1907-1982

John Elmer Thomas was born in 1892 in Toledo, Ohio where he attended public schools. He then entered the University of Chicago where he won a departmental scholarship in geology, graduating in 1912 with a Bachelor of Science degree (with honors) in geology. He died in 1949 in Fort Worth, Texas.

His first job out of college was as a mining geologist in Mexico, but in 1914 he moved to Tulsa to begin a very successful career in petroleum geology. It was at this time that a massive lease play was underway on the Osage Indian reservation northeast of Tulsa. Geologists from around the United States and from Europe were doing surface work taking strikes and dips on Pennsylvanian sediments looking for flattening or better yet, east dips in the regionally westward dipping strata. There was no established forum for these explorers to share their ideas and insights.

On September 8, 1915, Thomas invited about 25 geologists to a dinner in Tulsa where he mentioned the idea of forming a national association of petroleum geologists. It was favorably received and Dr. Charles Taylor, a professor at the University of Oklahoma volunteered to host a conference in Norman in early 1916. The meeting was held and it was decided to meet again in Tulsa in 1917.

It was at the Tulsa meeting that the AAPG was founded and J. Elmer Thomas was elected first President. “Tommie” Thomas, as he was known to friends, stands as a symbol to honor all of the AAPG Presidents who succeeded him, carried forth his good works, and are now deceased.

In Memory of Past Presidents