Stan Graves graduated from Auburn University in 1967 and joined the Geological Survey of Alabama as a hydraulic engineer. In 1970, he joined the family drilling company, which he purchased in 1976. He served as CEO of Graves Well Drilling Company, Inc. until 1985, at which time the company was merged into Energen Corporation, a Birmingham-based holding company (New York Stock Exchange). From 1985 until 1989, Mr. Graves served as Chief Operating Officer of Graves Drilling Company and in 1989 was named Vice President at Energen.
In 1990 Mr. Graves resigned from Energen and formed Graco Resources, Inc., which provides natural resources consulting and project development services in energy, minerals, water and environmental areas. Later in 1990, he founded Graves Service Company, Inc., a full-service drilling and pump sales and service company. It also provided water system management services. The company was sold to BrownLee-Morrow Engineering on June 30, 2006.
In 1998, U.S. Clay, L.P. was formed to market oilfield and environmental products. U.S. Clay was headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, with grinding facilities in Brownsville, Texas, and mining operations in Brewster County, Texas. Stan was president of U.S. Clay, which was sold to W.H. Energy in 2002.
Mr. Graves currently serves on the Board of Applied Ultrasonics, LLC, a technology company based in Birmingham and was Manager of Business Development of Atlanta-based Ultimate Abrasive Systems, LLC. He also is a board member of GeoMet, Inc., a Houston-based company engaged in the exploration and production of natural gas from coalbed methane. He was recently appointed to the Boards for Help Lightning, McKinney Capital, Reliance Financial Group, and Water Science Technologies, Inc.
Mr. Graves has been involved in numerous civic and professional organizations. He is past Chairman of the Board of Innovation Depot and is past Chairman of the Alabama Environmental Management Commission. Other memberships include National Ground Water Association, Board of Directors and President; Auburn University Research Advisory Board; Alabama Geological Society; Alabama Ground Water Association; American Water Works Association; and American Institute of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers; Past Chairman, Nature Conservancy of Alabama.
Mr. Graves has published articles in the Oil & Gas Journal, the Water Well Journal, the SPE Journal, and other periodicals.