I was fortunate to know Ross for over 30 years. During that time we got to know each other well, both professionally and as friends. I was always amazed how, with deteriorating eyesight, he continued to consult, maintain his website, and teach courses. He was a wealth of knowledge and his expertise will definitely be missed. Personally, I will miss the non-technical discussions we had about family, travel, and two of his favorites - cattle and trains. A great friend. A great loss. My deepest sympathy to his family.

While I did not know Ross extremely well, it is a testament to his character that he could have a large impact on a person with minimal interaction. I hired Ross to do some courses for our relatively young G&G and Engineering staff and, as usual, they were extremely well received. As I began my consulting business nine years ago, I considered teaching courses and was interested in licensing some of Ross' incredible stockpile of materials (why reinvent the wheel!). I fondly remember driving up to Rocky Mountain House and spending time with Ross discussing the process and, of course, getting a tour of the rail yard! Unfortunately, it was a typical Alberta spring and the cars were hibernating in the shed. Ross was kind enough to lend me some materials and serve a delicious lunch. There are truly very few 'Icons' in any field but Ross certainly lives up to that description.

I occasionally bugged Ross with petrophysical questions (usually about identifying facies from logs) and he always made time to help me. His website was an incredible resource. He remembered me when we met up at the last CWLS meeting years later which was touching. A thoroughly lovely guy who will be much missed.

Ross was a consultant to our log analysis group at Dome Petroleum, when I was there working for Jimmy Hamilton and Jim Stewart, about 1979 – 1981. I remember well Ross’s quiet confidence and expert petrophysical knowledge. I also remember that he was years ahead of things scientifically – he used some kind of tablet to do petrophysical calculations. He called it the “LogMate” system. Long long before iPads and PC tablets. I have used the material on his website many times. Farewell to an oilpatch pioneer.

Jim Barclay.