Fred A. Dix, Jr. was born in Connellsville, Pennsylvania in 1931. He attended high school in Salem, New Jersey and graduated from Rutgers University in 1953 with a B.S. degree in Geology.
As a commissioned second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force, Fred was ordered to active duty in 1954 and served as a communications officer in the U.S. and Japan until his release from service in December 1955. He then returned to Rutgers to earn his Masters degree in Geology in June 1957.
Recruited by Standard Oil Company of California, now Chevron, Fred was assigned to its division exploration office in Salt Lake City, Utah. After eight years with Chevron, Fred joined Mobil Oil and spent the next eight years working in Jackson, Corpus Christi and Houston. His last position with Mobil was as division coordinator of data processing, a pioneering assignment in 1967.
A member of AAPG since 1957, Fred served as the Association Treasurer following the accidental death of treasurer-elect H. B. Renfro in 1972. Then, in 1973, the Executive Committee selected Fred A. Dix, Jr. as the new executive director.
As executive director, Fred Dix provided the Association with leadership in expanding AAPG’s outreach to its international members, increasing the budget by over $7 million, providing new and expanded programs in publications, communications, education, and national and international meetings. In 1973, the AAPG Foundation was a fledgling organization with total assets of less than $1 million. In 1996, the Foundation’s investment portfolio totaled more than $16.5 million at market value.
A scientist, leader, manager, people-oriented executive, who successfully led AAPG through a number of crises and into its current role as one of the leading professional societies in the world, Fred A. Dix retired as Executive Director after 23 years. He worked toward the long-term growth of the Association, and served as director emeritus and consultant to the Foundation until he passed away May 30, 2005. Mrs. Jean Dix currently lives in Tulsa, OK.