Everette L. DeGolyer, Sr.
Everette L. DeGolyer, Sr.
“If you must try to get along without one or the other luck vs. technical knowledge and skill it is better to have luck.”
Biography
Everett Lee DeGolyer, Sr., known simply as “Dr. De,” was born in a sod house in Kansas. He began his studies at the University of Oklahoma in 1906 and took a break in 1908 to go to Mexico, where he took two years to bring in the famous Petrero No. 4 oil well, which is believed to be that period’s most successful venture in oil history. In 1910, he returned to OU and finished his A.B. in Geology in 1911. It was at that point that DeGolyer set about continuing his long and successful career in the oil business. He would win international distinction for perfecting the use of geophysics in oil exploration, and organized several companies, each of which became highly successful, including the Amerada Petroleum Corporation in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In addition to his commitments in the petroleum industry, DeGolyer served many civic groups and business firms including counsel and financial assistance to the Saturday Review of Literature. Throughout his later life, he was called upon frequently to counsel with or to serve on committees for the federal government covering problems on discovery, production, and distribution of oil.
Fun fact
Established in 1949 by Mr. DeGolyer, the DeGolyer Collection at the University of Oklahoma library housed a core collection of science books dating back to the 15th century, a history of geology collection reflecting his personal interest in his own field, and additional books purchased by OU faculty members through funds provided in the DeGolyer grant. In 1959, it held more than 15,000 items.
Oklahoma connections
DeGolyer came to the University of Oklahoma in 1906.