Why I Accepted the Invitation to be a Candidate for an AAPG Office
By Terence G. O’Hare

I begin to answer this question by looking back on how I ended up in the petroleum industry. As you can see by the location of my birthplace (Manhattan, N.Y.), I was not exactly associated with the “oil patch” at the time of my origin. My life has involved a slow and deliberate journey southward to find out what the oil patch was all about.

After my formative years in New York, I along with my twin brother decided to try something new and attend the University of Kentucky. It was the thrill of the adventure and beautiful countryside that convinced us this would be a great place to engage in the practice of higher learning. Like many freshmen, I had not yet settled on a major, but knew it had to be a topic that I truly loved.

I enrolled in physical geology the second semester of my freshman year and was introduced to my first real geologist. My love for the science was instant, and I was equally impressed with my instructor’s zeal and his approach to his work. He was fortunate to have discovered a gold mine in Australia, and instead of retiring early – he continued to instruct. He felt it necessary to share his fascination of geology and explain it to as many individuals as possible. I was left with two lasting impressions: With hard work I could utilize the science to earn a living and, more importantly, volunteer my time to advance others understanding of the science.

As my journey continued southward I became more proximate to the “patch” and have been fortunate enough to earn a comfortable living practicing as an independent petroleum geologist. Over time, it became apparent that my time had arrived to join the ranks of volunteers. With the encouragement of a few of my peers, I embarked on the next chapter of my professional growth. To my surprise, this chapter has provided me with my most rewarding professional experiences. The many years of volunteer activities have given me the opportunity to develop and refine my organization, management and financial skills, and have provided me with the necessary tools to be an effective leader for the AAPG.

In my opinion proper professional development must include formulating lasting personal bonds. Through my volunteer experiences – I have met some wonderful individuals, and it is these friendships of which I am most grateful. If I am chosen as your vice president-Sections, I will uphold the responsibility this nomination represents and provide the society with my most sincere effort.