Distinguished Member
Awards
 Edward
W. Heath
Distinguished Member of the House Award
CITATION: To Ed
Heath, gentleman, indefatigable contributor, trusted leader.
Indefatigable,
a
member for 48 years, and during that time Ed has contributed his
time and efforts to enumerable committees and causes, yet always
rising to positions of leadership.
Ed was
born and raised in Dallas, with exposure from an early age to the
science and community of geology through his father, Francis E.
Heath, chief geologist for Sun Oil Company. He was expansively educated
at the University of the South, Colorado School of Mines, the Army
Corps of Engineers, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
His professional
career spans many facets of the industry, reflective of his broad
training. Magnolia Petroleum sent him to Wyoming where he honed
his field skills and his love of the outdoors. Later, with Sun Oil
Company, he worked in both exploration and exploitation in south
and west Texas, and rose to become a manager of exploration research
at their Dallas headquarters. Ed left Sun in 1973, and worked with
a number of independents before going out on his own in 1989. In
1999, Ed retired from full time consulting; he and Libby, his wife
of 47 years, relocated to Durango Colorado.
Through
those many postings, Ed consistently and willingly gave to his community
of peers. In addition to his 30 year association with the Dallas
Geological Society where he served as president, he was an officer
of the Corpus Christi Geological Society, the Texas Section of AIPG,
and the Four Corners Geological Society where is a current officer
and delegate. Ed received the AAPG Distinguished Service Award in
1999, in recognition of his resourceful, thoughtful, and effective
leadership, and he continues to work on many committees.
While Ed’s
service to the Association has been extensive, his contributions
to the House of Delegates have been exhaustive. Serving as a delegate
from 1974-76, 1986-89, and 1992-2003, (for a total of 17 years),
and he’s not finished yet. He has been on the Credentials Committee,
Rules and Procedures Committee, Ad hoc Operating Efficiency Committee,
Ad hoc Ethics Committee, Constitution and Bylaws Committee, chair
of the Nomination and Election Committee, chair of the Dallas delegation,
and from 1994 to 1995, chairman of the House.
Enhanced
participation by international members and advancement of younger
members were initiatives achieved during his term. It is in recognition
of his effective leadership and exemplary service in the House,
where under his stewardship, changes were effected which greatly
strengthened this representative body, that this award is conferred.
-- Valery
L. Schulz
 Robert
L. Countryman
Distinguished Member of the House Award
CITATION: To Robert
L. Countryman for continuing, dedicated and propitious service
in the House of Delegates as a representative, not only of the
San Joaquin Geological Society and Pacific Section, but also of
all AAPG.
Robert
L. Countryman was
born in Sioux City, Iowa, and at the age of ten his family moved
to Los Angeles. After graduation from Venice High School, he entered
California State University, Northridge (CSUN). His original academic
studies were in electronic engineering based on an early high school
career (part time and lucrative) of repairing television sets. In
his third year he heard the word geology and after a few classes
followed by the CSUN field trip to Death Valley, Bob knew then he
was ‘hooked’ on the subject and graduated with a B.S.
degree in geology in 1973.
His first
job was with Tenneco Oil Co. in their Industrial Minerals branch.
After a few years located in Death Valley, California, Bob entered
the University of California at Los Angeles and received his M.S.
degree in geology in 1977. Following graduation, he worked as a
research geophysicist near the South Pole in Antarctica. In 1979
he found his niche in the "oil patch" as an exploration
and production geologist for Gulf Oil in Bakersfield. In 1984 Chevron
was fortunate to acquire Bob’s geologic talent and expertise
through the Gulf Oil merger. He worked for Chevron until 1999, followed
by consulting work, and in 2001 he accepted a position with Occidental
Oil of Elk Hills as geological advisor in the Elk Hills field.
Bob joined
AAPG in 1973 and first began to participate in Association-related
activities in the San Joaquin Geological Society (SJGS). He progressed
through the offices of the Society and was president in 1986. In
the Pacific Section, Bob again progressed through its offices and
was president in 1995. Importantly, he was the Section’s representative
to the AAPG Advisory Council, 1997-2000, and was given the Pacific
Section’s highest award, Honorary Life Member, in 2000.
For AAPG
on the national level, Bob has again given time and exemplary effort
in a number of ways through committee appointments and as participant
on several ad-hoc committees. In 1995 and 1999 he was awarded the
Certificate of Merit and in 2001 received the Distinguished Service
Award. Perhaps his strongest contribution to AAPG is reflected by
his service to the HoD. He has been a delegate from the SJGS since
1991. Over these past 12 years he has served on a number of committees,
including Membership, Resolutions, Credentials, and Nominations
and Election. Bob was vice-chair of HoD in 1996-97. During all of
his many tasks for the HoD, his quiet, steady and effective manner
was ever present, which led to successfully addressing many concerns.
-- Robert
G. Lindblom
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JULY 2003
