Did you know?

At the 2002 SEG convention, the multimedia presentation of Robert Ballard, discoverer of the Titanic, wowed hundreds of junior high students and experienced geoscientists.

1950
The first Distinguished Lecture Tour was organized: Merle A. Tuve and Howard Tatel presented "Current magnetic and seismic studies of the Carnegie Institution of Washington" during January. Permian Basin Geophysical Society in Midland and the Denver Geophysical Society plus a student section at St. Louis University were established. The Annual Meeting was held April 24-25 in Chicago with George E. Wagner as Program Chairman. The Best Paper Committee s name was changed to the Honors and Awards Committee. New Standing Committee: Membership.

Personals: George Short, Jr., party chief for Seismic Explorations Inc., is in the field in Lovington, New Mexico ... Thomas R. Shugart, former VP of Geotechnical Service Corp., has opened a consulting office in Dallas ... Wallace E. Pratt awarded the Kemp Medal by Columbia University for "distinguished service in geology;" presentation made by Columbia's president, Dwight D. Eisenhower. Membership: 2566; Student Members: 285

1951
The European Association of Exploration Geophysicists was formed (originally as a Section of SEG but response was so great they decided to become an affiliated society). A. Van Weelden is president of the 320 member EAEG with headquarters in The Hague. A total of 1090 registered at the 5th Midwest SEG Meeting held November 19-20 at the Baker Hotel in Dallas; the Geophysical Society of Tulsa acted as host. 30 geophysical papers were presented at the annual joint meeting of SEG/AAPG/SEPM in St. Louis, April 23-26. SEG's Distinguished Lecturer was Sydney Chapman, research associate at Cal Tech on loan from Oxford University. All back issues of Geophysics are now available on microcards. At their last meeting, the Council approved an amendment proposed by the Executive Committee to increase dues 50% in 1951 to US$7.50/year.

Personals: Peter Dehlinger joined Battelle Memorial Institute ... Henry Salvatori, president of Western Geophysical, elected chairman of the Wildcat Committee of the Western Oil & Gas Association in Los Angeles ... Klaas van der Weg now chief geophysicist for General Petroleum Corp. ... R. H. Dana promoted to executive VP of Southern Geophysical ... M. A. Clevenger now party chief for Geophysical Associates of Canada ... W. B. Agocs, professor of physics at Tulsa University, is working on a magnetics program in the eastern U.S. ... John M. Crawford named head of Continental Oil's new geophysical research division in Ponca City ... Neal Clayton joined Century Geophysical as geophysical supervisor ... Cecil H. Green was elected president of GSI and H. B. Peacock is now chairman of the board. Membership: 2836

1952
A contest for an official SEG crest was won by William W. Butler and, as an award, his dues in the Society were remitted for life. The Canadian SEG was chartered January 24 with L. I. Brockway as president and the Geophysical Society of Oklahoma City was formed with 62 charter members. The Annual Meeting was held at the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles, March 24-27. A Nomograms section was added to departments in Geophysics. The University of Tulsa Student Section requested inactive status. The Permian Basin Geophysical Society held its 1st Annual Meeting. J. Tuzo Wilson of the University of Toronto was SEG's Distinguished Lecturer.

Personals: B. H. Treybig, Jr. has founded Louisiana Exploration Co. with headquarters in New Iberia ... William B. Heroy, Jr., Dallas, elected VP of Geotechnical Service Corp. ... Howard Itten is president of newly formed Empire Geophysical Inc. ... General Geophysical Co., Independent Exploration Co., Robert H. Ray Co., and Seismic Explorations Inc. donated US$25 000 toward establishment of an earthquake seismograph station at Rice Institute. Membership: 3366

1953
Index of Wells Shot for Velocity 1944-53 was published as a booklet and will be updated annually. SEG affiliated with AAAS and EAEG. New Standing Committees: Microcarding Geophysical Literature, Student Essay Contest, and Glossary Committee (to contribute geophysical terms to the Earth Sciences Glossary of the National Science Foundation and AGI). The Geophysical Society of South Texas (San Antonio) and the Casper Geophysical Society were chartered. EAEG published the first (quarterly) Geophysical Prospecting. The Seismological Observatory at Southern Methodist University was dedicated on December 14 it was established through a joint action of SMU and the Dallas Geophysical Society which raised US$11 500 for equipment. New president of AGU: James B. Macelwane, S.J., St. Louis University. Student Sections chartered at the Universities of Toronto and Houston (which included students at both UH and Rice Institute). W. Maurice Ewing, Columbia University, served as joint SEG/AAPG Distinguished Lecturer. The Annual Meeting was held in Houston, March 23-26.

Personals: L. C. Foote, party chief with Geophysical Service Inc., is now located in Salvador, Brazil ... Curtis H. Johnson joined GSI as manager of the new marine division in Dallas ... Marcel Schlumberger died August 20 ... R. A. Broding, former research associate with Magnolia Petroleum Co., joined Century Geophysical Corp. as VP. Membership: 4139

1954
The executive committee approved a resolution to begin holding separate annual meetings after the joint meeting with AAPG and SEPM in 1955. SEG Editor Milton B. Dobrin published (in the January Geophysics) a Style Guide updating a 1945 article by L. L. Nettleton. A Procedures Manual for SEG's Executive and Standing Committees was initiated. E. A. Eckhardt presented 10 shares of Container Corp. of America common stock to the society. SEG's first student essay contest was won by Gerhard E. Lukk of the University of Toronto; he was presented a prize of US$150 during the Annual Meeting in St. Louis, April 12-15; 699 SEG members registered to attend the 35 geophysical technical papers presented at five sessions. The expanding SEG headquarters moved into larger offices in Tulsa. Norman Ricker, Oklahoma University and Fred Bullard, Texas University, served as 1954 Distinguished Lecturers. New Sections were chartered in New Orleans (Southeastern Geophysical Society) and Billings (Montana Geophysical Society). The first Associate Editors (only five) were appointed. 100 000 copies of Careers in Exploration Geophysics were printed for distribution to high schools, individuals, and companies. Life Membership was awarded to O. F. Ritzmann for editing the Patents department in Geophysics. A "permanent" Building Committee was appointed. The Research Committee and the Committee on Standardization of Magnetic Recording of Seismic Signals were established. An updated Cumulative Index 1931-53, Kenneth L. Cook, special editor, was published. SEG policy on Publication of Technical Papers Presented at Society Meeting gave SEG first right to publish.

Company News: Union Oil Co. sold its subsidiary, United Geophysical Co., to officers and area managers of the United organization ... Headquarters for GSI's offshore exploration division, Geomarine Service International, moved from Dallas to New Orleans ... Davis Equipment Co. established in Tulsa by Dallas R. Davis.

Personals: Hamilton M. Johnson received a PhD in geology/geophysics from Oklahoma University and joined Texas Petroleum Co. as a geologist in their Caracas office ... James R. Wait elected president of the newly organized Ottawa Geophysical Discussion Club ... T. O. Hall elected president of General Geophysical Co. ... Wilfred B. Hasbrouck now an instructor at Colorado School of Mines ... B. G. Swan promoted to Oklahoma City regional exploration manager for Continental Oil ... Rodolfo Martin, former chief geophysicist with Argentina's YPF, joined GSI and is located in Salvador, Brazil ... Maurice Ewing of Lamont Geological Observatory has recovered from the effects of injuries suffered during a recent expedition at sea when he was swept of the decks of the Vema near Bermuda. Membership: 4390; Student Members: 206

1955
SEG had a last joint meeting with AAPG and SEPM in New York City, March 28 31 with Ralph B. Ross as Program Chairman. The Society then celebrated its 25th Anniversary by holding a separate convention in Denver on October 3-6, headquartered at the Shirley Savoy Hotel. Marvin Romberg served as Technical Program chairman; 49 papers were presented; 41 companies exhibited in 48 booths; a total of 1502 attended the meeting with Robert Dyk serving as general chairman. Silver Anniversary Certificates were presented to charter members at the meeting and a special luncheon honored them and all past presidents. New Sections chartered: Jackson and Southwest Louisiana (Lafayette) Geophysical Societies; plus student sections at Pennsylvania State University and Texas Western College (TransPecos Student Section). An official Code of Ethics was adopted. Two Distinguished Lecture tours undertaken by C. B. Officer of Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute and John S. Adams of Rice Institute. New Standing Committees: Business Office and Research. E. A. Eckhardt elected president of AGI. The 10th Gulf Coast Annual Meeting held May 19 20 in San Antonio with P. E. Narvarte as general chairman; it was sponsored by Houston, South Texas, and Southeastern Geophysical Societies.

Personals: Charles E. Greener joined Texas Petroleum Co. in Caracas ... Lynn D. Ervin now VP of Geophysical Consultants Inc. ... Joseph W. Berg, Jr. now assistant professor at the University of Utah ... Albert L. Barthelmes named executive VP at SSC ... M. King Hubbert elected to the National Academy of Sciences. Membership: 4764

1956
Members of the Southeastern Geophysical Society were hosts to SEG's 26th Annual Meeting in New Orleans; 1553 members and guest registered at the meeting and 46 companies exhibited in 58 booths in the Roosevelt Hotel's International Room. SEG's first two Honorary Members (elected in 1930) died in 1956: Ludger Mintrop passed away on January 1 and Everette L. DeGolyer on December 14. Distinguished Lecturers: Victor Vacquier in January; James Affleck served as SEG/AAPG Lecturer in May. Geophysical Case Histories, Vol. II, Paul L. Lyons, special editor, was published. The Utah Geophysical Society in Salt Lake City and the Georgia Tech Student Geophysical Society were chartered; A&M College of Texas Student Geophysical Society petitioned for affiliation. First prize and US$150 awarded to Thomas V. McEvilly in SEG's second (and last) annual student essay contest. Pacific Coast Sections of SEG/AAPG/SEPM Annual Meeting was held at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, November 8-9. SEG's first two scholarships (US$750 each) were awarded for 1956-57 to Richard F. McReynolds at Colorado School of Mines and R. S. Wright at Rice Institute. The 11th Annual Gulf Coast Regional Meeting held at the Rice Hotel in Houston on May 17-18. Sustaining Membership was approved for a company or individual with an active interest in supporting the objectives of the Society. Election of Representatives at Large to serve on the SEG Council also approved. SEG's 9th Annual Midwest Regional Meeting held in Fort Worth on March 8 and 9; theme of the meeting was Integrated Exploration. SEG's Business Office in Tulsa moved to "spacious" new quarters (1400 sq ft) in the AAPG Building and the Executive Committee appropriated US$65 for a sign for the SEG portion of the building. For your next safety meeting, Atlas Powder would lend you their new 17-minute film, "How to Handle Women and Explosives." Supposed to be a WOW!

Personals: J. E. White now head of the physics section of Ohio Oil Co.'s new research center in Denver where Robert B. Rice is senior research physicist ... John S. Sumner accepted position of manager with McPhar Geophysics in Minneapolis ... Henry C. Cortes elected a VP of Magnolia Petroleum ... Jack L. Mataya named district geophysicist at Stanolind Oil and Gas Co.'s district office in Midland ... Julian Hawes now chief geologist for Crown Central Petroleum ... Paul Farren resigned as VP of National Geophysical Co. to open a consulting office in Houston ... Stefan Von Croy named chief geophysicist for Sunray MidContinent Oil in Tulsa ... E. D. Wilson appointed assistant treasurer of SSC ... Enders A. Robinson joined the staff of Standard Oil Co. (New Jersey) ... R. D. Roberts promoted to manager of Sohio Petroleum's office in Calgary ... Woijech Domzalski joined Hunting Geophysics Ltd. as chief geophysicist ... Kazim Ergin now professor of applied geophysics at the Technical University at Istanbul ... John L. Bible, founder and former president of Tidelands Exploration Co., has opened a geophysical consulting office in Houston ... Edmund Stuart Hastings joined Phillips Petroleum Co. in Lafayette ... Neal Clayton is new president of Liberty Exploration Co. in Tulsa. Membership: 5098; Student Members: 265

1957
Individuals or companies wishing to promote SEG's objectives may become Sustaining Members by payment of $100 or more. The first Yearbook was published in December Geophysics; it contained the Annual Report, Geophysical Activities Report for 1956, Index of Wells Shot for Velocity, list of SEG Scholarship Students, the Constitution and Bylaws, and the Membership list. A committee to form an Education Foundation was appointed with Bart W. Sorge serving as chairman. Eduardo J. Guzman of Mexico's Pemex was Spring Distinguished Lecturer for SEG and AAPG. New Mexico Geophysical Society and the Texas A&M Student Section were chartered. 13 students received SEG scholarships in 1957 totaling US$12 125. Fred J. Agnich was general chairman of the 27th Annual Meeting in Dallas where 2024 registered. New Committee: Mining.

Company News: Pan American Petroleum Corp. is new name for Stanolind Oil and Gas ... Seismograph Service Corp. opened a new US$900 000 headquarters in Tulsa in celebration of its 25th anniversary Magnolia Petroleum's new geophysical lab was completed in Dallas ... Southern Geophysical has available for loan a new film on geophysical operations in southern Louisiana.

Personals: After one year at Lamont Geological Observatory, J. C. DeBremaecker returned to the Institute for Scientific Research in Bukavu, Belgian Congo ... R. E. Sheriff named senior geophysicist for California Exploration Co. in San Francisco ... P. H. Garrison now geophysical supervisor for Pan American Petroleum in Tulsa ... Thomas R. Shugart joined D. D. Feldman Oil and Gas as exploration manager ... Rodolfo Martin named manager of GSI's new Mexican division with headquarters in Mexico City ... Robert J. Graebner appointed geophysicist for U.S. and Canadian operations for GSI ... Robert L. Kidd named president of Cities Service Oil ... Gabor Dessau establishing a mining engineering department at the Israel Institute of Technology in Haifa ... Jack L. Hollis named exploration coordinator for British American Oil Producing Co. Membership: 5426

1958
Trustees of the SEG Foundation established January 1 were Cecil H. Green, Frank Goldstone, and Hugh M. Thralls. W. Harry Mayne, President of the Geophysical Society of South Texas, welcomed 1473 delegates to the 28th Annual Meeting, October 13-16 in San Antonio. Canadian SEG prepared three lectures on geophysics for students in Calgary's junior and senior high schools. Plaques were presented to all past presidents in recognition of their services to the Society. A report in April Geophysics (p. 363 372) gives results of a questionnaire mailed to 5083 members of SEG in 1955. 75% responded (3810) to inquiries about their professional and technical interests. One table showed the three schools that most members had attended as Colorado School of Mines (294 SEG members attended), University of Texas (287), and University of Oklahoma (280). The 11th Annual Midwest Exploration Meeting held in Tulsa on April 17 and 18; W. M. Erdahl served as general chairman and Paul Lyons as Technical Program chairman. Albert P. Crary led a group of seven IGY scientists and naval men from Little America on a 1500 mile Antarctic traverse, the first of several to be undertaken during the worldwide International Geophysical Year. Four Corners Geophysical Society was chartered by the executive committee. Careers in Geophysics revised and 10 000 copies printed.

Personals: Robert Van Nostrand now chief geophysicist for Societe de Prospection de Exploitation Petroleiere en Alsace and based in France ... Bart W. Sorge elected president of United Geophysical ... Victor W. Graf appointed assistant to president of SSC ... Victor Vacquier, professor of geophysics at New Mexico Tech, moved to Scripps Institution of Oceanography as research geophysicist ... Curtis H. Johnson has returned to California from Europe and opened an office as a consultant ... Ben R. Howard joined Republic Natural Gas in Dallas as chief geophysicist ... SEG President O. C. Clifford named manager of Atlantic Refining's foreign crude oil exploration division ... Frank P. Sonnenberg appointed chief geologist for Chaco Petroleum S.A. in Cochabamba, Bolivia ... Milo M. Backus named chief research geophysicist for GSI ... Roger H. Pemberton appointed senior technical representative to the mining industry for Canadian Aero Service Ltd. in Toronto ... Paul L. Lyons elected president of AGI ... G. M. Knebel appointed senior exploration advisor for Standard Oil Co. (NJ) ... Lester Louder now VP/manager of Geofisicos Asociados Internacionales C.A. in Caracas ... P. C. Sundt transferred to Paris as manager of Electro Tech France, subsidiary of Mandrel Industries. Membership: 5559; Student Members: 192

1959
A memorial volume, Lessons in Seismic Computing, by (and to) M. M. Slotnick was published with Richard A. Geyer, editor. A 2nd Vice President was added to the SEG Executive Committee. New Sections chartered: Coastal Bend (Corpus Christi), Regina (Edmonton), Cochabamba (Bolivia), and Cara as (Venezuela). SEG's 29th Annual Meeting was held November 9-12 at the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles; total registration: 1411 (including 6 students); 79 papers presented; and 59 exhibit booths displayed the latest in new products and services to the industry. SEG Editor Lawrence Y. Faust was presented bound volumes of issues of Geophysics that he edited during his term. Empire Geophysical Co. of Fort Worth became SEG's first Sustaining Member. The Society contributed US$5000 to the SEG Foundation to be used for scholarships in universities outside the U.S. The 12th Annual Midwest Meeting held in E1 Paso with the Permian Basin Geophysical Society as host.

Personals: Peter B. Bike, formerly of Seaboard Oil Co., joined the staff of the Oil and Gas Journal in Tulsa ... M. R. Hewitt, district geophysicist with Pan American Petroleum, transferred from Edmonton to Midland ... Norman H. Ricker retired from Jersey Production Research and was appointed professor of physics at the University of Oklahoma ... Flint H. Agee appointed manger of North American operations for United Geophysical ... Richard A. Geyer named manager of GSI's gravity department ... Theodore R. Madden now an assistant professor at MIT ... J. Frank Rollins elected president of Rayflex Explorations ... J. E. Hawkins assumed additional duties as VP/manager of SSC's new division, Seiscor manufacturing ... Robert H. Geyer new research associate at Pan American's research center in Tulsa ... Fred J. Agnich now VP of Texas Instruments' new geosciences and instrumentation division. Membership: 5657