), and Leanne (Bruce); ten grandchildren; and nine greatgrandchildren. The management and staff of WWDR extend their heartfelt condolences to Ben’s family, friends, and ChemGrout® crew. Lest we forget . . . 45th Annual UGWA Conference & Expo January 7-9, 2026 Wednesday, January 7th 10:00am Shotgun Start Golf Tournament 1:00pm - 5:00pm Mud School 6:00pm - 9:00pm Vendor Setup (closed to attendees) Thursday, January 8th 8:00am - 11:30am Skeet Shoot 8:00am - 11:30pm Vendor Setup (closed to attendees) 12:00pm Registration and Vendor Display Open 1:30pm Welcome and Announcements 1:35pm CEU Class: Utah Rules and Regulations presented by Jim Goddard, Utah Division of Water Rights 2:30pm - 4:30pm CEU Classes 4:30pm Vendor Social 5:30pm Banquet and Scholarship Auction Friday, January 9th 7:00am Breakfast / Vendor Visits 8:00am - 11:15am CEU Classes 11:15am General Membership Meeting & Board Elections 11:45pm Lunch and Raffle Drawings 1:00pm CEU Class: Panel Discussion 2:00pm Vendor Visits Drawing - Conference Adjourned CasaBlanca Resort, Casino, Golf & Spa Mesquite, Nevada utahgroundwater.org The December Issue of WWDR is your chance to give a shout out to all your great customers, with a BIG Thank-You. Include it in your ad, or make it stand out by purchasing a small Christmas Wreath with Your Company Logo and Thank-You for your Business. 850-547-0102
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