2015 UT PGE Distinguished Alumni Honorees
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October 26, 2015
The growth and stature of the UT PGE Department is largely due to dedicated, passionate alumni who go on to change the oil and gas industry with their leadership and innovation.
Thanks to the support of our sponsors, more than 150 people filled the Driskill Hotel on Friday, Nov. 6 during the 2015 Distinguished Alumni (DA) Ceremony. The program honored four alumni for their significant contributions to energy production, the Texas economy and higher education. UT PGE graduate and DA Committee Chair Russell Parker (BS PE '00), who is a 2010 DA honoree, served as the emcee for the evening.
The DA Committee originally selected six honorees, but due to the unfortunate passing of Joe M. Parsley (BS PE '51) one week prior to the ceremony on Oct. 30, 2015, both Joe and Scott D. Sheffield (BS PE '75) will be honored during the 2016 Distinguished Alumni Ceremony. As a tribute to Parsley, the committee presented an "In Memorium" video during the program celebrating his life as a leading businessman and dedicated UT Austin graduate.
As some of the industry's leading entrepreneurs, scientists and noteworthy executives, the 2015 honorees provide a broad range of experience and innovation to the field.
Fred Kerwin Fox: Fox's technological contributions to the field of petroleum engineering continue to influence industry operations today. Orphaned at age 13, Fox attended Allen Academy in McAllen, Texas. At 17, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps and served as a flamethrower and machine gunner in the South Pacific. He received the Purple Heart after receiving multiple life-threatening wounds. In 1945, with the help of the G.I. Bill, Fox enrolled at The University of Texas at Austin to study petroleum engineering. Read more
C. Ronald "Ronny" Platt: Platt is a highly respected member of the petroleum industry and one of the leading petroleum engineering experts in regulatory hearings and litigation. He has served as an expert witness in more than 150 lawsuits and 500 administrative hearings and was the governor's appointee to the State of Texas Membership on the Energy Resources Committee of the Interstate Oil Compact Commission for 12 years. Read more
Margaretha "Peggy" C.M. Rijken: Rijken leads Chevron's Productivity Enhancement Team, which focuses on research, development and consulting in the areas of formation damage, geomechanical modeling and hydraulic fracturing. Rijken received the Chevron Reservoir Management Excellence Award in 2010 and 2015 and co-holds a patent in non-aqueous stimulation. Read more
Don L. Sparks: Sparks was born and raised in Amarillo, Texas, and received his bachelor's degree in petroleum engineering from The University of Texas at Austin in 1962. After graduation, Sparks served as an officer in the U.S. Navy for four years and worked in various engineering and consulting capacities for Bailey, Sipes, Williamson and Runyan; Freeport Oil Company; and Shell Oil Company. In 1980, Sparks co-founded Platt, Sparks & Associates with fellow 2015 Petroleum Engineering Distinguished Alumnus, C. Ronald Platt. Read more
