Established in 1993 through the generosity of AAPG member Terry Huffington, this lecture tour honors the career and achievements of her late father, Houston-based oilman Roy M. Huffington, who died in July 2008. As an exploration geologist and negotiator, he was a pioneer of the movement of United States independents into international areas. His insightful work in Indonesia in the 1970s helped transform a poor nation into a Pacific Rim economic leader. Huffington was influential in opening communications between industry and OPEC, and was a former United States Ambassador to Austria.

In 1988 a generous gift from Kerr-McGee Corp. provided permanent funding for this lecture tour, which honors one of the company’s founders, Dean A. McGee. McGee, who died in 1992, was the first chairman of the AAPG Foundation Trustees. He was an active member of AAPG for more than 50 years and received the Public Service Award, the Human Needs Award, and the Sidney Powers Medal.

Lecturers from countries other than the United States are funded, thanks to the generosity of Tulsa consultant Allan P. Bennison. The reason for establishing this fund, Bennison said in 1984, is that “geology has always been a universal science involving men and women of all nations.” A practical geologist in the fullest sense, Bennison’s accomplishments encompass successful prospecting, dedicated mapmaking and enthusiastic mentoring of younger geologists in the art of field stratigraphy. Bennison passed away in 2004. He received AAPG’s Distinguished Service Award and was an Honorary Member.

Funding for the J. Ben Carsey Distinguished Lecture came through a generous bequest in 1998 from his son, Ben, Jr., who was also an AAPG member. This is a very appropriate memorial, since his father, who died in 1988, served as an AAPG Distinguished Lecturer in 1960 – one of the highlights of his career. During his 36 years with Humble Oil (later Exxon), the elder Mr. Carsey was responsible for finding significant oil and gas reserves as chief geologist and later as exploration advisor, before retiring in 1961. Both Ben, Jr. and his father were graduates of the University of Texas, and worked together in Houston as consultants and independent geologists following the elder Mr. Carsey’s retirement. He was Vice President of AAPG in 1960-62, and went on to become the AAPG President in 1967-68. In 1985 he received AAPG’s highest award, the prestigious Sidney Powers Medal.

Merrill W. Haas funded this applied geology lectureship in 1987 to honor the life and accomplishments of his mentor and lifelong friend, the legendary Wallace E. Pratt. Haas, like Pratt, was a Sidney Powers medalist and past president of AAPG. He served the Association in many capacities, including several years as chairman of the Foundation Trustees. Through the years Haas has attributed the success of his exploration career to an early and long association with Pratt, who was the first chief geologist for Humble Oil Co., now Exxon. Pratt died in 1981 and Haas died in 2001.