They’ll be honored in New Orleans

Brown, Gratton Top Awardee List

Frank Brown
Brown

Patrick J.F. Gratton
Gratton

L. Frank Brown Jr., a leader in research and development of the concept of depositional system tracks, seismic stratigraphy and sequence stratigraphy, has been named the 2010 recipient of the AAPG’s prestigious Sidney Powers Award.

Joining him at the top of the awardees list is Patrick J.F. Gratton, independent geologist and president of Patrick J.F. Gratton Inc. of Dallas, and a past AAPG president, who is this year’s recipient of the Michel T. Halbouty Outstanding Leadership Award.

Brown and Gratton head a list of 33 AAPG award winners, all of whom will be recognized at the opening session of the 2010 AAPG Annual Convention and Exhibition, set April 11-14 in New Orleans.

AAPG awards, approved by the Executive Committee, are presented annually to recognize individuals for service to the profession, the science, the Association and the public.

Brown, professor emeritus at the Bureau of Economic Geology, began his career at the BEG in 1957, having faculty appointment at the University of Texas at Austin in 1966-89. He also taught at Baylor University in 1960-69 and worked as a full-time consultant in 1989-98.

Brown has served as a mentor to scientists and geoscientists at the BEG as well as leading industry companies all over the world and has contributed to many publications, including AAPG Studies in Geology 41 – an atlas of exploration for Cretaceous lowstand traps.

He is a recipient of the AAPG Pioneer Award, and has served as AAPG BULLETIN associate editor, AAPG Distinguished Lecturer – both domestic and international – and as the leader of short courses and many field trips.

Gratton is the fourth recipient of the Halbouty Outstanding Leadership Award, given in recognition of outstanding and exceptional leadership in the petroleum geosciences.

Interviews with both Brown and Gratton will be published in a future EXPLORER, and biographies and citations of all award winners will be included in a future BULLETIN.

Those award winners approved by the Executive Committee and who will be honored along with Brown and Gratton in New Orleans are:

Honorary Member Award

Presented to members who have distinguished themselves by their accomplishments and through their service to the profession of petroleum geology and to AAPG.

Outstanding Explorer Award

Presented to members in recognition of distinguished and outstanding achievement in exploration for petroleum or mineral resources, with an intended emphasis on recent discovery.

Robert R. Berg Outstanding Research Award

Distinguished Service Award

Presented for those who have distinguished themselves in singular and beneficial long-term service to AAPG.

Grover E. Murray Distinguished Educator Award

Presented for distinguished and outstanding contributions to geological education, both at the university level and toward education of the general public.

Special Award

Presented to individuals and organizations whose area of work may not qualify for one of the existing awards, but is worthy of Association recognition.

Public Service Award

Presented to recognize contributions of AAPG members to public affairs – and intended to encourage such activities.

Pioneer Award

Presented to long-standing members who have contributed to the Association and who have made meaningful contributions to the science of geology.

Wallace E. Pratt Memorial Award

Presented to honor and reward the author(s) of the best AAPG BULLETIN article published each calendar year.

Robert H. Dott Sr. Memorial Award

Presented to honor and reward the author/editor of the best special publication dealing with geology published by the Association.

John W. Shelton Search and Discovery Award

AAPG’s newest award, presented annually to honor the best contribution to the Search and Discovery Web site, “for originality of concepts and/or techniques, applicability to and impact on exploration for and/or development of hydrocarbon resources and/or energy-mineral resources, clarity in presentation, and quality and added value of illustrative material.”

This is its inaugural presentation.

George C. Matson Award

Presented to honor and reward the best oral presentation at the AAPG Annual Convention in Denver.

Jules Braunstein Memorial Award

Presented to honor and reward the best poster presentation at the AAPG Annual Convention in Denver.