Oren F. Bridwell worked as a navy operator and was sent to work in Denver in 1945. He left the navy in 1947 as a LT. Commander. Before working for the Navy, Bridwell worked at the Climax Mine in Leadville, Colorado. After a strike, he went to work with an insurance company that was created by the coal operators. They couldn't buy insurance any other way, so they all contributed to the one they created.