Vol. 59 No. 9
September 2007
David C. Mannon, SPE, was named President and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Parker Drilling. Before this appointment, he was Senior Vice President and COO of Parker Drilling. Mannon earned an MBA degree from the University of Houston and a BS degree in civil engineering from Southern Methodist University.
Stuart R. McGill, SPE, retired as Senior Vice President of ExxonMobil. He was responsible for ExxonMobil’s upstream operations that included exploration, development, production, gas and power marketing, and upstream research. McGill’s 38 years of service included a number of domestic and international engineering, research, gas marketing, production, and general management assignments. He earned BS and PhD degrees in chemical engineering from Sydney University.
Thomas E. Williams, SPE, was named Chairman of the Board for Far East Energy. Before this appointment, he retired as Vice President of Research and Business Development of Noble Technology Services. Williams currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Research Partnership to Secure Energy for America and Deepstar as the Co-Chair of the CAP Committee.
J. Scott Zimmerman, SPE, was named President of South Texas Oil.
Before this appointment, he was President and Chief Executive Officer of Storm
Cat Energy. Zimmerman earned a BS degree in petroleum engineering.
MEMBER DEATHS
C. Wardell Leisk, a member of SPE’s Legion of Honor and former chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) of Austral Oil, died 9 June 2007 in Houston. An SPE member since 1948, Leisk played professional football before entering the oil and gas industry. In 1933, Leisk won a football scholarship to Louisiana State University, where he earned a BS degree in petroleum engineering. Upon graduation, Leisk was drafted by the Brooklyn Dodgers of the National Football League.
After his football career, Leisk began working in the oil industry for the Texas Company. In 1952, Leisk joined Austral Oil, where he became chairman and CEO, retiring in 1978. Leisk was a former director of the Independent Petroleum Association of America and also a member of the American Petroleum Institute. He was a registered professional engineer and a former vice president and director of the Petroleum Club of Houston. He was recognized by the All American Wildcatters Association for his contributions to the petroleum industry in the search for development of new oil and gas reserves in the US and other countries.
Leisk is survived by his wife, Vera Leisk, a daughter, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Richard S. Gloger, Irving, Texas
David E. Powley, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
