 Tom
Mairs
Honorary Member of the House Award
CITATION: To Thomas
Mairs, dedicated lifelong geologist, for exemplary contributions
to the House of Delegates, to the profession of geology, and to
the American Association of Petroleum Geologists.
No
higher honor
can be bestowed upon a member of the House of Delegates than that
of Honorary Member. Though only a few have been so honored in the
past, Tom Mairs certainly deserves to be among those few.
A native
Kansan, Tom migrated south following graduation from high school
in El Dorado, ending up in Norman where he earned both bachelor
and master of science degrees in geology in 1959 and 1962, respectively.
He began his geology career with Humble in east Texas. In 1973,
he joined Alamo Petroleum in Dallas as vice president of exploration.
At Alamo he had responsibility for all of Rosario Resources United
States and international exploration and development. Rosario was
sold to Amax in 1980, at which time he became senior vice president
of Carlson Petroleum. In 1985, Tom joined the ranks of independents
as a consulting geologist specializing in the Gulf Coast region,
particularly the Cretaceous-Jurassic trend.
Throughout
his career, Tom has always made time to apply his many talents to
his profession by assuming leading roles in the Dallas Geological
Society and in the American Association of Petroleum Geologists.
In the former, he held several offices before becoming president
in 1979-80, and was subsequently made an honorary member. His AAPG
activities are too numerous to list completely, but do include general
chairman 1997 Convention, past member Executive Committee and Advisory
Council, trustee associate member, 2001 Distinguished Service awardee,
and is currently serving as president of the Division of Professional
Affairs.
However,
it is Tom Mairs’ unwavering dedication to the House of Delegates
that we are recognizing at this time. He began serving the House
in 1982 as an elected delegate, and has never slowed down since.
Tom has served as either a member or chairman of many of the House’s
committees culminating with his election as chairman 1998-99. In
1997, while serving as chairman elect, he agreed to chair an ad-hoc
committee to resolve the long-contentious issue of Elected Editor.
Through his patience, negotiating skills and diligence, he successfully
brought about changes in the by-laws which require two candidates
for non-successive, three year term as editor. While chairman, he
orchestrated significant improvements in how AAPG business is conducted,
with changes in the Credentials Committee, suggested meeting agendas,
international representation, ethics rules, membership categories,
and House awards. Mairs has previously been awarded the honor of
Distinguished Member of the House.
Honorary
Member of the House is awarded "in recognition of a record
of consistent, dedicated, and exemplary service to the House of
Delegates through committee work and officer service." Tom
Mairs’ service to the House exceeds these qualifications for
this award. — Ed W. Heath
|
JULY 2003
