Sidney Powers Memorial Award

The Sidney Powers Memorial Award is given in recognition of distinguished and outstanding contributions to, or achievements in, petroleum geology. It is AAPG’s most distinguished award, and is made at such times as the Executive Committee may designate, but not more than once in any calendar year.

Award Nomination is now Open

Deadline to submit nominations is 15 January

Nominations received after the deadline will be accepted for next year’s considerations.

 

2023

Kitty Lou Milliken, PhD

2022

John Clay Lorenz

2021

Leslie Blake Magoon, III

2020

Paul Weimer, PhD

2019

Kenneth Eric Peters

2018

Mike C. Forrest

2017

Lawrence Daniel Meckel, PhD

2016

Paul Edwin Potter, PhD

2015

Paul Mitchell Harris

2014

Ernest A. Mancini

2013

Dietrich H. Welte

2011

John W. Shelton

2010

Leonard Franklin Brown, Jr., PhD

2006

Robert Mitchell Mitchum, Jr.

2005

Kenneth William Glennie, DSc

2003

Peter Robbins Vail, PhD

1997

Robert D. Gunn

1996

Bernold M. Hanson

1994

William L. Fisher, PhD

1976

W. Dow Hamm, Jr.

1973

Gordon I. Atwater

1967

Carey Croneis

1954

George Martin Lees

Kenneth E. Peters receives AAPG's highest honor, the Sidney Powers Award, at the Annual Convention & Exhibition in San Antonio, Texas on May 19, 2019.
Michael Forrest receives AAPG's highest honor, the Sidney Powers Award, at the Annual Convention & Exhibition in Salt Lake City, Utah on May 20, 2018.
Lawrence D. 'Larry' Meckel receives AAPG's highest honor, the Sidney Powers Memorial Award, at the Annual Convention & Exhibition in Houston, Texas, on April 2, 2017.
Paul M. 'Mitch' Harris receives AAPG's highest honor, the Sidney Powers Award, at the Annual Convention & Exhibition in Denver, Colorado, on May 31, 2015.
Ernest A. Mancini receives AAPG's highest honor, the Sidney Powers Memorial Award, at the Annual Convention & Exhibition in Houston, Texas, on April 6, 2014.
Dietrich H. Welte receives AAPG's highest honor, the Sidney Powers Memorial Award, at the Annual Convention & Exhibition in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on May 19, 2013.
Koenraad J. Weber receives AAPG's highest honor, the Sidney Powers Memorial Award, at the Annual Convention & Exhibition in Long Beach, California on April 22, 2012.
John W. Shelton receives AAPG's highest honor, the Sidney Powers Memorial Award, at the Annual Convention & Exhibition in Houston, Texas on April 10, 2011.
L. Frank Brown Jr. receives AAPG's highest honor, the Sidney Powers Memorial Award, at the Annual Convention & Exhibition in New Orleans, Louisiana on April 11, 2010.
Marlan Downey receives AAPG's highest honor, the Sidney Powers Award, at the Annual Convention & Exhibition in Denver, Colorado June 7, 2009.
Arnold Bouma receives AAPG's highest honor, the Sidney Powers Award, at the 2007 Annual Convention & Exhibition in Long Beach, California.
Restrictions

The recipient must be a Member of the Association. A candidate must be living at the time of selection and willing to be present to receive the medal and certificate at the time and place designated by the Executive Committee, normally at the Annual Convention. The recipient is ineligible for consideration or receipt of the Michel T. Halbouty Outstanding Leadership Award.

Guidelines for Consideration of Candidates

Consideration should emphasize contributions to petroleum geology – not necessarily service to the Association. Contributions may have been in a variety of forms or combinations, such as a significant development in geologic concepts, advancement in discovery thinking, leadership in exploration and the development of explorationists, inspiration and academic preparation of petroleum geologists, etc. Publication is not a necessary criterion; it is recognized that in today’s competitive world, publication may not be feasible for many very able explorationists.

Honorary Membership is not a prerequisite for consideration, but it may serve as a useful checklist for potential candidates.

Procedure for Recommendation

Nominations for this award should be submitted, along with documentation, to the Chairman of the Honors and Awards Committee at Association Headquarters. The Committee’s recommendations will be submitted to the Advisory Council, which in turn will submit its selection to the Executive Committee for final action.

Description of Award

The gold plated medal features a bas-relief likeness of Sidney Powers and the name of the Association on the obverse side. On the reverse side are inscribed the words, “Awarded for Distinguished Achievement in Petroleum Geology,” along with the name of the recipient. The medal is mounted in multi-sided acrylic and is presented along with an embossed certificate and a lapel pin tack. Honorary Membership is automatically bestowed upon recipients of the Sidney Powers Memorial Award, if they have not already received that honor.

History

The Powers Medal was first awarded in 1945 to Wallace E. Pratt.

Sidney Powers was a founding member and 14th President of the Association. He died in 1932 at the age of 42. Frank R. Clark, in his memorial to Sidney Powers said, “Sidney Powers will be known by future generations for his able contributions to pure and applied geology, but, important as are his scientific achievements, his character was greater, because it typified service to others.”

Funding

The AAPG provides funding for the Sidney Powers Memorial Award.

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