Memorial to Leonidas Theodore Barrow 1895-1978 SAMUEL P. ELLISON, JR. Department o f Geological Sciences, University o f Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712

The geological profession lost one of its great, stalwart members when Leonidas “Slim” Theodore Barrow died March 4, 1978, at the age of eighty-two years. Because of his height of six feet, three inches, and his slenderness, he was affectionately known to all his associates as “ Slim.” Slim was born June 16, 1895, in the small central Texas town of Manor, about six miles east of Austin. At an early age he moved with his family to reside in Austin, where he was educated in the Austin public schools and played center on the Austin High School football team. After attending the University of Texas at Austin only a short time, he joined the Signal Corps of the United States Army and served there for approximately a year during World War I. He returned to the University of Texas to continue his studies and was awarded the bachelor’s degree in geology in 1921. During this time he played on the Longhorn foot­ ball and basketball teams. Continuing as a graduate student at the university, he was awarded the master’s degree in geology in 1923. His thesis title was “ Geology of the Building Stone of Cedar Park and Vicinity (Texas).” While serving as an instructor in geology at the university from 1921 to 1924, he became associated with Francis L. Whitney and Hal P. Bybee. He assisted Whitney in the laboratory and helped Bybee in the summer field geology courses. His association with these two professors and the many others at the university made a lasting impres­ sion on him and his career. In 1923 Slim married Laura Thomson, who was also a graduate of the geology department at the university. To them was born one son, Thomas D. Barrow, who became a distinguished geologist, engineer, and businessman in his own right. The year after Slim received his master’s degree he joined the Humble Oil and Refining Company as a geologist in San Antonio. He did surface geology in Caldwell and Guadalupe Counties, Texas, where his company discovered the Salt Flat and Darst Creek oil fields. He gave his company a great advantage over others that were also exploring the area when he recognized the igneous origin of the “ serpentine” from wells in what is now Lytton Springs oil field in Caldwell County. His energetic activity in the San Antonio office was recognized by the home office of his company in Houston, and in 1927 he was transferred there to assume a position as chief geologist. In this new position he became associated with Wallace Pratt, who was then a member of the board of directors of the company. These two men not only became a most effective team in creating successes enjoyed by the Humble Oil and Refining Company but also established the highest type of business and professional ethics in the oil and gas in­ dustry. Their loyalty to each other and to their company never faltered. 2 GEOLOGICAL SOCIKTY OL AMKRICA

Slim was promoted to the board of directors of the Humble Oil and Refining Company on February 8, 1937; he became vice president in 1938 and chairman of the board in 1948. From this position he retired in 1955. His fairness to his employees and associates, his intense desire to obtain correct answers to geological and financial prob­ lems, and his remarkably meticulous attention to all details will long be remembered. Those of us in the teaching profession refer to the demanding need for attention to details in the science of geology. We often use Slim as our example, describing his great ability to listen quietly, study the matter, and get to the crucial points o f each problem. Slim was not a writer of publications nor a joiner of many organizations. However, he did publish memorials to Tom Petty, one of his company associates, to Hal P. Bybee, his beloved teacher, and to Dave P. Carlton, an associate. He was a Fellow of the Geological Society of America, a member of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, a member o f the Society of Petroleum Engineers, and a member of the Geophysical Union. The loyalty Slim had for his university is one of the reasons the Department of Geological Sciences at the University o f Texas at Austin has continued to improve over the years. His unique part in aiding the university in organizing and starting the Geology Foundation dates back to 1952, when a geology graduate student at the university was having great difficulty in securing enough funds to complete his doctoral degree. Bybee and I pondered the problem for some time. Finally, Bybee called Slim by telephone to ask for some assistance in seeing this student through to his degree. Slim responded by donating money to the university that was then loaned to the student; his idea and contribution started the Geology Foundation on its way. Slim was finally prevailed upon to serve as one of the Geology Foundation coun­ cilors from 1957 to 1963. Upon leaving the council he was promptly elected to a lifetime honorary membership in 1964. When the council elected him unanimously to this high honor, they declared, “ There is little chance that the geology department of this uni­ versity will ever have a more loyal and generous alumnus than Slim Barrow.” The Department of Geological Sciences at the University of Texas at Austin enjoys many of the results of the activities of the Geology Foundation councilors. The council began with fifteen dedicated alumni and citizens working on behalf of the university, and it now numbers thirty-two dedicated citizens, including former students, business leaders, and loyal friends. Private funds have been given to the university to support (1) loan funds for needy students, (2) travel funds to give mobility and visibility to its teachers (established by Slim in honor of Bybee), (3) scholarship and fellowship funds for students at all levels, (4) library funds, and (5) financial aid and establishment of named professorships and chairs for the geological sciences. Slim was always careful to point out that contributions from the Barrows were made jointly by his wife Laura and himself. Thus, on March 4, 1972, the university presented a “ Joint Distinguished Graduates Award Certificate” to Laura and Slim. In addition, a large color photograph of the new geology building and campus of the uni­ versity was presented to Laura and Slim. These presentations were made at a dinner for the Geology Foundation Council and the faculty of the geological sciences. In respond­ ing for Laura and himself, Slim paid tribute to both their families, to the Bybees, to Wallace Pratt, and to his associates with the Humble Oil and Refining Company. It was clear that Laura and Slim wanted to share their honors. Other important contributions have been made by Laura and Slim, including gifts to the Wallace Pratt Publication Fund of the American Association of Petroleum MEMORIAL TO LEONIDAS THEODORE BARROW 3

Geologists, to the American Geological Institute, and to many other organizations. The Barrows have contributed greatly to the geological sciences and to their alma mater, the University of Texas at Austin; these acts of generosity have greatly benefited mankind. Appreciation and thanks go to Laura T. Barrow and Thomas D. Barrow for their kindness in looking over my shoulder during the preparation of this memorial.

SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY OF L. T. BARROW

1957 Memorial to Halbert Pleasant Bybee (1887-1957): American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, v. 41, p. 2394-2398. 1963 Memorial to Thomas Franklin Petty (1900-1962): American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, v. 47, p. 1888-1889. 1978 Memorial to Dave Pierce Carlton (1890-1976): American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, v. 62, p. 130-131.

Printed in U.S.A. 11/79