Distinguished Engineer Citations
Gerald L. Farrar
Distinguished Engineer
1986
Degree
Chemical Engineering – 1942
Citation
At Time of Nomination in 1986
An accounting of the life and achievements of Gerald L. Farrar would require a "journal," the most appropriate medium for a professional who has devoted much of his career to editing and publishing. An engineer who has developed courses in oil–field technology, natural gas processing, refining fundamentals, and down hole production operations, he is as a premier communicator. He coauthored the book Communications for the Technical Man and served for 24 years as the Engineering Editor for the Oil & Gas Journal. These are only highlights of a career characterized by versatility, professional rigor, and service.
Farrar graduated from Texas Tech in 1942 with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering with honors. In 1950, he received a Chemical Engineering Professional degree. He also holds an M.S. in Chemical Engineering from Texas A&M, where he taught as an associate professor and developed the first university instrumentation course within the Southwest. In 1952, he became Engineering Editor of the Tulsa–based Oil & Gas Journal, a weekly international trade journal published by PennWell Publishing Co. In 1972, he became Editorial Director of Engineering and also assumed the directorship of PennWell Books division.
Founding his own business in 1976, Farrar uniquely combined areas of expertise: consulting, publishing market research, and education. Among many other activities, Farrar & Associates, Inc. publishes three annual surveys for oil and gas associations, books that are considered authoritative records within the industry. The firm also produces the Nelson Refinery Cost Index, valuable to crude–oil refiners throughout the world. Farrar himself is the author of approximately 150 technical articles and holds one patent.
In 1976, Farrar also helped to found the International Petroleum Institute. As Dean, he directs the Petroleum Professional Curriculum and also serves as Assistant Secretary and Treasurer of IPI. Other professional activities include serving as Executive Director, Programming, for the World Oil & Gas Exhibition and Conference in Dallas (1981 and 1984) and for the International Petroleum Exposition in Tulsa (1986) On two occasions, he has been invited to address the World Petroleum Conference.
Farrar has been a full member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers since 1952 and has been director of the refining and petro–chemical division. He has served as chairman of Tulsa’s section.
Farrar and his wife Adelene have four children and eight grandchildren. They have been active Methodists throughout their marriage, and Farrar has often contributed to Methodist publications. A 35–year veteran of the Boy Scouts of America, he has been awarded the coveted Silver Beaver Award.
We add praise to praise when we honor Gerald L. Farrar as DISTINGUISHED ENGINEER.
Edward E. Whitacre Jr. College of Engineering
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