Dear EEPS, Alumni and Friends-
It is with a heavy heart that we share sad news during this holiday season. Dr. Peter Vail, EEPS emeritus professor of geology and geophysics, passed away on December 28th, 2024, at the age of 94.
Pete came to Rice in 1986 as the W. Maurice Ewing Professor of Oceanography following his retirement from Exxon. He is the namesake of the Vail curve of sea level changes.
Vail earned his A.B. at Dartmouth College in 1952, followed by M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from Northwestern University in 1956 under the mentorship of Dr. Larry Sloss and Dr. William Krumbein.
Vail is best known for being the first to realize that seismic reflections do not follow lithofacies boundaries but instead follow changes in global sea level, giving rise to the field of seismic stratigraphy and earning him a Benjamin Franklin Medal. Among many other honors the highlights include the Legendary Geoscientist Award from the American Geological Institute, the Penrose Medal from the Geological Society of America, the Sidney Powers Memorial Award and the Distinguished Educator Award from the American Association of Petroleum Geologists.
Dr. Peter Vail’s profound contributions have left an indelible mark on the geosciences, and his legacy endures in the work of countless geologists and geophysicists who continue to build upon his foundational discoveries. His passion for knowledge, collaborative spirit, and enduring curiosity remains an inspiration to all who follow in his footsteps.
Please keep the Vail family and all who loved Pete in your thoughts and prayers as they navigate this profound loss.
There will be a Celebration of Life in the near future. Please contact Malcolm Ross for more information.
For those who knew him and would like to share recollections, please email them HERE. All comments will be reviewed prior to posting, so if you wish your comment to remain unpublished, please indicate your preferences at the end of your comments. A longer post to include Pete's extended biography, additional honors and recollections will be shared both on this website and in Outcroppings magazine.