Brown, Gibbs, Ratcliff Receive Major Awards

December 3, 2007

AUSTIN, Texas—The American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) has recognized three members of the Jackson School community with major awards for 2008.

James Gibbs Receives Halbouty Award

James Gibbs, past president and honorary life member of AAPG, receives the Michel T. Halbouty Outstanding Leadership Award, in recognition of exceptional leadership in the petroleum geosciences. Gibbs is a long-time member of the Jackson School’s Geology Foundation Advisory Council and chairman of the Board of Managers of Five States Energy Company LLC.

Gibbs is also past President and Honorary Life Member of the Dallas Geological Society, and is a member of a number of other professional and industry organizations. He is a frequent lecturer at professional meetings and various universities. Gibbs received a B.S. in geology from the University of Oklahoma in 1957, then served as a communications officer in the U.S. Navy from 1957 to 1959. He received an M.S. in geology in 1962 from the University of Oklahoma.

In 1962, Gibbs was employed as a geologist by The California Company (now Chevron-Texaco) in New Orleans and Lafayette, Louisiana. In 1964, he opened an office in Dallas, Texas, as a consulting geologist and independent oil and gas producer. He has initiated drilling prospects, purchased and sold oil and gas leases, operated wells, and served as an exploration consultant to several companies. From 1975 to 1978, he consulted exclusively for Petrus Operating Company. From 1978 to 1981, he consulted for Cornell Oil Company. From 1981 to 1983, he consulted for Lyco Energy Corp. Since 1964, he has participated in drilling more than 600 wells, primarily in Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma.

Frank Brown Jr. receives the AAPG Pioneer Award.

Frank Brown Jr. Receives Pioneer Award

L. Frank Brown Jr., a research professor in the Bureau of Economic Geology and emeritus professor in the Department of Geological Sciences, receives the Pioneer Award given to longstanding members who have made significant contributions to AAPG but have been unrecognized. Brown has been instrumental in expanding understanding of the geology and coastal dynamics of the Gulf Coast.

He first came to the Bureau in 1957 and since that time has served in various capacities, including research scientist, associate professor, and associate director. From 1955 to 1957, he worked as an exploration geologist for Standard of Texas. He received his doctorate from the University of Wisconsin in 1955.

Past awards include: International Distinguished Lecturer (AAPG & Dean A. McGee Foundation, 1994-95), Monroe G. Cheney Science Award (AAPG Southwest Section, 1990), Distinguished Lecturer (AAPG, 1972-73), Visiting Geoscientist (AGI, 1971 &1965), and Fellow (Texas Academy of Science, 1962).

Doug Ratcliff Receives Public Service Award

Doug Ratcliff, currently the school’s director of international programs and outreach, receives the Public Service Award recognizing his contributions to public affairs, in particular his work as the leader and driving force behind GeoFORCE Texas, the Jackson School’s highly successful outreach program gearing up for expansion to Houston in 2008.

Doug Ratcliff receives the AAPG Public Service Award.

Associate director of the Geology Foundation and the Jackson School of Geosciences since 2003 and assistant dean of the school since 2005, Ratcliff is responsible for financial and administrative management at the two organizations which have assets of about $360 million.

Previously, Ratcliff served two stints as associate director of the Bureau of Economic Geology (1982-1992 and 1994-2003), working in the interim as general manager of environmental services company Hall Southwest Corporation. He has 28 years of experience in a range of positions at the Bureau of Economic Geology. Currently chairman of the Publication Committee of Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies and a member of the Tactical Operations Committee of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, he is a Certified Professional Geological Scientist No. 6933 (American Institute of Professional Geologists) and Certified Geologist No. 983 (Texas Board of Professional Geoscientists), also a Certified Lead Auditor (U.S. Department of Energy) and Certified Quality Engineer (American Society for Quality Control).

Ratcliff earned his B.S. in Geology at The University of Texas at Austin and M.B.A at St. Edward’s University. He has received the Bureau of Economic Geology Alumnus of the Year award (2004) and the Distinguished Service Award of the Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies (2002).

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