If you ask Bob Hardage what his main professional interests are, he will tell you seismic stratigraphy and reservoir characterization. Therein lies a tale of an outstanding and successful career in pursuit of those interests, a career rich in depth, broad in range, and varied in content. Bob launched his career by joining Phillips Petroleum Company in 1966 after gaining a Ph.D. in physics from Oklahoma State University.
     At Phillips, he started as a research geophysicist and, after promotion through successive positions (worldwide director of Seismic Stratigraphy, chief geophysicist for Europe and Africa), he became exploration manager of Asia and Latin America.
     In 1988, he moved to Western Atlas where he created a new business division which provided downhole seismic services. He became the vice-president of Geophysical Development and Marketing for Western Atlas Wireline Services.
     In 1991, Bob joined the Bureau of Economic Geology, the University of Texas at Austin, as a senior research scientist. Here he launched a new career in the public domain as a researcher and educator. To this task he brought the perspectives of both a petroleum company and a seismic contractor.
     At Phillips, he focused on research in wavelet processing, seismic stratigraphy, and vertical seismic profiling (VSP). While conducting research in VSP technology, he developed a working association with the late E. I. Galperin, a Soviet scientist and the world's leading authority on VSP at that time. Stimulated by this association and by the results of his ongoing research, Bob emerged as a giant in his own right in the field of VSP.
     He published the first English text in 1983 which described VSP technology and the role it plays as sort of a "Rosetta Stone" in the interpretation and integration of geophysical data. More than 3500 copies of the first and second editions of this book have been purchased by explorationists, and a third edition is currently under way. This effort was followed by another book in 1991, Crosswell Seismology and Reverse VSP.
     Bob joined the Bureau to carry out basic geophysical research and to help the Bureau integrate this leading-edge seismic technology into their larger reservoir characterization program. Bob's efforts led to the creation of an industry-sponsored research consortium to develop technologies that image reservoirs using the complete seismic vector wavefield. This effort escalated in 1997, when Bob organized a new research entity within the Bureau, the Exploration Geophysics Laboratory (EGL) to focus on developing 3-D surface-based and borehole-based seismic technologies that have the potential of providing high-resolution information about reservoir geometry and petrophysical characteristics. As lead scientist for the EGL, Bob has constructed one of the best equipped geophysical research groups in the nation. Through a broad base of industry support, the EGL has access to a fully staffed 3-D seismic crew, a variety of data processing and interpretation packages, and more than 20 workstations.
     In addition to directing this program as associate director at the Bureau, he manages four other consortia similarly constituted within the Bureau. Yet, all these vigorous activities notwithstanding, Bob has generously undertaken numerous tasks in the professional affairs of the SEG and related societies. From 1992 to 1995, he was Assistant Editor and then Editor of Geophysics, the toughest and most creative job within the SEG. He was a coeditor of Reservoir Geophysics, a book published in 1992 as a part of an SEG series. He has been Chairman of the Publications Committee and is a special editor of another SEG book series on 3-D technology. He is a managing editor of Petroleum Science and Technology.
     A talented and lucid writer, Bob has authored more than 50 technical papers focused on some aspect of seismic stratigraphy and 3-D applications. In addition to the two books on VSP technology, he wrote Seismic Stratigraphy, a book published in 1987 by The Geophysical Press.
     In support of the Bureau's charter, Bob forged the link between creating new technology and transferring application of that technology to potential users, primarily independent oil companies, through a variety of programs. He taught numerous public schools on 3-D seismic methods, seismic stratigraphy, and vertical seismic profiling in the United States, Europe, and Asia. Typically, he runs half a dozen short courses and workshops a year and produces about the same number of pamphlets on new seismic applications. Several of these applications have been published as case histories on CD-ROMS, e.g., the Stratton Field data set. In the last few years, more than 800 Texas independent oil operators attended classes in which he taught 3-D imaging of complex reservoirs.
     In making this award, the Honors and Awards Committee has cited Bob's original contributions to 3-D development and to the transfer of this technology to the user community, especially the independent petroleum companies. In addition, he is cited for his professional services in behalf of the SEG as Editor of Geophysics and many other SEG publications. From the forgoing summary overview of Bob's major achievements, although incomplete, it is clear that he has earned and richly deserves this award.
     Although recognized for his intellectual prowess, all who know him well know that he is also a sensitive, caring person and about as friendly a fellow as you are ever likely to meet. I feel fortunate to have had the privilege of working with Bob from time to time throughout his career.

     Robert J. Graebner