Jackson School inducts 16 legends into new Hall of Distinction

April 6, 2006

AUSTIN, Texas—The Jackson School inducted 16 geoscience legends into its new Hall of Distinction.

The group of scientists, pioneers and business leaders includes 10 former presidents, CEOs, amd chairmen of major geoscience firms, among them the former CEO of Conoco, former president of Shell Oil, former chairman of Humble Oil and current chairman of Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. Three academic geoscience leaders also entered the Hall.

Family members and friends joined eight of the inductees in Austin for a recognition ceremony in March. The other eight members, all deceased, were inducted posthumously.

The Jackson School established its Hall of Distinction in 2005 after becoming an independent, college-level entity within The University of Texas at Austin. All 16 of the inaugural members were previously elected Distinguised Graduates of the Department of Geological Sciences or members of the Hall of Honor in the College of Natural Sciences, of which the Jackson School was a part until Sept. 1, 2005.

Election of future members is reserved for nominated individuals who are or were strongly affiliated with the Jackson School and who acheived exceptional standing in industry, government or academia.

Inaugural members:

• Thomas D. Barrow, B.S. Petroleum Engineering '45, M.A. Geology '48, former vice chairman of the Standard Oil Company (Ohio), former chairman and CEO of Kennecott.
   
• John F. Bookout, B.S. Geology '49, M.A. Geology '50, former president of Shell Oil.
   
• Robert E. Boyer, professor emeritus in UT Austin's Department of Geological Sciences, former Department chairman, director of the Geology Foundation and for 14 years dean of the College of Natural Sciences during a period of remarkable growth and accomplishment.
   
• Stephen E. Clabaugh, B.S. Geology '40, M.A. Geology '41, professor emeritus and long-time leader in UT Austin's Department of Geological Sciences.
   
• L. Decker Dawson, founder, chairman and CEO of Dawson Geophysical Company, past president of the Society of Exploration Geophysicists, former chairman of the Board of Directors of the International Association of Geophysical Contractors.
   
• Peter T. Flawn, professor emeritus in UT Austin's Department of Geological Sciences, former president of UT Austin, past president of the Geological Society of America.
   
• William E. Gipson, B.A. Geology '48, M.A. Geology '49, former president, Pogo Producing Company.
   
• James R. Moffett, B.S. Geology '61, chairman of Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc., president commissioner of its principal mining unit, PT Freeport Indonesia, and co-chairman of McMoRan Exploration Co.

Inaugural members, deceased:

• Laura T. Barrow, B.A. Geology '23, pioneering geologist, wife of Leonidas T. Barrow.
   
• Leonidas T. Barrow, B.A. Geology '21, M.A. Geology '23, former chief geologist, vice president, and chairman of Humble Oil.
   
• Don R. Boyd, B.S. Geology '58, former president, Gulf Coast Exploration Company.
   
• J. Ben Carsey, B.S. Geology '56, consulting geologist.
   
• Morgan J. Davis, M.A. Geology '53, former chairman of Humble Oil, past president of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists and Geological Society of America.
   
• John A. Jackson, B.A. Geology '40, founder, Katie Petroleum.
   
• Leonard F. McCollum, B.A. Geology '25, former CEO of Conoco.
   
• J.C. Walter, Jr., M.A. Geology '51, former chairman and president, J.C. Walter Interests.

For more information about the Jackson School contact J.B. Bird at jbird@jsg.utexas.edu, 512-232-9623.