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Larry Funkhouser suspects he is only the second geologist to have emerged from Napoleon, Ohio. The first? That would be his older brother Harold, who introduced Funkhouser to the fascinating world of rocks and fossils that would dominate both their lives for the next half-century.
Advice from Harold's boss led Funkhouser to Stanford, where he earned a master's degree in geology. He studied under Dean A.I. Levorsen, at the time "the best petroleum geologist in the world," according to Funkhouser. "Anyone you talk to who was taught by Dean Levorsen would say the same thing: He was such an enthusiastic oil explorer and a great teacher." Funkhouser says he owes his illustrious 38-year career at Chevron to his mentor, who recommended the company to him upon graduation.
In 1969, Funkhouser was named Chevron's vice president for exploration (a title similar to his brother's at competitor Gulf Oil). He
compares looking for oil to engaging in one big treasure hunt: "You look at the clues, run them down, and hope you'll find the treasure—a big oil field. That was very exciting to me." Although the job kept him on the road overseeing petroleum digs in more than 50 countries, he still found time for Stanford by serving on dean search committees and the Earth Science Advisory Board, as well as by providing annual support.
"Stanford is a first-class educational institution and a leading source of scientific, business, medical, and legal professionals," Funkhouser says. "Graduates especially owe a lot, considering all the benefits we receive by virtue of our affiliation with Stanford. This great university deserves our continued and generous support."
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