Awards & Scholarships

John Edward Brantly was born in Macon, Georgia, in 1892. He graduated from the University of Alabama with a degree of B.S. in 1911 and an E.M. in 1912. After a few months of special work at Colorado School of Mines, he was instructor in geology at Alabama and, later, Assistant State Geologist of Georgia. Following a period of military service, he was discharged in 1918 as First Lieutenant of Artillery.

Early in 1919 he became a partner in Hill, Brantly and McFarland of Dallas. In 1921 he was made Chief Foreign Geologist, Atlantic Refining Co., with operations in Mexico and Venezuela. During this period he became interested in well drilling, with the objective of drilling more exploratory holes within the budgets available. Not geology but well drill¬ ing now formed his primary interest.

Mr. Brantly organized Drilling & Exploration Co., Inc., in 1929 and served as president from its inception to his retirement in 1952. A major portion of his time, particularly from 1933 to 1940, spent largely in California, has been devoted to development and improvement of drilling equipment and practices. A number of important patents have been granted him.

Among Mr. Brantly's many achievements, the publication of Rotary Drilling Handbook in 1936 was outstanding. The fifth revised edition of this was published in 1952. He founded the American Association of Oilwell Drilling Contractors in 1940, serving as its president for two years. In 1952, he spent a year as Assistant Deputy Administrator of the Petroleum Admin¬ istration for Defense, serving also as American representative on the NATO Petroleum Committee.

Mr. Brantly has been a Member of AIME since 1912. Now retired, he lives on his plantation on the Suwannee River, Florida.