After three years in New Orleans, Exxon transferred him to Midland, Texas, and later to Stavanger, Norway. Returning to Midland in 1977, Southland Royalty Company recruited him, and he became their District Geological Manager. That year at Southland's office, Darryl met a Texas Tech sophomore working during her Christmas vacation in their geologic file room. When she graduated, he married that sweetheart. Her name is Lynn, and they will be married 45 years in May.Soon after getting married, Meridian Oil acquired Southland in a hostile takeover and promoted him to Regional Exploration VP. In '90, Meridian (now Burlington Resources) offered him a transfer to Houston. He declined, became an independent geologist/engineering petroleum consultant, and worked for Oddesa Exploration and H. L. Brown for several years. Later, he became a partner in a new company, Tall City Exploration. They sold their company in 2015.Darryl and Lynn have three children. Their oldest daughter, Tiffany, and husband, Mike, own Nessie, a UK-based company specializing in software development and programs for dyslexic children. Their daughter, Becky, and her husband, Matt, are surgeons in Midland. Their son, Tim, is an engineer with a startup space company in Midland.Darryl, retired, is now an author. He has 12 published fiction and nonfiction books, plus several short stories.