Wilson, James E. (Geologist)

James E. Wilson was born April 19, 1915 in McKinney, Texas. He joined Shell Oil Company in 1938 after graduating from Texas A & M University with a degree in geological engineering. His entire career was spent with Shell Oil Company. After retiring in 1973, Wilson began an active consulting career, both domestic and foreign, primarily for major industrial corporations. Later, he devoted his time to researching the geology of the wine country of France.

From the description of James E. Wilson papers, 1955-1983. (University of Wyoming, American Heritage Center). WorldCat record id: 56130054

James E. Wilson was born April 19, 1915 in McKinney, Texas. He entered Texas A&M University in 1933, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in geological engineering in 1938. Wilson joined Shell Oil Company in 1938 as a surface geologist, doing extensive field mapping and core drilling in southwest Texas and northern Louisiana until he was called to active duty in the U.S. Army in 1942.

He returned to Tyler, Texas and Shell in 1946 and later transferred to Houston, Wichita Falls, and Oklahoma City, holding staff and management positions. Next came an assignment to The Hague, Netherlands in 1952 with Royal Dutch/Shell. In 1953, he returned to the U.S. as division exploration manager in Casper, Wyoming, and moved to Denver, Colorado, the next year when he was named staff geologist in Shell’s new exploration office. He then became exploration manager and held this position until he moved to Houston, Texas in 1958 as director of exploration research for Shell Development Company. In 1960, at age 44, he was named vice president for exploration production in Houston, the first geologist and youngest vice president in the company’s history. He moved to New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1962 and back to Denver in 1968 in the same capacity.

After retiring from Shell in 1973, Wilson began an active consulting career, both domestic and foreign, primarily for major industrial corporations. Later, he devoted his time to researching the geology of the wine country of France, which culminated in the publication of Terroir: The Role of Geology, Climate and Culture in the making of French Wines .

Wilson’s laurels include the Texas A&M Geosciences and Earth Resources Council’s medal for distinguished achievement, the American Association of Petroleum Geologist’s Sidney Powers Memorial Medal, AAPG’s highest award, and Distinguished Alumnus of A&M. He was AAPG president in 1972-1973 and trustee and chairman of the AAPG Foundation. His world travels included a 1972 trip to the western Pacific Rim, promoting the first Circum-Pacific energy minerals conference sponsored by AAPG, and in 1984, he led a delegation of petroleum geologists on a lecture tour of China.

Wilson was married to Alice Elloie Barklay, and they had two daughters, Judy and Elizabeth.

From the guide to the James E. Wilson papers, 1955-1983, (University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center.)