When Jock and then partner Digger Barnes were trying to build up what became Ewing Oil as wildcatters in the late 1920's, he often was impatient and stern with him because of Digger's weakness for booze, not understanding his friend's compulsion, and more than once he ended up trying to knock some sense into Digger's drunken lump. Jock brought in his older brother, Jason, hoping he would help stabilize the venture.