15
PROFILE: James Devlin
Paige, Dallas; Shannon Mitchell, Tulsa;
Shawn who works with his Dad in Wichita
and Brian, a Banker in Denver.
After graduation Jim served three years in
the Marine Corp. attaining the rank of 1
st
Lieutenant . One year was spent at Quan-
tico, Virginia Marine Base and two years at
El Toro California Marine Base.
Returning to Wichita, Jim was employed by
Continental Oil Co. where he work with
Bob Busby who was recently profiled. He
was at Conoco from 1958 until 1963 when
he left to form Jayhawk Oil . In 1981 he
formed Viking Resources in partnership
with Tom Wesselowski and Jack Childers.
Professionally he has been a member of the
Kansas Geological Society and KIOGA.
Jim was President of KIOGA and also was
President of the Wichita Country Club. He
has been involved in community affairs by
serving on the Sedgwick County Zoo Board
at the time the new Zoo was constructed.
Jim says that he would still be a geologist if
he had it to do over as it has been very en-
joyable. He identifies the biggest character
in his career as being Dick Hoover. Jim has
this word of advice and/or warning to the
young geologist entering the field; "plan to
go to Houston".
Like many geologists, Jim has for recrea-
tional interests hunting, fishing and golf.
Jim doesn't have any plans for retirement
and hopes to keep working for another 8-10
years. His company now operates 140
wells which ensures that he will be busy for
that time.
Jim is almost a rarity among geologists in
Wichita. He is a native Wichitan, born Oc-
tober 31, 1932. His father is a graduate of
the University of Kansas and was a civil
engineer and his mother; a graduate of
Colorado State University was a school-
teacher.
Jim graduated from Cathedral High School
in 1950 and from the University of Kansas
in 1955 with a degree in Geological Engi-
neering. One of his classmates at KU was
Scott Ritchie. Jim says that he was per-
haps directed towards geology as a career
by a neighbor, Jake Carter, who worked for
National and who seemed to have plenty of
time to hunt and fish. After enrolling, he
came under the influence of Dr. Cecil
Lailicker, who not only was an excellent
professor but did considerable consulting
work for the oil and gas industry.
In 1953, while attending KU, Jim married
Kathleen Powers on July 25
th
. They cele-
brated their Golden Wedding Anniversary
this year. They have four children: Kathy