Ted Rozsa - 1987
CSEG Medal Recipient Ted Rozsa
The CSEG Medal is given in recognition of the contribution to exploration geophysics by a member of the profession in Canada. It can be gained through a long-standing significant contribution to the application, teaching or business development of exploration geophysics. It can also be gained through a single achievement in any of these areas which has been recognized over a period of years as a significant development.
The award will be made to a member of the geophysical profession who is recognized for his integrity as well as his accomplishments.
Ted Rozsa is the first winner of the award. His distinguished career in the petroleum exploration business has so far spanned nearly 52 years. Born in Michigan in 1915, he graduated from Michigan Technological University with an Honours B.S. in geology in 1936 and then started his career with Shell Oil in New Orleans. He was moved to Calgary as Chief Geophysicist in 1949, for a one year assignment.
The one year assignment grew into a career in Calgary that is still active after 39 years. Business opportunities looked attractive here in 1950. He therefore resigned from Shell, rather than accepting reassignment to the United States, and organized Frontier Geophysical Ltd., which later expanded to seven seismic crews and one slim hole drilling rig.
In the early sixties, he sold Frontier to his senior employees, some of whom are still active in the geophysical industry, and organized Basset Oil Ltd.
Basset Oil was a very successful company. Ted sold it in 1979 and then immediately formed Rozsa Petroleum Ltd. He believes in hard work and hands-on management and much of the success of these companies has been due to his own technical involvement in interpreting seismic data and doing his own well-site geology. Ted has admitted that now that he is in his seventies, although he still goes to the office every day, he has turned over some of that well-site geology to others.
His professional affiliations include the SEG, CSEG, CSPG and APEGGA. He is known for his substantial support to the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, the Banff Centre, the Calgary YMCA and the Calgary Centre for the Performing Arts. He has served as a director and governor of the Calgary Philharmonic Society, a Governor of the Glenbow Alberta Institute and a director of the Calgary Golf and Country Club.
His long and successful career has been highlighted by his dedication to his industry and his community. We are delighted to make his the first recipient of the CSEG Medal.
