Memorial to Eduardo José Guzmán 1920-1989

G ROVER E. M URRAY 4609 10th Street, Lubbock, Texas

Ingeniero (Ing.) Eduardo José Guzmán died September 11, 1989, after a brief illness, in his beloved Mexico City. He was the only child of Salvador R. Guzmán—a physician, Mexican Revolutionary, noted diplomat, and one of the framers of the Mexican constitution—and H elena Jim enez, a Venezuelan. He took his formal ed u ca tio n in F ran ce and V enezuela (E scu e la de Geología, Universidad Central de Venezuela) where he graduated summa cum laude in 1942. After a year’s work with Mene Grande Oil Company in Venezuela, under the direction of Hollis D. Hedberg, who became a lifelong friend, he accepted a position as geologist with Petróleos Mexicanos at the personal request of Efrain B u en ro s tro , then d ire c to r genera l of P e tró leos Mexicanos. The remainder of his professional career was spent with Pemex or affiliated organizations. During his early years with Pemex, Ezequiel Ordóñez and Manuel Aguilar had particularly lasting influences on his overall perspective of geology and exploration.

Eduardo Guzmán followed in his father’s footsteps as a professional and rapidly established himself as one of the foremost international geologists of the half-century from 1940 to 1990. He was one of those rare individuals who was equally at home in the wild, rugged mountains of his cherished homeland, on a drilling rig, in the corporate boardroom , in the “courts” of Europe and the governing hierarchy of professional associations, as an exploration geologist and geological administrator, or as an ambas­sador of great finesse and influence in the arena of international geological activities. At the same time, he was a very modest and personable individual who seemed never to seek glory for himself.

Eduardo Guzmán was a versatile, skillfully perceptive geologist with consummate administrative skills and diplomatic abilities. His professional work was characterized by a broad, in-depth grasp of the geology of Mexico, by a perceptive and insightful ability to get to the heart of a problem and to possible solutions for it, and by an outstanding organizational and administrative talent with a special ability to bring people together to work as a team. He was fluent in Spanish, English, and French, and his ability to communicate qualitatively and effectively with geologists throughout the world was of inestimable value to Pemex. Although his native language was Spanish, his fluency in English was of such breadth and depth that one sometimes found it hard to believe he had not grown up in some U.S. city. Maria Louisa (Malú), his wife, was equally capable, and the legacy of their versatility in language and outlook is being preserved by their geologist son, Alfredo, now superintendent of geological evaluation for Pemex in the Tampico District.

Eddie and I were friends, we were buddies—fuimos compadres]— ¡caá I am deeply grateful that our paths crossed. We were friends from the moment we met in the former

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20 T H E G E O L O G IC A L S O C IE T Y OF AM E RICA

Statlcr Hilton Hotel at 16th and K Streets in Washington, D.C., in November 1950. Interestingly (and sadly), the last time we saw each other was this past July 1989, at the XXVIII International Geological Congress in Washington, just a few blocks away in the convention center at 10th and H Streets. He was on his knees wrapping books to ship home. Malú was “supervising.” Debonair as ever with cravat, ruggedly handsome with streaks of gray in his still je t black hair, he looked up, laughed infectiously and said, “Grover, it seems in the U.S. there is never a porter around when one needs help.” We laughed and joked a bit, not knowing it would be our last visit.

Jack Dunlap, a friend of mine from the North Carolina days, introduced me to Eddie and Malú— a handsome, intelligent, and charming Latina—who was Eddie’s constant companion and strong supporter for approximately 50 years. The three of us shared many laughs about the fact that until Eddie and I actually met, each had thought the other was an “old man with a long gray beard." We had corresponded formally for about two years in the la te 1940s, as Ing. Guzmán and Dr. M urray, regarding the Sym posium on Sedimentary Volumes in the Gulf Coastal Plain of the United States and Mexico, which was held at the Geological Society of America Annual Meeting in Washington in 1950. We were both greatly relieved to learn that we were mutually “youthful” and minus the long beards.

Our friendship grew over the progressing years; we corresponded, we met at conventions, and we conversed about many subjects, especially about the geology of Mexico. Eddie had been stationed in Reynosa and knew northeastern Mexico well. When we had the chance, we talked incessantly about the geology o f that reg ion, the stratigraphic sequences and their implications, the tectonic styles and nature of the Sierra Madre Oriental as well as those folds to the north and east, the possibility of oil and gas accumulations in them, the various “red beds” in the area, the oil production in the “Reynosa District,” the possible geologic history of the region, and so on.

The XX International Geological Congress was held in Mexico City in 1956. Eddie was secretary-general of the Congress; Malú obviously was one of his top “generals.” It was a superb Congress! A handful of relatively inexperienced geologists, their wives, and their friends put on one of the finest “shows” I have had the pleasure of attending. Tony García-Rojas, Frederico M ina U., Heinz Lesser Jones, Alejandro Calderón, Ernesto Lópcz-Ramos, Francisco Viniegra, Teodoro Díaz, Bill Salas, Zoltán de Czerna, Eddie Rodriquez, Manuel Alvarez, and others all deserve high praise, but the highest belongs to Eddie and Malú. Even the president of Mexico, Adolfo Ruiz Cortinas, contributed his share through one of the most eloquent addresses any Geological Congress has had the pleasure of hearing. The Ballet Folklórico was magnificent—and still is!

Other people also took note of and were impressed with the Guzmáns’ performances and capabilities. Soon, Eddie was participating dynamically in a broad variety of activities in the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, the Geological Society of America, the World Petroleum Congresses, and the International Geological Congresses. His thoughtful and incisive contributions had significant impacts on each. I remember especially well his calm, diplomatic, but persistent nudges for greater internationalism in both AAPG and GSA. Malú was ever nearby, helpful but discreetly in the background.

In the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, Eddie assumed viable roles in a number of committee activities: Publications (1955-1966), Statistics and Exploratory D rilling (1956-1962), Convention C oordinating and Technical Programs (1959), Basement Rocks Project (1958-1965), Associate Editor (25 years, 1958-1983), and Medal Awards and Business (Member at Large, 1968-1970). His Distinguished Lecture Tour in 1956 was meritorious and probably did more to promote understanding in the

M E M O R IA L TO E D U A R D O J O S E G U Z M A N 21petroleum exploration community of the United States of the rationale underlying the M exican expropriation of international oil and gas properties than any other single activity I know. Eddie was elected vice-president of the AAPG in 1967, still a unique recogn ition among Latin Am erican m em bers. His devoted service and his signal contributions merited his designation as an Honorary Member of the Association in 1972. Only he and the renowned Ezequiel Ordóñez of Mexico, in 1935, have been so recognized from Latin America.

Eddie was a Fellow of the Geological Society of America. He and I collaborated frequently as Associate Editors of the Bulletin and we served together on the Council of the Society in the early 1960s when it still met in New York City. I have often wondered if the Council, or for that matter New York itself, has ever been the same. He and I always stayed at the old Plaza Hotel (when it still had fireplaces), and many a night Eddie and I helped John Rodgers, John Rouse, Herb Hawkes, Ed Eckel, Jim Harrison, Bill Krumbein, and Konnie Krauskopf—among others—close down the place. Even Agnes Creagh, then editor of GSA publications, and bibliographer Marie Segrist were guilty of joining us in some late-night activities non-geological. The weather in New York in late August was generally enjoyable, and Eddie and I sometimes walked the entire 60 blocks from the Plaza Hotel at 59th Street to GSA headquarters, talking geology the entire way.

In o th e r p ro fessio n a l o rg an iza tio n s, he advanced through the ranks o f the In ternational G eological Congresses to m em bership on the In ternational Steering Committee and became a member of the Permanent Council of the World Petroleum C ongresses in 1967. He was instrum ental in form ing and guiding the Asociación M exicana Geólogos Petroleros to international recognition and was twice elected its president. He also was an active member and participant in the American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical and Petroleum Engineers, the Sociedad Geológica Mexicana, the Sociedad Geólogos Venezolanos, the Sociedad M exicana de Ingenieros, and other o rgan iza tions. He was author or co -au thor o f about 50 geo logical publica tions, innumerable company reports, and numerous lectures and talks on various aspects of Mexican geology; he also lectured on geology at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México.

Eddie became chief geologist of Pemex in 1949 at the youthful age of 29. In 1954 he was promoted to assistant manager of exploration. From 1967 to retirement he played influential roles in the Mexican Petroleum Institute and as a consultant to Pemex.

Eddie taught me more and more about the geology of Mexico and imbued me with an everlasting love of and respect for his country and its geology, people, and culture. I spent many months in Mexico in the late 1950s collecting data for a book on the Coastal Province of eastern North Amercia; his advice and counsel were invaluable. Not only did he introduce me to the dedicated group of Mexican geologists and geophysicists who, just as he, were working so hard to make Petróleos Mexicanos the success it became, he also taught me how to drink tequilal

During these data-collecting trips in Mexico City, we worked typically from 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. with a half-hour break for pan dulces y cafe; then we had lunch or went for a walk in Alemeda Park, or returned to the Pemex offices to discuss more geology. Sometimes we went to the field to study structure and stratigraphy. On other occasions we went to wildcat wells as far away as Guadalajara, Monclova, and Coatzacoalcos or to Pemex offices at Tampico and Vera Cruz. Sometimes our dear friends Hunter Yarborough and Bill Humphrey were in Mexico and added a little zest to the conversations and situations. What wonderful experiences and recollections!

Eduardo J. Guzmán believed firmly that geology was international in scope and that

22 T i n ; G E O L O G IC A L S O C IE T Y OF A M E RIC A

geologists should be equally so in their perspectives and activ ities. He and Malú exemplified the emerging nationalism of Mexico and defended it rationally. Though fiercely nationalistic and proud of their lovely homeland, their educations and experiences guided them into and dictated ever more important roles for them in the forefront of the petroleum segment of the world’s energy community.

For example, Eddie suggested that northeastern Mexico would be a good place for some basic geological research and for training of students. He believed an infusion of new ideas, or at least the stimulation of different perspectives, might be helpful to the long-range Pemex exploratory programs in that region. Accordingly, he opened the doors for field investigations involving Louisiana State University students in the Torreón- Saltillo-M onterrey-Ciudad Victoria areas in the late 1950s. Our mutual friends—Bill Humphrey, then with DeGolyer and McNaughton; Ralph Imlay of the USGS; Ted Diaz and José Carillo-Bravo of Pemex; and many others—lent strong support and help. It was Ing. Guzmán, however, who foresaw the desirability and smoothed the way for that initial semiformal collaboration between a United States university and Petróleos Mexicanos—a type of project that subsequently has been expanded greatly and has now proved to be of inestimable value to Pemex and to the unraveling of the complex, yet still incompletely known, geologic history of the region.

Eddie and Malú and my wife Sally and I had dinner in Washington during the XXVIII International Geological Congress in July 1989. Sally had never met either until then. Needless to say, she was overwhelmed by their modesty, intelligence, and dignity and by the enormous breadth and depth of their interests. Eduardo Guzman’s wonderful self-assurance, charisma, and wisdom, so often characteristic of such highly intelligent, mature leaders, was never more evident, and Malú’s no less so.

Eddie and I talked mostly geology during the leisurely three-hour meal. Our principle topic, as it had been so often during our 40 years of friendship, was northeastern Mexico—the Sierra Madre Oriental from Ciudad Victoria to Monterrey to Torreón, the Coahuila fold belt, the Parras Basin, and so on. Later, Sally said, “I ’m amazed that after 40 years you two can still spend an entire evening discussing northeastern Mexico.” The fact is that Eddie and I would still be talking about one of the world’s most intriguing areas if we both had lived for a hundred years.

Alfredo E. Guzmán, oldest son of Eddie and Malú, earned B.S. and M.S. degrees from Texas Tech University during my presidency of that institution, during which time he and I naturally became fast friends. Subsequently, through his geological work with Pemex, Alfredo earned the professional respect of his peers and of his father, a feat of which any of us justly would be proud. Eddie and Alfredo were not only father and son but also geologists. They were as close as brothers, each respectful and proud of the other. They formed, with Malú, their own mutual admiration society.

The parental impact of Eddie and Malú on Alfredo is obvious and heart-warming. His self confidence, independence, broad outlook, and perspective, along with his love of Mexico and his ability to mingle in a variety of professional situations, suggest strongly that he shall carry on the globally oriented interests and activities of his parents. Obvi­ously, he constitutes a continuation of the Guzmán heritage of cooperative profession­alism and internationalism in geology.

In October 1989, a month after Eddie’s death, Alfredo E. Guzmán wrote to me:A S E M B L A N C E OI- M Y F A T H E R

M y F a th e r m o s t o f all was a very unp re ten t io u s person . R e g a rd le s s o f all his a ccom pl ishm en ts , I never knew o f him sw aggering about anyth ing and pe rhaps the only th ing I was ever aw are that he was proud of was hav ing a son who was a pe tro leum

M E M O R IA L TO E D U A R D O J O S E G U Z M A N 23

geologist. His ambitions in life were not for power and wealth, for if that were the case he would have stayed with the powerful transnational companies that would have loved to have him, but instead he chose a much less paying career, one that helped catapult his beloved nation to the petroleum power it is today. He inherited some of his father’s diplomatic traits, since he was a conciliator, ever underlining the positive aspects of people and keeping under his own hat the less favorable ones. This, of course, earned him many friends, and the respect of his peers. For me, since I followed in his steps, it has meant an extremely good disposition from the people I ’ve met professionally.

My dad was not a religious man, being his doctrine the I f by Rudyard Kipling which always hung by his bedside. He believed in his profession, the love for which was only exceeded by the love for his family. As a husband he was devoted and loyal and he was supportive and understanding as a father.

My friend has gone. So be it! May his works and his legacy live forever!Mi amigo se fué. ¡Asi es! ¡Que sus hechos y legado vivan siempre!

S E L E C T E D B I B L I O G R A P H Y O F E . J . G U Z M A N1949 New petroleum development by Petróleos Mexicanos in northeastern Mexico:

American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, v. 33, p. 1351-1384.------ Pemex reports full details of exploration—drilling and development activities in

northern Mexico: Oil and Gas Journal, March, 9 p.1950 (and Mina Uhink, F., and Folk, S. H.) Developments in Mexico in 1949: American

Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, v. 34, p. 1260-1282.------ Geología del Noreste de Guerrero: Asociación Mexicana de Geólogos Petroleros

Boletín, v. 2, no. 2, p. 95-156.------ (and Mina Uhink, F.) Developments in Mexico in 1950: American Association of

Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, v. 35, p. 1404-1422.1951 (and Mina Uhink, F.) Resultado de las perforaciones de Petróleos Mexicanos en 1950:

Asociación Mexican de Geólogos Petroleros Boletín, v. 3, no. 5-6, p. 185-197.1952 (and Mina Uhink, F.) Developments in Mexico in 1951: American Association of

Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, v. 36, p. 1274-1292.------ Sedimentary volumes in Gulf Coastal Plain of the United States and Mexico:

Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 63, p. 1201-1220.------ (and Mina Uhink, F.) Resultado de las exploraciones en México durante 1951:

Asociación Mexicana de Geólogos Petroleros Boletín, v. 4, no. 12, p. 7-27.1953 (and Mina Uhink, F.) Developments in Mexico in 1952: American Association of

Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, v. 37, p. 1506-1522.------ (and Mina Uhink, F.) Resultado de las exploraciones en Mexico durante 1952:

Asociación Mexicana de Geólogos Petroleros Boletín, v. 5, no. 7-8, p. 197-214.------ (and Suarez, R., and Lopez-Ramos, E.) Petroleum geology of Mexico: in Les

Champs de Pétrole des régions mésogéennes: Algiers, 19th International Geological Congress, Comptcs Rendus, see., 14, fase. 16, p. 33-63.

1954 Presentación del Comité Ejecutivo de la Asociación Mexicana de Geólogos Petroleros para los años de 1954-1955: Asociación Mexicana de Geólogos Petroleros Boletín, v. 1, no. 1-2, p. 107-109.

1955 (and Suarez, R., and Lopez-Ramos, E.) Geología Petrolera de Mexico: Asociación Mexicana de Geólogos Petroleros Boletín, v. 7, p. 137-172.

1956 (and Mina Uhnik, F.) Developments in Mexico in 1955: American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, v. 40, p. 1485-1497.

1957 (and Mina Uhink, F.) Developments in Mexico in 1956: American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, v. 41, p. 1441-1453.

24 TIIIÌ G E O L O G IC A L S O C IE T Y OE A M E RIC A

1958 (and Mina Uhink, F.) Developments in Mexico in 1957: American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, v. 42, p. 1523-1536.

------ La exploración petrolera. Síntesis de las actividades exploratorias de petróleosMexicanos—de 1934-1958: Asociación Mexicana de Geólogos Petroleros Boletín, v. 10, p. 487-498.

------ Mensaje del Ing. Eduardo J. Guzmán, Presidente del Comité Ejecutivo, 1958-1959:Asociación Mexicana de Geólogos Petroleros Boletín, v. 10, p. 107-108.

------ Discurso del Ing. Eduardo J. Guzmán, Presidente de la Asociación Mexicanade Geólogos Petroleros, in II Convención Asociación Mexicana da Geólogos Petroleros Boletín, v. 10, p. 140-142.

1959 Developments in Mexico in 1958: American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, v. 43, p. 1505-1517.

------ Barreras Mentales en las Exploración Petrolera: Asociación Mexicana de GeólogosPetroleros Boletín, v. 12, no. 12, p. 77-85.

1963 Exploration by Petróleos Mexicanos. Chapter II, in The role of national govern­ments in exploration for mineral resources, Fifty-fifty meeting, Princeton Univer­sity Conference: Princeton, New Jersey, Princeton University, p. 125-158.

------ (and de Cserna, Zoltán) Tectonic history of Mexico, in Backbone of the Americas:American Association of Petroleum Geologists Memoir 2, p. 113-129.

1964 Triplico sus reservas en 25 años: Petróleo Interamericano, Febrero, p. 41-45.1967 Reef type stratigraphic traps in Mexico: Mexico City, Seventh World Petrology

Congress Proceedings, v. 2, p. 461-470.1969 Consideraciones sobre el refinamiento exagerado de las métodos exploratorios:

Revista del Instituto Mexicano del Petróleo, v. 1, no. 2, p. 13-17.------ Are sophisticated exploration methods the answer?, in New ideas, new methods,

new developments: Dallas, Texas, Southern Methodist University, Southwestern Legal Foundation Exploration and Economics of the Petroleum Industry Proceedings, v. 7, p. 19-29.

------ Difícil misión: Revista del Instituto Mexicano del Petróleo, v. 1, no. 3, p. 2-4.1970 Comentario a Los Recursos Energéticos por A. Del Castillo en Pérfil de México en

1980: México Siglo XXI, v. 2, p. 50-51.1971 (with Moore, P. F., Illing, L. V., and Lavrushko, Yu. D.) Stratigraphic traps, panel

discussion: Moscow, 8th World Petroleum Congress Proceedings, p. 285-289.1972 Nuevo avance tecnológico en el I.M.P.: Revista del Instituto Mexicano del Petróleo,

v. 4, no. 4, p. 2-4.------ Políticas de investigación: Sociedad Mexicana de Ingenieros Boletín, p. 9—11.1973 El petróleo y las creciente crisis de energía: Revista del Instituto Mexicano del

Petróleo, v. 5, no. 4, p. 11-20.1975 Panorama de las industria petrolera: Revista del Instituto Mexicano del Petróleo,

v. 7, no. 1, p. 5-15.------ Qué se ha descubierto en México y qué más se espera: Petróleo Internacional, v. 33,

no. 11, p. 33-35.1981 (and Guzmán, A. E.) Petroleum geology of Reforma area, southeast Mexico and

exploratory effort in Baja California, northwest Mexico, in Halbouty, M., ed., Energy resources of the Pacific region: American Association of Petroleum Geologists Studies in Geology, no. 12, p. 1-11.

------ Strengthening technological capacity and trained man-power, in Petroleumexploration: Mexico’s case and philosophy: The Hague, Holland, United Nations Meeting in Developing Countries, 16-20-111-80, 16 p.

Primed in U.S.A. 8/90