Early in his career, Marlan Downey distinguished himself as a successful exploration geologist and innovative research scientist with Shell Oil Company. Shell recognized Marlan’s extraordinary value with assignments of increasing responsibility, from geochemical source rock project manager to Chief Geologist, to Exploration Manager, to VP International Exploration, to President of Pecten International. After retiring from Shell, Marlan joined ARCO as Vice President of Exploration and soon became President of ARCO International. Next, turning to education, Marlan served as Chief Scientist of the Sarkeys Energy Center at the University of Oklahoma, where he held the Bartell Chair. He advised young geologists excited about doing innovative geological studies to remember that “geology is a science, but exploration is a business!” In 1987, Marlan founded Roxanna Oil Company and was its’ Chairman of the Board at the time of his death in May, 2017. Marlan is a past president of AAPG and a recipient of the Sidney Powers Memorial Award.