Colorado School of Mines inducts new class into Petroleum Engineering Hall of Fame

Colorado School of Mines’ Petroleum Engineering (PE) Department announces the newest distinguished class of inductees into the PE Hall of Fame, which recognizes alumni, faculty and supporters for their contributions to the oil and gas industry and to the department. Each of the nine inductees has been recognized as an outstanding industry member through their contributions or leadership.

Mines’ Petroleum Engineering Department is one of the oldest and highest-ranked programs in the United States. Nearly 5,000 students have come from around the world to earn hands-on, interdisciplinary, applied science undergraduate and graduate degrees. Mines graduates have led all facets of the oil and gas industry, invented techniques that are now standard and made fundamental research discoveries.

Mines will celebrate the Hall of Fame inductees at the PE Hall of Fame dinner on Nov. 8, 2024. Join us at this event to recognize the honorees and celebrate the Mines PE department during the university’s 150^th Anniversary. All proceeds will go to financial assistance to create hands-on learning experiences for students in the classrooms and labs. 

2024 Petroleum Engineering Department Hall of Fame Inductees

Harry D. Campbell led an illustrious, 50-year career in the petroleum industry. But his love for and commitment to Mines—particularly for the football team and the petroleum engineering department—set him apart as one of the greatest Orediggers of all time. Campbell earned a professional degree in petroleum engineering in 1942. He famously led the 1939 football team to an undefeated season as quarterback, all the while excelling in academics. He declined offers to play for the Philadelphia Eagles and Detroit Lions, choosing to join the U.S. Navy where he commanded a minesweeper and served with distinction during World War II. Campbell died in 2011 at the age of 97.

Robert “Bob” E. Irelan has more than 37 years of leadership with Occidental Petroleum and Conoco Inc. He served our country in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War and has made contributions to Mines and other organizations. He graduated from Mines in 1968 with a professional degree in petroleum engineering and then a master’s degree in mineral economics. Irelan retired from Occidental Petroleum as executive vice president of Worldwide Operations. He completed a major restructuring of the company’s portfolio and personnel that enabled significant business performance growth. Irelan earned Mines’ Distinguished Achievement Medal and was a supporter of the McBride Honors Program and The Mines Fund.

Vernon “Bud” Isaacs’ life emphasized his "three Fs": Family, Faith and Friends. His expertise was in oil and gas property management, culminating in his position as chairman of the RIM Companies after founding his own company to advise companies in the purchase and sale of oil and gas properties. Isaacs earned a Professional Degree in Petroleum Engineering from Mines in 1964. he served in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, including combat operations in Vietnam. He was awarded Vietnamese combat ribbons, the Combat Infantry Badge, Silver Star, Bronze Star with Valor a Purple Heart and the Wendell Fertig Award. Isaacs died in 2022.

Harold Korell’s contributions to Mines and the industry are unparalleled. He drove the turnaround of Southwest Energy though his leadership and discovery of the Fayetteville Shale in north-central Arkansas that grew to production of 2.6 billion cubic feet of gas a day. He grew Southwestern Energy from a market cap of $187 million to an incredible $17 billion. Korell earned his professional degree in chemical and petroleum refining engineering in 1968 from Mines. He served Mines as a member of the Board of Trustees and Board of Governors and earned the Coolbaugh Memorial Award, Tourmaline Award and Distinguished Achievement Medal. He and his wife named the Harold and Patricia Korell Athletic Center at the Clear Creek Athletics Complex and Southwestern Energy Lobby in Marquez Hall in addition to establishing several endowed scholarships.

Robert E. McKee III has made transformational contributions to the industry and to Mines. His career is distinguished by 37 years at ConocoPhillips and Conoco, Inc., including as executive vice president over worldwide exploration and production. He also served as the senior advisor to Amb Bremer and the Iraqi Oil Ministry, appointed by President George W. Bush, in charge of restoring the Iraqi Oil Industry following the 2003 invasion. He graduated from Mines in 1968 with a professional degree in petroleum engineering and earned a master’s in industrial management from MIT in 1982. McKee serves on the Mines Foundation Board of Governors and has been awarded a Distinguished Achievement Medal and inducted into the Mines Athletic Hall of Fame. With his wife Ann, he created the President’s Bridge Award scholarship and made numerous gifts to athletics, including support to develop the Clear Creek Athletics Complex.

F.H. “Mick” Merelli distinguished himself throughout an extraordinary career in the oil and gas industry that spanned more than 50 years and saw him work his way up from a field engineer to a widely respected chief executive. Merelli earned a professional degree in petroleum engineering from Mines in 1959. He held the top leadership positions at Terra, Apache, Key Co. And Cimarex Energy. The F.H. Mick Merelli/Cimarex Energy Distinguished Petroleum Engineering Department Head Chair was established in his honor. It was the first endowed chair at Mines, currently held by Petroleum Engineering Department Head Jennifer Miskimins. He also earned the Mines Distinguished Achievement Medal. Merelli passed away in 2012.

Neal Edwin Schmale has made varied contributions to the industry as an oil company and utility holding company executive. He has played a steady, influential and generous role at Mines and in civic life. Schmale graduated from Mines in 1968 with a professional degree in petroleum engineering and earned a law degree from Loyola University in 1974. He was president of Unocal’s Petroleum Products and Chemicals Division and later Unocal’s CFO. He joined Sempra Energy in 1998 as executive vice-president and CFO and later became president and COO. Schmale served on the Mines Foundation Board of Governors and earned the Distinguished Achievement Medal. He established and regularly contributes to the Schmale BEMS Scholarship Fund.

Ted Stockmar never became a practicing engineer, but he made significant contributions to industry during his 40-year career in natural resources law and to Mines as a leader and benefactor. Stockmar graduated from Mines in 1943 with a professional degree in petroleum engineering. After graduation, Stockmar served in World War II as a second lieutenant in the Army Corps of Engineers, then as a B-24 and B-29 bomber instructor in the Army Air Corps. He earned a law degree at the University of Denver in 1948 and helped build Holme Roberts & Owen, a historic Denver law firm. He became one of the best-known and most important natural resources attorneys in the region. He served on the Mines Board of Trustees for 33 years and was board president for ten years. He also helped lead the creation of the Mines Foundation in 1951. He died in 2009.

Purnomo Yusgiantoro has vast experience leading and contributing to the energy sector of Indonesia and the world. Notably, he served as secretary general, president and governor of the organization of OPEC, as well as Indonesia’s minister of energy and mineral resources for three consecutive terms. He earned two degrees from Mines: a master’s of science degree in petroleum engineering in 1986, followed by a PhD in mineral economics in 1988. He also earned a master’s of economics degree from CU, Boulder. Yusgiantoro is dedicated to educating Indonesia’s next generation of energy professionals as a professor and guest lecturer at multiple universities and authoring multiple books and textbooks. He also served as deputy governor of the National Defense University.