AAPG Home > Inside AAPG > Officer Candidates > President-elect 2003-04
AAPG Explorer AS SEEN IN THE SEPTEMBER 2002 ISSUE
Ballots will be mailed in the spring.
Results will be posted May 15, 2003.

Officer Candidates:

President-Elect 2003-04
Editor's note: Candidates for AAPG office have been given the opportunity to respond briefly to the subject: "Why I Accepted the Invitation to be a Candidate for AAPG Office." Their responses -- and biographical information provided by each candidate and edited only for grammar and spelling, including the biography -- will be published in the EXPLORER beginning here and continuing through the next two issues. Responses will be available throughout the election on the AAPG Web site. Ballots will be mailed in the spring.

Here are the responses from president-elect candidates Patrick J.F. Gratton and Ronald A Nelson. Candidates were asked to limit their responses to 500 words.

Candidates:
  President-Elect
Vice President
Secretary
Candidate Election Rules

Patrick J.F. Gratton

Jump to: Why I accepted the Invitation to be a Candidate for AAPG Office

Independent Geologist and President, Patrick J.F. Gratton Inc., Dallas.

Born August 28, 1933, Denver.

Academic Training:

1951-1953 -- United States Coast Guard Academy, New London, Conn.

1953-1956 -- University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, B.S. in geology, 1955, M.S. in geology, 1958

Experience:

1954 -- Geologic trainee, summer employee, Magnolia Petroleum Corporation, Roswell, N.M.

1955 -- Field geologist, summer employee, Westvaco Mineral Development Corporation, Grants, N.M.

1956 -- Geologist, Utah Construction and Mining Corporation, Denver

1956-1957 -- United States Army, six months active duty

1957-1958 -- Geologist, Shell Oil Company, Roswell, N.M.

1958-1959 -- Geologist, Shell Oil Company, Houston; Santa Fe, N.M.; Del Rio, Texas

1959-1962 -- Geologist, Shell Oil Company, Tyler, Texas

1962-1964 -- Administrative assistant to exploration vice president, Delhi-Taylor Oil Corporation, Dallas

1964-1965 -- Consulting geologist, Dallas

1966 -- Geological manager, Capitan Inc., Dallas

1967-1970 -- Partner and operations manager, Nearburg Oil Properties, Dallas

1970-Present -- Independent geologist, Dallas

1976-Present -- President, Patrick J.F. Gratton Inc., Dallas

AAPG Activities:

Member since 1960; DPA (1966); EMD (1977); DEG (1992)' Certifled Petroleum Geologist #162

1976-1978 -- Group Insurance Committee

1978-1981 -- House of Delegates

1979-1982 -- Distinguished Lecture Committee

1981-Present -- Visiting Petroleum Geologist/Visiting Geologist Program (except 1989)

1988-1989 -- President-Elect DPA

1989-1990 -- President DPA; Advisory Council member (ex-officio)

1990-1992 -- Nominating and Registration Committees (DPA)

1991-1996 -- Long Range Planning Committee (DPA)

1991-1993 -- House of Delegates Constitution and Bylaws Committee

1992-Present -- Governmental Affairs Committee (DPA)

1992-1993 -- House of Delegates chair Constitution and Bylaws Cominittee

1993-1995 -- Co-chair Certified Coal Geologist Cominittee (DPA)

1993-1996 -- Advisory Board (DEG)

1994 -- Instant Response Committee (DPA)

1994-1995 -- House of Delegates chair International Member Participation Committee

1996-1997 -- Chairman of House of Delegates

1996-Present -- Trustee Associates member

1997-1999 -- House of Delegates Newsletter Committee, chair, Dallas delegates group

1998-Present -- House of Delegates Newsletter Committee

1998-1999 -- Budget Review Committee

1998-1999 -- Candidate President-Elect

1999-2000 -- Chair House of Delegates ad hoc Procedures (aka Operations) Committee

1999-Present -- Visiting Geologist Committee (vice chair 1999-2000; chair 2000-2003)

Affiliated and Associated Societies and Sections:

Dallas Geological Society

Houston Geological Society

New Mexico Geological Society

Roswell Geological Society

Vice president Southwest Section, 1976-1977

Society of Independent Professional Earth Scientists (#412, newsletter editor, director, vice president and president in mid- to late 1970s; and vice president of SIPES Foundation, 1982)

Other Professional Affiliations:

Sigma Gamma Epsilon; Phi Kappa Phi; American Institute of Professional Geologists #2860; Texas Independent Producers & Royalty Owners director and executive committee; Texas Producers Advisory Group vice chair and Petroleum Technology Transfer Council alternate director (1994-1997); Texas Oil and Gas Forum/Texas Railroad Commission Data Project 95; Dallas Energy Council vice president (1990-1991)

Honors and Awards:

Professional Service Award (Dallas Geological Society, 1982)

Public Service Award (Dallas Geological Society, 1985)

Centennial Distinguished Alumnus (University of New Mexico, 1989)

Outstanding Service Award (Society of Independent Professional Earth Scientists, 1990)

Life Member (DPA, 1993)

Distinguished Service Award (AAPG, 1998)

Honorary Member (Society of Independent Professional Earth Scientists, 1998)

Honorary Member (Dallas Geological Society, 1999)

Honorary Life Member (HOD, 2000)

Honorary Member (AAPG, 2002)

Outstanding Service Award (Dallas Geological Society, 2002)

Community and Civic Affairs:

Caswell Silver Foundation director (1984-1988 and 1995-present)

National Association of Corporate Directors (1986-1988)

Explorers Club (fellow) and Texas chapter chair (1987-1988)

National Alliance for Mentally Ill

University of New Mexico Foundation Inc. director (1992-2000)

Publications (Including Abstracts):

"Several ground rules can aid search for Smackover"

"San Andres Permian oil most active in state" (with W.J. LeMay)

"San Andres oil east of the Pecos" (with W.J. LeMay)

"Pennsylvanian trends of northern Chaves County, New Mexico"

"Factors affecting United States oil and gas outlook" (contributor)

"Earth scientist productivity"

"Self-employment for geologists"

"Acquiring and improving small producing properties"

"Effects of government policies on United States exploration and production"

"Federal and State incentives for oil and gas producers' editor"

Ronald A. Nelson

Jump to: Why I accepted the Invitation to be a Candidate for AAPG Office

President and Principal Investigator, Broken N Consulting, Inc., Simonton, Texas

Born February 12, 1948, Chicago.

Academic Degrees:

1970 – BS Geology, Northern Illinois University

1972 – MS Geology, Texas A&M University

1975 – Ph.D. Geology, Texas A&M University

Experience:

1970 – Lindgren Exploration Co., Wayzata, Minn. (Mineral Exploration)

1975-1986 – Amoco Production Co., Tulsa (Structural Geology & Fractured Reservoir Research)

1986-1999 – Amoco Production Co., Houston (Structural Geology, International Exploration, Technology Management)

1999-2001 – BP Amoco, Houston (Structural Geologogist

2001-Present – Broken N Consulting Inc., Simonton, Texas (Principal Investigator)

AAPG Activities:

Member since 1976; Certified Petroleum Geologist #2727 (1984)

Distinguished Lecturer (US) – 1982-1983

BULLETIN Associate Editor – 1983-1988, 1990-1992, 2002-2004

Short Course Lecturer – 1983, 1986, 1991

House of Delegates (Tulsa Geological Society) – 1984-1986

School Lecturer – 1984-1996 (three different schools)

Advisory Board on the Treatise of Petroleum Geology – 1985-1990

Distinguished Lecture Committee – 1991-1994

House of Delegates (Houston Geological Society) – 1996-1999

Advisory Council – 1996-1999

Standing Technical Program Committee – 1997-2000 (Chair, 1997-1998)

AAPG Certificates of Appreciation – 1996, 1998

Dean A. McGee Distinguished Lecturer for SE Asia – 1997-1998

Vice President 2000-2001

Affiliated and Associated Societies and Sections:

Tulsa Geological Society (Member 1975-1991, Councilor at large 1993-1995)

Houston Geological Society (Member since 1986; Vice President 1993-1994; President-Elect 1994-1995; President 1995-1996)

Society of Petroleum Engineers (Member since 1980; Distinguished Author 1986; Research Forum Co-Convenor 2000)

Other Professional Affiliations:

International Association of Structural/Tectonic Geologists

International Society of Rock Mechanics\

Publications:

Over 80 Publications, including two editions of a textbook (“Geological Analysis of Naturally Fractured Reservoirs”)

 
Editor's note: Candidates for AAPG office have been given the opportunity to respond briefly to the subject: "Why I Accepted the Invitation to be a Candidate for AAPG Office." Their responses -- and biographical information provided by each candidate and edited only for grammar and spelling, including the biography -- will be published in the EXPLORER beginning here and continuing through the next two issues. Responses will be available throughout the election on the AAPG Web site. Ballots will be mailed in the spring.
Here are the responses from president-elect candidates Patrick J.F. Gratton and Ronald A Nelson. Candidates were asked to limit their responses to 500 words.

Why I Accepted the Invitation To Be a Candidate For AAPG Office

By PATRICK J.F. GRATTON

I appreciate the opportunity to be a candidate for president-elect of the Association. Being a candidate in itself is an honor. As a member I have greatly benefited from the Association. AAPG has helped me be a better geologist and a more effective professional. It has also allowed me to develop a wide range of friends who have also gained much from the Association.

When the Association was founded 85 years ago its activities were focused on regular publication of a bulletin, annual meetings and liaison with local geological societies in the United States. Because of outstanding leadership, efficient staff and strong membership participation, the Association has grown into a much wider ranging organization. With members in over 125 countries, 30-plus committees and three divisions engaged in a multitude of activities, AAPG enhances the scientific, professional and business aspects of geoscientists worldwide. With help from members and staff I would like to contribute to this continuing expansion of service to AAPG members, the science of geology and the industries dependent upon the application of earth science.

I am particularly interested in building membership, increasing awareness of ethics in contacts with students and the general public, promoting services for members including career enhancement, encouraging development of better public policy impacting our members and finding ways to do all this economically.

My service on 13 committees, the DEG Advisory Board; as president of DPA and member of the Advisory Council; as chairman of the House of Delegates and member of the Executive Committee has given me a good understanding and appreciation of the workings, activities and potentialities of AAPG.

As a candidate I want to hear from members on how our very good organization can be improved. I believe that most of the Association's many activities were borne from members' initiatives. Accordingly, with your assistance we can continue this growth and fulfill the purposes of the Association.

AAPG has an outstanding legacy. If elected, I will work to extend and strengthen that heritage and bring more value to the Association.

Why I Accepted the Invitation To Be a Candidate For AAPG Office

By RONALD A. NELSON

When I was asked to be a candidate for president-elect of the AAPG, I was both pleased and a little intimidated.

I was pleased because after serving as president of the Houston Geological Society and AAPG vice president, I know first-hand how enjoyable and rewarding it can be to serve our profession with a dedicated, skilled group of volunteer leaders who want to work together, to have a great and positive impact on our Association. On the other hand, I was intimidated because I know the level of commitment and dedication required to lead the organization in a positive and inclusive manner.

However, I quickly realized that the enjoyment and personal satisfaction gained through working with others made the necessary commitment an easy decision.

After my initial reaction I realized that I have been preparing for this job for some time now. I have experienced the role of a technical contributor to the AAPG for 25 years, and have become a volunteer and leader at progressively higher levels in the Association for the last 18 years. I have learned from working with some of our excellent past leaders, and I think that I have the temperament and acquired knowledge to make rational financial and organizational decisions for the Association.

My professional career has included 12 years of predominately domestic exploration and development in North America and 15 years in international work in some 20 countries. I believe that through this work over the years I have come to understand the wants, challenges and desires of our varied membership, domestic and international as well as company-based and independent consultant.

In terms of what I would like to accomplish if I were elected to be President, I would like to:

1. Continue the process of giving the membership access to our digital publications as part of their dues.

2. Help design membership benefits that are tailored to the different demographic portions of our membership, from youngest to most senior.

3. Continue our drive to support ethical behavior and professionalism in our Association.

4. Support the visibility and recognition of our profession in the science of energy development world-wide.

Like everyone privileged enough to be selected to run for the office of president-elect of the AAPG, I am willing to put all my efforts and energy into the position and promise ethical service and a decision making process open to all members.
 
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