B.S. Geology, Southern Illinois University, 1954

M.A. Geology, University of Kansas, 1958

Ph.D. Geology, University of Kansas, 1961

D.Sc., Southern Illinois University, 1986

Professor, Department of Geological Sciences, 1969–present

Director, Geology Foundation, 1984–present

Director and State Geologist, Bureau of Economic Geology, The University of Texas at Austin, 1970–1994

Chairman, Department of Geological Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, 1984–1990

Assistant Secretary, Energy and Minerals, U.S. Department of the Interior, January 1976–January 1977 (Presidential appointment, Senate confirmation)

Deputy Assistant Secretary, Energy, U.S. Department of the Interior, March 1975–January 1976 (Secretarial appointment)

William L. Fisher has authored or co-authored 272 titles, including 23 books and atlases. Principal areas of publication have been in depositional systems of sedimentary rocks, oil and gas recovery technology, reservoir characterization, and energy and mineral resource assessment. During his career he has presented nearly 600 invited lectures, 200 as featured or keynote addresses covering areas of his research and publications. Fisher has presented invited testimony to the U.S. Congress on 65 occasions and to the Texas Legislature 40 times principally in areas relating to resource assessment, energy research and development policy, and environmental resources.

Chairman, Board on Mineral and Energy Resources and Board on Earth Science and Resources, National Research Council

Member, National Petroleum Council

Member, Advisory Council, Gas Research Institute

U.S. Government: Advisory committees to the White House, Department of the Interior, Department of Energy, Federal Power Commission, Department of Commerce, Department of Energy/Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Bureau of Mines, U.S. Congress Office of Technology Assessment, Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission

State of Texas: Low-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Authority, Texas 2000 Commission, Texas Energy Advisory Council, Texas Energy and National Resources Advisory Council, and several advisory committees to the Office of the Governor

Past President of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, Association of American State Geologists, American Geological Institute, American Institute of Professional Geologists, Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies, and Austin Geological Society; member of various committees

Leonidas T. Barrow Centennial Chair in Mineral Resources, The University of Texas at Austin (1986–present)

William H. Twenhofel Medal, SEPM (Society for Sedimentary Geology), 2001

Morgan J. Davis Centennial Professor of Petroleum Geology, The University of Texas at Austin (1982–1986)

Honorary D.Sc., Southern Illinois University, 1986

Sidney Powers Medal, American Association of Petroleum Geologists, 1994

Ian Campbell Medal, American Geological Institute, 1991

Ben F. Parker Medal, American Institute of Professional Geologists, 1996

Hollis D. Hedberg Medal, Institute for the Study of Earth and Man, 1991

Elected Member of National Academy of Engineering, 1994

Distinguished Lecturer, American Association of Petroleum Geologists, 1970–1971, 1978–1979

William L. Fisher, Ph.D.
Senior Research Scientist and Professor
Bureau of Economic Geology
The University of Texas at Austin
University Station, Box X
Austin, Texas 78713-8924
E-mail:
Telephone: 512-471-5600

January 2005