IN MEMORIAM In Memoriam
John D. Haun, CPG-00136 Evergreen, Colorado
March 7, 1921 - August 8, 2020 Member Since 1964
John D. Haun-- emeritus professor and AIPG Charter member (CPG-00136) -- died peacefully on August 8, 2020 at his home in Evergreen, CO. John was 99 years old, alert and cheerful to the end.
John was born March 7, 1921, in Old Hickory, Tennessee. John attended Berea College on Scholarship where he met Lois, a fellow geology major. Lois was by John’s side for their 73 years of marriage, having preceded him in death in 2016.
John’s undergraduate education was interrupted by four years of service in the US Coast Guard during WWII. He initially served in St. Augustine, FL and was later accepted for Officer Candidate School at the US Coast Guard Academy. He spent the remainder of the War as an ensign aboard the USS Racine (PF-100), a patrol frigate, finishing his tour of duty in the Pacific. Returning to Berea, he earned his BA in 1948. John and Lois moved to Laramie, Wyoming, where John earned a Master’s degree and then a PhD in Geology in 1953, the first PhD in geology awarded by the University of Wyoming.
John’s professional experience began with Stanolind (later bought by Amoco and then by BP) in 1951 as an explora- tion geologist. From 1952-1957 he worked at the Petroleum Research Corporation, where he became a vice president of that organization. With James Barlow, his classmate from the University of Wyoming, they established Barlow and Haun, Inc. in 1957, which was a highly influential consulting group in the Rocky Mountain region.
From 1955 to 1980, John had an illustrious career teaching at Colorado School of Mines and received emeritus status in 1983. While at CSM, he taught many core classes: petroleum geology, advanced petroleum geology, and field geology. John used his industry and consulting experiences to instill the practical applications of concepts in his students. Many of his students credit his tutoring for their successful careers.
John and Lois clearly valued the transformative power of education; they became major, life-long contributors to pro- grams at CSM and Berea College. The Barlow and Haun, Inc. Scholarship at Colorado School of Mines was established in 1979 to support students of petroleum geology. Later the name was changed in 1993 to the John and Lois Haun Scholarship by Jim Barlow as an ongoing tribute to John. They also gave generously to Berea College, in recognition of the outstanding liberal arts education they both received there.
John’s early forays in journalism writing at Berea College served him well throughout his career. He co-edited a primer on “Subsurface Geology in Petroleum Exploration,” published with L W. Leroy, which became a standard text for two genera- tions of petroleum geologists. He served as the AAPG Bulletin Editor (1967-1971) and Associate Editor for 14 years. He was the first Editor and co-founder of the Mountain Geologist for the RMAG. John also served as an Associate Editor of the
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Geologic Atlas of the Rocky Mountains, still one of definitive tomes on Rocky Mountain geology.
His strong feelings for professionalism led him to become an AIPG Charter member in 1963, and he subsequently worked on seven AIPG committees. He was elected AIPG vice president in 1974, and as president in 1976. He also served the American Geological Institute (AGI) for 13 years and was President in 1981-1982. He served the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission for 10 years and chaired it for two. John performed vital work with the American Petroleum Institute, the National Petroleum Council, the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission, the US National Committee on Geology, and the National Research Council.
John was a member of the US Potential Gas Committee from the late 1950s to his death. As an elected Board member and during years of service on the PGC’s Editorial Committee, he joined his fellow PGC members in providing expert assessments of US natural gas resources. This volun- teer PGC work complemented John’s advisory role with the National Petroleum Council and the US Office of Technology Assessment.
John received many recognitions in his career, including the AIPG Ben H. Parker Distinguished Service Medal in 1983. This award, AIPG’s highest honor, recognizes distinguished and outstanding contributions to and achievements to the profes- sion of geology. He also received the AIPG award of Honorary Membership in 1998. His other awards for extensive volunteer service included the following:
• AAPG: Sidney Powers Medal (1995).
• American Geological Institute: Ian Campbell Memorial Award (1988).
• AAPG: Distinguished Service Award (1973), Honorary Member (1984).
• Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists: Honorary Member (1974).
• American Geological Institute: Ian Campbell Memorial Award (1988).
• Colorado School of Mines Outstanding Professor Award (1973).
• Halliburton Award for Outstanding Professional Achievement (1985).
• University of Wyoming- Distinguished Alumnus Award (1986).
• Colorado Scientific Society- Honorary Life Member.
Overall, it is clear that John Haun’s professional life was incredibly productive and influential. But John was more than an outstanding geologist; he was also a valued friend to many, including the authors of this obituary. John was always attuned to world events, consistently positive in his attitude towards life, interested in who you were and what you were doing. He is sadly missed.
Information in this obituary was compiled from the 2004 publication “A History of AIPG” by Richard Proctor, and from information submitted to the Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists.
www.aipg.org
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