A native Houstonian, Dan was born on the 23rd of August 1936, to Virgil Lee Smith and Virginia Lee Whipple Smith. He graduated from Lamar High School in 1954. He attended and graduated from the University of Texas-Austin with a BS in geology in 1958.
Dan met Laura Ney Rosemary Heath while attending UT, where Dan was a member of Theta Xi Fraternity, and they married on the 7th of March 1960. They were married for 53 years, until Laura’s death. Dan then married Betty Joan Hall on the 31st of August 2013. They were married until his death.
Still serving as the Executive Vice President of Exploration for Sandalwood Oil & Gas, Inc. when he passed, Dan was a widely respected and prominent member of the oil and gas industry in Houston and around the world.
Upon graduation from UT, Dan began his long and distinguished career at Amoco, moved to Roberts and Whitson Corporation, and eventually became Executive Vice President and Exploration Manager for Texoil Company, including having a part ownership of the company. He moved to Texas Meridian Resources Corporation in 1992, where he served as Vice President, Exploration. Dan then joined Sandalwood in 2001.
Dan held numerous leadership positions at the highest level, including Chairman of the House of Delegates for American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG); stints as both President and Chairman of the AAPG; Secretary of the Society of Independent Professional Earth Scientists (SIPES); President of the SIPES Foundation; and President of the Houston Geological Society. He also contributed his time and leadership skills to GCAS, AIPG, NOGS, and LGS.
In addition to being an AAPG Honorary Member, Dan’s extensive list of accolades includes being a Distinguished Member of the AAPG House of Delegates, an AAPG Certificate of Merit, a DPA best paper award, the SIPES Outstanding Service Award, HGS Distinguished Service Award, and the HGS Gerald A Cooley Award for “Service above and beyond the call of duty over many years.” His greatest achievement was receiving the 2011 Halbouty Outstanding Leadership Award, given in recognition of outstanding and exceptional leadership in petroleum geosciences.
Dan was passionate about promoting education in the field of Petroleum Geology and mentored numerous young geologists through the years. He was a long-serving trustee and former Chairman of the University of Texas Geosciences Endowment Fund and Member of the Geology Foundation Advisory Council for the Jackson School of Geosciences. Those who have worked with Dan found him a true example of inspiration for humility, ethics, diplomacy, and above all, getting the job done. He was the epitome of outstanding leadership.
Active in the Houston area Scottish organizations, Dan was a Past Chieftain of the Heather & Thistle Society and life member and long-time supporter of the Houston Highland Games Association.
Dan showed his leadership skills early on by earning the highest rank of Eagle in the Boy Scouts of America. Additionally, he was presented the Vigil Honor as a member of the Order of the Arrow. As an adult, he continued that service as a Cubmaster, Scoutmaster, and merit badge counselor to hundreds of youths in the Houston area. Most importantly, he was able to share this experience with his son and grandsons.
His love for geology extended into his extracurricular activities where family vacations became educational, rock-hounding excursions. His wit and fun-loving spirit provided hours of entertainment for his family. His annual trips to the Canadian Rockies were the perfect setting for his greatest interests...hiking, studying rock formations, and taking in the beauty this area has to offer.
Not one to be afraid to don a kilt, Dan looked forward to dancing with his daughters at the Robert Burns Supper every year as well as attending various Scottish events.
A devoted and generous father and grandfather, Dan is preceded in death by his parents, Virgil and Virginia Smith; sister, Gini Hill; wife, Laura Ney Rosemary Heath Smith; and granddaughter, Hailey Kathleen Bunch. He is survived by his wife, Betty Joan Smith; brother, Virgil Raymond Smith and his wife Cecilia; children, James Raymond Heath Smith, Rosemary Kathleen Smith Bunch and her husband Mark, Heather Courtney Smith Vacker, and Laura Leanne Smith Davis and her husband Rick; step-son, Alan Bradley Hall and his wife Kelly; grandchildren, United States Navy Petty Officer Second Class Austin Rogers Heath Smith, Courtney Alaine Vacker, John Daniel Bunch, Laura Victoria Bunch, Ian Jackson Davis, and Heath Andrew Davis; step-grandson, Bradley McMahon Hall; great-grandchildren, Kaydin Nicole Smith and Zane Michael Emory Smith; and numerous nieces and nephews.
The family will gather for a private interment.
In lieu of customary remembrances, memorial contributions may be directed to the scholarship programs of the following organizations: American Association of Petroleum Geologists, 1444 S. Boulder Ave., Tulsa, OK, 74119; the Society of Independent Professional Earth Scientists, 1401 N. Central Expwy., Suite 105, Richardson, TX, 75080; and the UT-Austin Jackson School of Geosciences, 2305 Speedway, Suite C1160, Austin, TX, 78712.
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