Directors of the Bureau: Peter T. Flawn

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Flawn was also a pioneer in the application of geology to solve environmental problems and wrote a book titled Environmental Geology in Land-use Planning, Resource Management, and Conservation that was published in 1970. During his tenure as director, Flawn encouraged scientists at the Bureau to publish results of their research. He also instituted the publication of the Bureau’s first Annual Report (covering 1960, published in 1961) as a way of further spreading news of Bureau work and providing information to legislators and decision makers who were charged with solving problems dealing with natural resources and the environment.

The Geologic Atlas of Texas, a series of 38 geologic map sheets detailing the geology of the state, was begun under Flawn’s term as director. Besides supporting research publications, popular guidebooks, and general interest reports such as the annual report, Flawn traveled extensively, delivering lectures at professional societies and also presenting papers in Spanish to colleagues in Mexico. He took on many committee assignments for various professional organizations. He truly served as an ambassador of the Bureau and The University of Texas and wanted to let the world know about the state geological survey and the work it produced.

Flawn left the Bureau in 1970 to assume the position of Vice President for Academic Affairs at The University of Texas. He was later that year named the director of the Division of Natural Resources and Environment. Flawn served as president of The University of Texas at San Antonio from 1973 to 1977. In 1979 he became president of The University of Texas at Austin and served until 1985, when he was named president emeritus. He would be called upon again in 1997 to serve as interim president of UT Austin until 1998.

In 1987 Governor Bill Clements asked Flawn to chair the Texas National Research Laboratory Commission, created by the Texas Legislature in 1985 to coordinate the state’s bid to build the superconducting super collider, which was to enable the next generation of accelerator physics research. Flawn oversaw the development of two proposals, one of which—the Dallas/Fort Worth site—won the competition. Although the U.S. Congress later voted to terminate construction of the facility, the Texas team under Flawn’s direction proved successful in every detail of assembling a winning proposal that gained the support of the state. Flawn was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 1974. The University of Texas board of regents awarded Flawn their highest honor, the Santa Rita Award, in 2000. Flawn was one of the guiding forces that helped shape the Jackson School of Geosciences after the University received the generous bequest from John A. and Katherine G. Jackson to create the school. He chaired the vision committee that advised President Larry Faulkner of the key issues to be considered in setting up the school.

Flawn continues to lend his management expertise and business acumen to the University and has remained a great friend and supporter of the Bureau of Economic Geology. He was honored as the Bureau’s alumnus of the year in 2006. He is also an honorary life member of the Geology Foundation Advisory Council. Some of Flawn’s engaging stories of his early days at the Bureau and his tenure as director are captured in his autobiographical book Texas Geologist and the Bureau of Economic Geology, 1949–1970, published by the Bureau in 2002.