Burdette A. Ogle

Burdette A. Ogle May 25, 1919 - March 25, 2007 The extraordinary life of Burdette A. Ogle, Ph.D., ended peacefully on March 25, 2007. Dr. Ogle and his family resided in Santa Barbara, California from 1971 to 1989, Grand Junction, Colorado from 1989 to 1996, and returned to Santa Barbara in 1996. Dr. Ogle, "Bud" to his friends, lived a magnificent, full life, rich with experience, adventures, prosperity, love and laughter. Born on May 25, 1919 in Scotia, California, Bud grew up in Berkeley, California. After earning his B.A. in Geology in 1941 from U.C. Berkeley, where he played both football and rugby, Bud proudly served his country in the U.S Marine Corps in World War II. He rose to the rank of Captain during service in combat areas of the South and Central Pacific, and was awarded a purple heart after narrowly surviving a dive-bomber attack that took the lives of many of his fellow officers and friends. Bud returned to California following the war, earning his Masters in Geology in 1947, and then worked for two years with Union Oil Co. of California in Santa Barbara, California. He returned to U.C. Berkeley and taught geology while earning his Ph.D., which he was awarded in 1951. Many of Bud's geology students from those days became prominent in the oil and gas industry, and remembered his early teachings throughout their careers. What followed was a remarkable career that touched nearly every facet of the oil and gas exploration business. An exceptional geologist, Bud was an equally gifted and imaginative manager, businessman, and entrepreneur. In his early years, while with Ross Cabeen & Associates and Cabeen Exploration Corp., Bud managed the exploration of basins in the Rockies, Canada and South America, leading to numerous successful discoveries, and ultimately rose to the #2 position in both companies. In the 1960's and 70's, Bud and his partners in Argonaut Oil & Gas Co. and its affiliated companies originated oil and gas prospects in the Rockies, California, and foreign countries including Canada, Columbia, Peru and New Zealand. Bud's later ventures, Ogle Petroleum Inc. and its affiliated companies, remained active throughout California and the Rockies, but were perhaps most noted for spearheading large data acquisition and bidding groups through which several independent oil and gas companies joined forces and achieved notable success in highly competitive federal lease sales offshore California in the Santa Barbara Channel and Santa Maria Basin. From the 1988 acquisition of the Ogle companies until present day, Dr. Ogle remained an active independent investor in oil and gas and real estate. Whatever his professional successes, their importance to Bud paled in comparison to his love for his wife, Jean, and the joy he took from time with his children, grandchildren and friends. He was never happier than when dancing with Jean in his arms, casting a royal coachman to rising rainbow trout on a Colorado mountain stream, working in his garden, or playing a rousing game of tennis. Always generous of his time, lightning-quick of wit and humor, insightful in his words, and calm in the face of turmoil, Bud was a wonderful husband, father and friend whose guidance and example will be remembered forever. His family and friends mourn the passing of a great man who lived life to its fullest, while celebrating his heart, warmth, integrity and the innumerable gifts he gave to us all. Thank you, Bud, and God Speed. Bud is survived by his wife Jean, his daughter Scotia of Grand Junction, Colorado, his son Zedford of Akron, Colorado and his wife, Pam, his son Flint of Grand Junction, Colorado and his wife Barbara, and many loving grandchildren and relatives. A memorial to celebrate Bud's life will be held at a future date. Donations in his memory may be made to the Cancer Center of Santa Barbara (Development Office, 300 West Pueblo Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93105, www.ccsb.org) or to the Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists Foundation (820 16th Street, Suite 505, Denver, CO 80202, www.rmag.org/foundation).