Marlan Downey

I audited one of his classes at the University of Oklahoma a number of years ago. Although I was not a Geology major he made the class interesting and very understandable. He often shared stories about his experience in the oilfield, He taught principles that are still useful to me and many of these could easily be applied to national policy today. It was a pleasure visiting with Marlan and knowing him at OU. Thank you for your service.

Marlan was a very nice and friendly man. We always looked forward to seeing him each season at my son, Codys USA fireworks stand in Copeville. Praying for his wife and their family.

I met Marlan several years ago around July 4th when he stopped by my USA Fireworks retail store to purchase some fireworks for his family. He and his wife were regular customers of mine and I always looked forward to seeing him each season. I was extremely sadded to learn of his passing a few days ago when his wife and one of his sons stopped by my retail store. I told his wife, there are a few customers I really enjoyed seeing each season and Marlan was one of them. Prayers for his...

On behalf of the Board of Directors and members of the Petroleum History Institute, I extend our condolences to the Downey family on the loss of Marlan Downey. He was well known in our organization and in 2005 he was awarded THE COLONEL EDWIN L. DRAKE LEGENDARY OILMAN AWARD - Honoring a lifetime of achievement within the oil and gas industry by PHI at our Houston meeting.

Please know that he will be missed by all of us at PHI.

Sincerely,
William R. Brice, Ph.D.
2nd...

Dear Downey Family,
Met Marlan only once but what a nice man/friendly smile. Karen introduced me and my husband Jay one night at dinner. What I did know was that he was one of the all time oil and gas finders, another great oil and gas man gone too soon. The oil patch was a better place with a man like Marlan leading the way. Prayers for your family.

Sincerely,
Louann and Jay Gallagher

So sorry to hear this. God Bless and comfort you all.

My first memories of my Dad are of us driving down a board road to a Mid-continent gas well he was checking on in the early 1960's. I remember my Dad taking me to work with him on Saturdays at the Bellaire Lab. The sign on his office door in the Source Rock Lab read Chief Sorcerer and there were boxes and boxes of SHALE cores, fume hoods, rock saws, giant microscopes and a COMPUTER TERMINAL! No screen, just a keyboard and punch cards. When Dad got promoted from Chief Geologist to...