Dallas resident Marlan W. Downey, Bartell Professor of Geology and the chief scientist at the Sarkeys Center at the University of Oklahoma has assumed the leadership of the Association's Executive Committee for the 2000-2001 year.
Downey served as AAPG president-elect in 1999-2000.
He also serves as Senior Fellow at the Institute for the Study of Earth and Man at Southern Methodist University.
A native of Falls City, Neb., he received his bachelor's degree in chemistry at Peru State, served two years in the U.S. Army in Korea and the Philippines, entered graduate school at the University of Nebraska in 1954, changed majors, and received his bachelor's and master's degrees in geology.
Downey began his career with Shell Oil in 1957. In 1969 he became Shell's youngest chief geologist, and in 1973 became Shell's Alaska division exploration manager.
He moved to Shell's International Exploration and Production in 1977, became vice president of Shell and then president of Shell's international subsidiary, Pecten International, retiring in 1987 after 30 years of service.
In 1986, Downey was knighted by the president of Cameroon for his services to that country, the first businessman to receive the honor. He also has been honored by both of his alma maters.
In 1987 he formed Roxanna Oil and remains active in international and domestic exploration and production.
In 1990 Downey joined Acro as senior vice president of exploration of Arco International, became president of Arco International and then senior vice president and executive exploration advisor, retiring in 1996.
Joining Downey on the AAPG Executive Committee will be Robbie Rice Gries, head of Priority Oil and Gas in Denver, voted president-elect by the AAPG membership. She will serve as AAPG president in 2001-02.
Gries, who received her bachelor's degree from Colorado State University and a master's from the University of Texas at Austin, formed Priority in 1992, which has since merged with two other companies and operates primarily in the Mid-continent and Rockies, with other onshore gas exploration projects in Ireland.
Also recently elected to the 2000-2001 Executive Committee are:
- Vice President -- Ronald A. Nelson, with BP Amoco in Houston. He will serve a one-year term.
- Treasurer -- Edward B. Picou Jr., a consultant in New Orleans. He will serve a two-year term.
- Chairman of the House of Delegates -- Lowell Lischer, San Antonio consultant.
Remaining on the committee is Charles R. "Chuck" Noll, Houston geologist, secretary; and Neil F. Hurley, of the Colorado School of Mines, AAPG elected editor.