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SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION   1430

RESOLUTIONS ON DEATH OF EVERETTE LEE DEGOLYER

The Secretary offered the following resolutions to be recorded in the minutes:

RESOLVED: That inasmuch as the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution has learned with deep sorrow of the death on December 14, 1956, of Dr. Everette Lee DeGolyer, Regent of the Institution:

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That in Dr. DeGolyer's death the country has lost one of its great and original applied scientists and outstanding citizens, and the Smithsonian Institution a distinguished Board member.

Dr. DeGolyer was born on October 9, 1886, near Greensburg, Kansas. He was a graduate of the University of Oklahoma. In his early professional years he was a member of the Oklahoma Geological Survey and of the United States Geological Survey. In 1909 he became chief geologist for Mexican Eagle Oil Company, Limited. His first geological fame came when he staked the location of what proved to be one of the world's largest oil-producing wells, the prolific Petrero del Llano No. 4, which ultimately produced more than 100 million barrels of oil. In 1914 he set up a consulting practice as an oil geologist. From this time on he participated actively in the development of many oil properties. In conducting this applied scientific work, he introduced new devices and techniques for the geophysical study of oil fields.

His vigorous energy led him into many special areas of human endeavor. He was the controlling owner of the important literary magazine, "Saturday Review," a publication which he rescued from the brink of bankruptcy. He was an authority on the historical and geographical literature of the Southwest and of the Spanish influence in this great part of our country. He held honorary doctoral degrees from Princeton University and from many other educational institutions. In 1910 he married Nell Virginia Goodrich. He had four children: Nell Virginia, Dorothy Mawbrey, Cecilia Jean, and Everette Lee.

Although a member of the Board of Regents for only a brief period, he had already demonstrated his keen interest in a wide variety of the activities of this institution.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That these resolutions be entered in the minutes of the Board of Regents and that a copy be sent to the members of Dr. DeGolyer's family with an expression of the personal sense of loss felt by the Regents at the death of their distinguished fellow member.

VACANCY FOR CITIZEN REGENT

The Secretary reported that the Executive Committee unanimously recommended to the Board of Regents the election of John Nicholas Brown of Providence, Rhode Island to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Regent Everette Lee DeGolyer. The Secretary referred briefly to Mr. Brown's biography in Who's Who in America. Dr. Fleming,