It is particularly fitting that Bob Graebner be honored for his pioneering work in 3-D seismology, one of the great advances in applied geophysics in recent years. It is fitting because this work came late in his career, underscoring more than four decades he had spent on the leading edge of geophysical technology. Here was a geophysicist who was never bypassed by our science and who, thus, never went through the dreaded "learning curve"Sindeed, he was often the one shifting that curve into the future.
     Bob spent nearly all of his career at GSI where he was often the crucially important link between research and operationsSsomething often sought and seldom achieved. He could do this because he has the rare ability to function equally well in the abstract world of the research lab and in the bottom-line world of those who ended up using the technology. Bob's personal interaction with key figures in both of these areas and his principal publications, primarily case histories documenting the impact of leading-edge technology in the real world of exploration and development, were very important factors in the revolution in geophysical technology which began in the 1950s and continues to the present.
     In addition to his achievements in this area, Bob also earned universal respect for his professional integrity, leadership, and concern for people. His career and conduct provide a superlative role model for geophysicists in general and geophysical contractors in particular.
     Bob received a bachelor's degree in engineering physics from the Colorado School of Mines in 1948 and joined GSI the next year, an association that lasted until the company (at least this incarnation) vanished in the wave of mergers which overwhelmed geophysical contractors in the 1980s. About a decade after joining GSI, Bob emerged as a geophysicist of international stature. His 1960 article "Seismic data enhancementSA case history" provided a foundation which greatly contributed to the success of early digital land crews. Later, a series of papers emanating from his collaboration with C. G. Dahm and A. R. Brown were vital to making 3-D seismic technology a practical tool that would ultimately dominate this end of exploration and production. A 1979 paper by this group was named the outstanding offering at the 1979 Offshore Technology Conference, and a more detailed case history by Dahm and Graebner was named the Best Paper in Geophysics in 1982. A decade later, in 1993, Bob was still on the leading edge of t
     echnology when he was selected to give SEG's Distinguished Lecture on 4-D seismic monitoring, a theme that now, a handful of years later, has emerged as one of the hottest topics in the business.
     Despite the demands placed on him because of his dual role as implementer of leading edge research and major executive in one of our largest contracting companies, Bob found time to serve SEG as First Vice-President (1982-83), President (1986-87), and General Chairman of the 1989 Annual Meeting. He is currently playing a major role, through his inspired leadership of the Multidisciplinary Initiative at the Colorado School of Mines (funded by the SEG Foundation) in restructuring geoscience education so that it takes full advantage of recent breakthroughs in communications technology.
     The honor being bestowed today is the latest in a long list of awards presented to Bob, including SEG Honorary Membership in 1995 (see citation published in TLE, February 1996).