"Service is the rent we pay for the space we occupy in life."
     (Anonymous)

     The term "service" best describes Bob Rice's relationship with geophysics. His entire career has been devoted to serving the exploration industry, the Society of Exploration Geophysicists, and the geophysical profession. He has truly "rented" a "Texas-size spread" in exploration geophysics.
     It is, therefore, especially appropriate that an Honorary Membership be bestowed on Bob Rice. The SEG Executive Committee, in making this award, stated: "This honor is in recognition of your contribution to the profession of exploration geophysics through the publication of many papers, 'Inverse Convolution Filters' being specifically mentioned as a 'bench mark' contribution and through your many years of service to the Society...although you are retired from active employment, you continue to consult, to write, and to serve the Society." This statement aptly summarizes Bob's considerable service to exploration geophysics.
     Bob Rice immediately began serving the exploration industry after completing his academic work in math and physics at the College of Wooster and Ohio State University in 1945. For the next decade, he was employed as a research geophysicist with Phillips Petroleum in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, conducting research on improved seismic field techniques, seismic data analysis, and interpretation methods. His early publications concerned time migration techniques. In 1956, Bob joined Marathon's Research Center in Littleton, Colorado, as a senior research scientist. During the next five years, Rice selected, established, administered, and taught programming for Marathon's first scientific computer facility. In this period he did extensive research on seismic data processing techniques, with special emphasis on inverse convolution filtering. In 1960, Bob became manager of Marathon Research's Physics and Mathematics Department, where in addition to supervising the computer planning and operation, he was also charged with responsibility for geophysical logging, mathematical techniques, and instrumentation research. These 33 years represent a most significant geophysical service to the exploration industry.
     Bob has given virtually unparalleled service to the SEG since becoming an active member in 1946. He has served on numerous committees and chaired five major standing committees. He was Technical Program Chairman for the 1968 Annual Meeting in Denver and, at the next Denver meeting in 1975, he was General Chairman. After serving as an officer of the Geophysical Society of Tulsa, he was elected Editor of Geophysics in 1961. Bob became First Vice-President of the SEG in 1971 and in 1975 became SEG President. Thus, in a 15-year period, Bob served on the SEG Executive Committee for five years. Very few have given so much direct service to the Society. In fact, only six of the other fifty-one SEG presidents have held three major SEG offices. While SEG president, Rice led a vigorous campaign to educate the public and their officials about exploration geophysics' important role in attaining energy independence. Bob Rice's long-term SEG service has been a significant factor in making the SEG the major technical society it is today.
     Rice's most outstanding service to geophysics is probably in the publications area. As a researcher, he published and presented significant technical work. At the 1960 Annual Meeting, he received the SEG Best Presentation Award for the paper "Inverse Convolution Filters" which was published in Geophysics in 1962. As author, editor of Geophysics, and member of the Publishing Committee for more than 12 years, Bob has stimulated a wealth of technical information in exploration geophysics literature.
     Since his retirement five years ago, Bob continues to serve our profession by consulting, special teaching, and contributing to geophysical literature. He principally authored the seismic exploration section of a National Science Board report to the President of the United States in 1981. He was senior author of a classic paper, "Developments in Exploration Geophysics, 1975-1980," published in Geophysics in 1981. Most recently, Bob co-authored a unique book, Geophysics in the Affairs of Man, Pergamon Press, 1982.
     Bob has performed these many significant roles in geophysics most effectively, smoothly, and without controversy. He likes people. He is virtually a "Will Rogers" of geophysics he probably never met a geophysicist he didn't like. I am proud to have the opportunity to outline Bob's many contributions to our profession, and I know every member of the Society is proud to have Bob Rice as an Honorary Member.

     J. Dan Skelton