"... to bring about improved technology, we must safeguard the financial viability of geophysics."
(LaFehr, 1993, The Leading Edge)
More than anything else, this quote exemplifies Dr. Thomas LaFehr's philosophy during his 30 plus years of involvement with exploration geophysics. Without a doubt, he has been the preeminent spokesman, scientist, and promoter for geopotential methods in hydrocarbon exploration as well as in their more conventional uses in mineral exploration. By demonstrating their economic importance and by developing cost-effective methods for acquiring and interpreting data, Tom has kept geopotential methods a viable and valuable tool, especially when integrated with more conventional exploration methods. This comprehensive philosophy was detailed in a series of TLE President's Pages (1983-84) which have become classic articles on integrated exploration. Tom anticipated technology improvements achievable through integration and he set forth to make it a standard for our industry.
Tom's technical contributions span numerous disciplines. In 1965, Tom, along with L. L. Nettleton and Lucien LaCoste, participated in the first sea trials of the LaCoste and Romberg stabilized-platform gravity meters. By incorporating emerging computer technology to reduce the dynamic gravity data, Tom was instrumental in developing the first commercial marine gravity data for exploration. Following up on this newfound source of data, Tom developed interpretational modeling (both 2-D and 3-D) based on gravity and magnetic data. When coupled with seismic information, this modeling yielded geologic information that could not be extracted from conventional seismic alone. Participants in the early SEG Continuing Education courses will remember Tom's lucid
discussions and examples from these early field studies which demonstrated this very point. The spirit of these early innovations continued when in 1991 Tom made a strategic decision to develop an advanced GPS-based dynamic airborne gravity system, thus
reducing the need for specially designed aircraft. Today many of our industry standards involving dynamic gravity-data reduction, improved terrain correction methods, and integrated interpretation were pioneered by Tom LaFehr.
Tom's endeavors were not limited to sea and air but also included the subsurface. During the 1970s, he pioneered the development and application of the borehole gravity meter (BHGM). This work led to Tom's publication which related the theoretical "Poisson's jump" and actual changes in bulk density to practical BHGM measurements.
His educational background/experience is not unexpected for the scientist/explorationist he has become. Tom obtained an A.B. from the University of California- Berkeley, an M.Sc. from Colorado School of Mines, and a Ph.D. from Stanford University in 1964. While at Mines, Tom received two SEG scholarships and worked for the USGS. After receiving his doctorate, Tom joined Gravity Meter Exploration Company.
It was in 1969, when Tom accepted an associate professorship at Mines, that I began to appreciate the breadth of Tom's expertise. Being a "seismic" student, I was amazed at Tom's uncanny ability to analyze the practical applications and limitations of the various disciplines of research that were being conducted at Mines. Shortly after his arrival, Tom co-founded Edcon Inc., a consulting firm involved with acquiring and interpreting gravity data. It was not surprising that in 1975 with the rapid growth and the introduction of electrical prospecting and borehole gravity at Edcon that Tom assumed the full-time position of president. In 1982, Tom returned and later accepted the George Brown Professorship Chair of Geophysics. In 1987, Tom and K.
C. Chan founded LCT. Through various acquisitions and mergers, LCT grew to where it now acquires approximately 85 percent of marine gravity surveys. Tom is currently chairman emeritus of the board of LCT. From 1995 to 1996, Tom was also chairman of the board of Geodynamics, an aerospace and defense contracting company.
SEG has benefited for many years from Tom's volunteer work. His efforts include Distinguished Lecturer (1970), Geophysics Associate Editor (1970-71) and Editor (1972-73), Continuing Education instructor (1981-1987), President (1983-84), first Chairman of
TLE's Editorial Board, Chairman of SEG Scholarship Committee (1985), and Chairman of SEG International Affairs Committee (1986).
Tom was also an instructor for AAPG and other continuing education courses. His popularity as a lecturer is attested to by the fact that SEG honored Tom with three Best Presentation Awards. His ability to emphasize points with a dry sense of humor left an indelible mark on many of us. One of his lecture comments that I favor (paraphrased by me) is: "Don't constrain an interpretation with the mathematical Principle of Least Squares where the geological Principle of Least Astonishment applies."
He also received SEG Honorary Membership in 1979 and was inducted into the Russian Academy of Science in 1997.
Be it Tom in his role as university professor, entrepreneur, businessman, or scientist, you will always find an unassuming friend. We honor him for being a colleague to all and for his major contributions to the advancement of geophysics. It is appropriate that SEG should award Dr. Thomas LaFehr with its highest recognition the Maurice Ewing Medal.
Fred Hilterman