MEMORIAL TO ROBERT WILLIAM LANDES 1910-1969 J. C. SPROULE 1009 Fourth Ave. S.W\, Calgary, Alberta, Canada Dr. Robert W illiam Landes passed away on January 21, 1969, during treatment in the hos­ pital for complications resulting from a siege of pneumonia, lie is survived by his wife, Diana; two sons, Robin and Patrick; his mother, Mrs. Lila Landes of Saskatoon, and three sisters and two brothers. Although his health had been failing for sev­ eral years, his death came as a severe shock to his many friends and associates throughout North America, Europe, and other parts of the world. He and his wife had returned a few months ear­ lier from Czechoslovakia where he had been at­ tending the 23rd International Geological Con­ gress. He also took time to visit with associates and friends in West Germany and in England, and renew acquaintances after a forced exodus from Prague. R. W . Landes, known to some of his friends as “ Robert” and to others as "mil" or "Doc," was born near Langham, Saskatchewan, on January 16, 1910. His pre-university education was obtained in the Saskatoon area. He graduated from the University of Saskatchewan in 1933 and completed studies for his Ph.D. with Honors at Princeton University in 1937. He was the first geologist to win the Proctor Fellowship at Princeton. After several seasons as a temporary field assistant with the Geological Sur­ vey of Canada, he joined that organization in 1937. His principal contribution as a member of the Survey was as co-author, with Dr. L. S. Russell, of Memoir 221, “Geology of the Southern Alberta Plains.” He joined International Petro­ leum Company for oil exploration work in Ecuador in 1938. It was while Bill was in Canada on holidays from work in Ecuador that he met and married Diana Haszard and became “Robert” as another milestone marker in his career. Soon after his return to Ecuador, Robert transferred to International's operations at Talara, Peru, where he soon made a name for himself in his professional capacity in unravelling the highly complicated geo­ logy of the La Brea Y Parinas Estate oil fields. His keen insight into the more complicated geology of the company operations in both Ecuador and Peru earned him the semi-professional nickname “ Doc," still in use by his staff and company associates. “ Doc" was transferred to Imperial O il in Western Canada in 1950 where he worked until the time of his death. He served in several senior capacitics with Imperial, except for two years (1958-1960) spent as Research Manager for the Geological Division of lersey Production Research in Tulsa.

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He took an active part in both the Alberta Society of Petroleum Geologists and in the American Association of Petroleum Geologists. He was also a mem­ ber of the Geological Association of Canada, New York Academy of Sciences, American Association for the Advancement of Science and a Fellow of the Geological Society of America. His last publication, which has received both national and international acclaim, was a comprehensive paper, “Geoscience in the Petroleum Industry,” published by the Royal Society of Canada as part of a symposium volume entitled, “The Earth Sciences in Canada: A Centennial Appraisal and Forecast.” Bill Landes had a keen mind and an immense ability to analyze sparse data and build a clear picture of the oil or gas potential of unexplored or relatively unexplored areas, and to direct attention toward the most likely oil or gas targets. He was an avid reader over a broad spectrum of the sciences arid found gardening and classical music his most relaxing hobbies. As is so often the case with a professionally brilliant scientist, Bill was a personal enigma to many who did not know him well. To those who knew him best he was sincerely loved and highly respected and his sudden passing is a deep loss not only to his friends and associates but also to the geological frater­ nity as a whole. Our heartfelt sympathies go out to Diana and the two sons, Robin and Patrick, and to his mother and other close relatives.

BIBLIOGRAPHY OF ROBERT WILLIAM LANDES 1940 (with L. S. Russell) Geology of the southern 91berta Plains: Geol. Assoc., Canada Mem. 221, p?? 1944 Geologia de la Region Sud-occidental del Ecuador: Bull. Inst. Sudamera, v. 1, no. 3, p. 191-200. 1965 The history of exploration and oil and gas development in the Cypress Hills area of southern Alberta and Saskatchewan: Alberta Soc. Petroleum Geologists 15th Ann. Field Conf. p. ? 1968 Geosciences in the petroleum industry: Toronto Univ. Press in co-operation with Royal Soc. Canada, p. ?