Prof. Dr. Gerald M. Friedman

PRESIDENT, EASTERN SECTION 1982-1983; NATIONAL VICE PRESIDENT 1984-1985

In 1984 I became Vice President of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG). As Vice President in 1984 I had to travel worldwide on many kinds of society activities. It was so difficult and exhausting that today the society has two vice presidents to accomplish what I had to organize as a single individual.

At the same time the membership in the association dropped as never before (Fig. 3). As a result of collapse in oil price and in AAPG membership the association faced legal problems. As an example on one occasion I had to travel to Tulsa, Oklahoma, the society’s headquarters to meet a bunch of lawyers and assorted witnesses complaining about our association. We gathered in a large court room. After discussing the complaints against us the AAPG Executive Director opened the door for opposing lawyers and witnesses to face us. The first one to enter saw me by the door and shouted “Hello Gerry how are you?” We chatted a bit which released the tension. Others of the entering opposing team were introduced to me. The reason for us being friendly was my background. I had lived for many years in Tulsa, Oklahoma and served as volunteer Judo instructor at the Tulsa YMCA (Young Men’s Christian Association) and as Vice President and President of the Oklahoma Judo Association. The person who greeted me was a close YMCA associate. After this introduction and initial get-together at this meeting AAPG’s problems were solved in a friendly manner.

The records of AAPG are quite explicit (see Figure 3). At the time of my AAPG election as vice president the AAPG membership recorded 43,229 members. By 1995 the membership had sunk to 30,433. The current membership is between 31,000 and 32,000. In my previous experience as vice president of the Society for Sedimentary Geology (SEPM) and International Association of Sedimentologists (IAS) my years as Vice President preceded my presidency in each society.

Coinciding with my completion of the office of AAPG vice president membership in AAPG dropped (Fig. 3), production of oil dropped (Fig. 4), the price of oil reached a peak (Fig. 5), and the attendance at the national AAPG Convention dropped from its highest peak (9,276) in 1985 to its lowest peak (3,841) (1985) (Fig. 6). These drastic changes in national settings had of course nothing to do with AAPG as a society or with my service as AAPG officer. Note the drastic drop in AAPG annual convention attendance after 1986 (Fig. 6) and the AAPG education budget (Fig. 7).

“By the late 1980s, non-OPEC countries, notably China, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and later Norway, had begun producing significant volumes of oil. In 1982, these countries began selling their petroleum on the “spot market”, meaning locked into long-term contracts at $40 to $60 per barrel, non-OPEC producers were offering their oil at significantly lower prices. This explains the 1981-1986 price declines. Saudi production dropped not by design, but because other suppliers were selling their oil for less. Buyers favored cheaper oil and chose not to buy oil from OPEC. OPEC sales plummeted and oil prices converged on spot market rates. This drove the oil price decline and OPEC production decline in 1981-1986 and continues to undermine already ineffective efforts by OPEC to manipulate world oil prices.” (Berman 2005).

Sidney Powers Memorial Award of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists

Sidney Powers (1890-1932), the 14th President of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists and a founding member of the society, has been important in my personal program and career.

Powers was born in Troy, New York. He prepared for college at the Troy Academy in Troy, New York which was affiliated with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He is buried at the Oakwood Cemetery in Troy within walking distance of my present office and home.

For many years almost each weekend my wife Sue and I visited his grave and the grave of Powers’ uncle Albert E. Powers (1816-1850), former President of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. My guess is that Sidney Powers would have attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute if the Great Fire of May 10, 1862 would not have destroyed Troy. Over 500 houses, stores, and businesses were wiped out by nightfall which occurred at the height of the Civil War. Sidney Powers attended Williams College located in Massachusetts across the New York State line.

W.E. Wrather and F.R. Clark published eulogies of Sidney Powers on his death in 1933. I quote several statements:

“Sidney Powers (1890-1932) was without question one of the leading geologists of his generation...with tireless energy he pursued the study of science in oil geology...He was even more conversant with the literature of geology than anyone else in the University...His writings will stand as enduring contributions to science” (Wrather 1933).

“He was an ardent supporter of research in the field of geology.” When he died in 1933 “geology lost one of its real scientists.”

The American Association of Petroleum Geologists named its highest medal the Sidney Powers Memorial Award. The Sidney Powers Memorial Award is a gold medal given in recognition of distinguished and outstanding contributions to, or achievements in, petroleum geology.

I received this medal in the year 2000, and I gratefully acknowledge his accomplishments each time I visit his grave.