DOWNEY NAMED PRESIDENT OF AAPG

NORMAN -- Marlan Downey, former Bartell Professor in the University of Oklahoma's School of Geology and Geophysics and the chief scientist of the Sarkeys Energy Center, will assume the presidency of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists on July 1. Downey served as president-elect for the 1999-2000 term.

Downey began his career in 1957 at the Shell Oil Company Research Center working in organic geochemistry, with responsibility for making Shell's theoretical work in organic chemistry useful in finding oil. In 1969, he became the company's youngest chief geologist, and in 1973 was named Shell's first Alaska Division exploration manager. In 1977, Downey moved to International Exploration and Production and was named vice president before assuming the position of president of the newly formed international subsidiary, Pecten International. He retired from Shell in 1987.

Downey returned to the industry to work for ARCO International Oil and Gas Co., an independent exploration company he formed, to help shore up its international operations. He was named president after one year and remained in that capacity until his retirement in July 1996. With Downey at the helm, ARCO International's finding cost decreased from about $4 a barrel to $1.60, and the amount of oil found tripled from 50 million barrels a year to 150 million.

Among his many affiliations and memberships, Downey was knighted in 1986 by the president of Cameroon for his services to that country, the first businessman to receive such an honor. In 1992, he served on U.S. President Jimmy Carter's team supervising the first free elections in Guyana.

A native of Nebraska, Downey earned a degree in chemistry from Peru State University. After military service in Korea and the Philippines, he earned bachelor's and master's degrees in geology from the University of Nebraska.

Others on the 2000-2001 AAPG Executive Committee include Robbie Rice Gries, head of Priority Oil and Gas in Denver. She was voted president-elect by the membership and will serve as president in 2001-2002.

Ronald A. Nelson, with BP Amoco in Houston, will serve as vice president and Edward B. Picou Jr., a consultant from New Orleans, will serve as treasurer.

Continuing on the committee is Charles R. "Chuck" Noll, Houston geologist and OU alumnus, will serve as secretary and Neil F. Hurley, Colorado School of Mines, as AAPG elected editor. Lowell Lischer, a consultant from San Antonio, will serve on the Executive Committee as chairman of the House of Delegates.

The AAPG was founded in 1917, with the purpose to foster scientific research, to advance the science of geology, to promote technology, and to inspire high professional conduct. It is currently the world's largest professional geological society with over 30,000 members in 116 countries. Its members are geologists, geophysicists, CEOs, managers, consultants, students and academicians.

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