In memory of Al Danforth, long time HGS member and past leader of the International Explorationists Group and Africa Conference (1990s to 2012) who passed away in early July 2024 in Houston.

Al (Alfred) Danforth, started working for Texaco Inc. in New Orleans in 1973. In the late 1970s he had a new managerial assignment with Caltex, a Texaco affiliate, in Djakarta, Indonesia. 

Al Danforth transferred back to the Texaco Inc. headquarters in Harrison, New York, during the latter part of 1983. In May of 1987, he was re-assigned to Houston, Texas, as General Manager of New Ventures in Africa. He retired from Texaco Inc in 1998 and became a consultant.

Al Danforth was the organizer of the first Africa Symposium in Houston, Texas, in conjunction with the Petroleum Exploration Society of Great Britain (PESGB). He was a co-founder in 2002 of the highly successful African Conference that has occurred each year since the first Africa Symposium in London. The conferences held in Houston had Al as Chairman every other year, including the conference in Houston, Texas, September 11-12, 2012. 

Al Danforth was an Emeritus Member of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) and, was awarded Honorary Life Membership in the Houston Geological Society (HGS) for his continuing efforts on behalf of the Society and its members. He was a major resource to HGS, especially to the International Explorationists group. Since his first talk to the HGS in October of 1998, “Petroleum Systems of the Kwanza and Benguela Basins, Angola”, he assisted his fellow authors closely in preparing talks about the rapidly changing understanding regarding offshore of Africa. Al was chair of the Technical Programs of the International Explorationists group of the HGS 1999-2001. He was chairman of the International HGS group 2002-2005. He conducted thorough investigation of regional seismic lines and joined with fellow authors in well-illustrated talks for HGS about regional tectonic offshore Africa and adjacent areas. Al shared his extensive international experience when he was on the Organizing Committee of the HGS Continuing Education Committee in the programs “The Business of International Exploration Symposium”, February 2000, and “Doing Business in Latin America Symposium, January 2002.