John T. Hayward

John T. Hayward began his oil industry career in Europe in 1913 where at the age of 23, he was a tool pusher on the first rotary-drilled oil well in Europe. He was primarily an engineer and inventor and spent much of his life in the oil industry. In 1948, while working as chief engineer for Barnsdall Oil Company, he invented and designed the world's first movable offshore drilling barge for protected waters, the submersible Breton Rig 20. This rig was designed for operation in 20 feet of water and worked successfully until retired in 1968.

Hayward also collaborated with A. J. "Doc" Laborde on the design of the Mr. Charlie, the world's first open water