With the passing of Ed
Donnelly on August 4, 2001 the industry lost one of its stalwarts and the
profession lost one of its "truest gentlemen."
Ed, who was born in New York City,
was destined to be a geologist from birth. his father Leonard G.
Donnelly was a geologist for a predecessor company to Shell Oil in Caracas
and at Lake Maracaibo, Venezuela. In 1917, while in Tulsa, He became
one of the founders of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists.
He was later to do field work in the El Dorado Field for Harry Sinclair.
Ed and his brother Dr. John donnelly, now residing in Santa Rosa, California
spent a portion of their early years in Santa Fe, New Mexico where ed received
his elementary and high school education.
Ed received a B.S. degree in Geology
from the University of Chicago in 1941. While at the University of
Chicago he was influenced by a very well known geologist, Dr Carey Croneis,
later to become President of Rice University.
After graduation in 1941, Ed entered
the Air Force as a private. He then entered OCD at Scott Field and
was assigned to communications. as a communications officer he served
for two years in the Aleutians with a P-40 squadron.
With his discharge from the service,
Ed entered graduate school at the University of Oklahoma. By this
time, Ed was married. His family, which eventually included two daughters;
Toni Peters who now lives in Daytona Beach, Florida and Patty Sellers who
resides in Scottsdale, Arizona, created additional financial burdens over
and beyond support provided by the GI Boll of Rights forcing his withdrawal
from graduate school.
Ed's first professional employment
was with Carter Oil Company in Shreveport, Louisiana. After working
three years for Carter in the Arkla-Texas area, he was transferred to Wichita
in 1950. Ed later joined the firm of Amstutz and Yates where he came
under the influence of Clark Roach, longtime KGS member who died last year.
Ed joined the firm of Durbin Bond
and Company in Little Rock, Arkansas. When Durbin Bond closed the
office, Ed found himself a long ways from the "Oil Patch." He was
fortunate in finding employment with Natural Gas and Oil in Wichita, but
they closed their Wichita office in 1961. Ed joined Lario Oil and
Gas where he worked with, among others, Orvie Howell. In 1970, Ed
joined the ranks of independent geologists where he remained until his
death. he continued to go every morning to his office in the Landmark
Square Building where he particularly enjoyed the camaraderie of other
geologists including but not limited to: Dick Roby, George Mueller, Carol
Van Buskirk, Gus Messinger, Bob Hammond, Marvin Douglas, and Elbie McNeil.
Among other attributes possessed
by Ed was the of "oil finder." He was successful in Pawnee and Sumner
Counties as well as other areas.
Ed, also found the time and desire
to serve his profession. In 1967, he was Secretary Treasurer of the
KGS, followed by the Vice Presidency in 1979. He also served the
Society of Independent Professional Earth Scientists as Secretary Treasurer,
Vice Chairman, and Chairman of the Wichita Chapter.
In 1971 on Christmas Day he married
Kate who he met at a dance at the Cotillion. They would have been
married thirty years this Christmas. He and Kate have fifteen grandchildren
and six great grandchildren. Six of the grandchildren served as casket
bearers at his funeral. Additionally serving, as honorary casket
bearers were long-time friends: Albert Albercrombie, Marvin Douglass, Marvin
Frankamp, George Mueller, Richard Roby, and Wayne Walcher.
Although Ed was not a member of
the Roman Catholic Church, He faithfully attended services every Sunday
Kate. The officiant at his funeral was Father Jason Borkenhagen,
St. Thomas Acquinas Catholic Church.
Memorials for Ed were established
with Hospice and Kansas Geological Foundation.