| Class of 1968 |
| "Searching the Globe for Oil" |
| Ronald Johnson |
A solution to the world's increased demand for crude oil could be developed by Berry Academy
alumnus Ronald Johnson. Ron attended Berry for four years, graduating as the class valedictorian in
1968.
Ron currently resides in The Woodlands, Texas and is a Senior Exploration Geologist with
ExxonMobil Corporation in Houston. In 1985 he joined Mobil Oil Corporation (now ExxonMobil) and
has been in the international exploration game since that time, constantly searching the globe for
new sources of oil. He has traveled and worked extensively throughout the world including Europe,
the Far East, the former Soviet Union, the Indian Subcontinent, South America, and the Caribbean,
all in pursuit of new deposits of crude.
After graduating from the Academy in 1968, Ron attended West Georgia College, earning a BS in
Geology in 1972. After graduation he served a three-year tour of duty in the Navy with the Sixth Fleet
in the Mediterranean. After completion of his enlistment obligation in 1975, he attended graduate
school at the University of Georgia, earning an MS Degree in Geology in 1978.
Ron worked for the US Geological Survey in New Orleans for the first three years after graduate
school and started his career in the oil & gas industry in 1981, hiring on as an Exploration Geologist
with Superior Oil Company. He explored for oil and gas primarily in south Louisiana and the Gulf of
Mexico for the next four years until he joined the team at Exxon/Mobil.
Ron enjoyed playing varsity tennis at Berry and managed to play on the West Georgia tennis team
his freshman year. Too many labs and not enough dedication, however, put an end to his competitive
tennis career after that year. While at the Academy, Ron was also a dedicated member of the
campus crew, working for "Pop" Cordle. There's no telling how many times Ron cut the grass on "The
Stretch" with that old, red Farmall tractor.
Ron reports the he bought his first electric guitar while at the Academy from Danny Murdock
(....before Danny accidentally tried to burn down Friendship Hall). Music quickly became a passion
while at West Georgia where he joined his first rock band. He has managed to continue playing in
various bands since that time and currently plays guitar in a blues/country rock band in Houston in
his spare time. When he retires Ron says, "I think I'll probably relocate to the Texas 'hill country'
somewhere outside of Austin....great music scene and lots of old hippies around there."
alumnus Ronald Johnson. Ron attended Berry for four years, graduating as the class valedictorian in
1968.
Ron currently resides in The Woodlands, Texas and is a Senior Exploration Geologist with
ExxonMobil Corporation in Houston. In 1985 he joined Mobil Oil Corporation (now ExxonMobil) and
has been in the international exploration game since that time, constantly searching the globe for
new sources of oil. He has traveled and worked extensively throughout the world including Europe,
the Far East, the former Soviet Union, the Indian Subcontinent, South America, and the Caribbean,
all in pursuit of new deposits of crude.
After graduating from the Academy in 1968, Ron attended West Georgia College, earning a BS in
Geology in 1972. After graduation he served a three-year tour of duty in the Navy with the Sixth Fleet
in the Mediterranean. After completion of his enlistment obligation in 1975, he attended graduate
school at the University of Georgia, earning an MS Degree in Geology in 1978.
Ron worked for the US Geological Survey in New Orleans for the first three years after graduate
school and started his career in the oil & gas industry in 1981, hiring on as an Exploration Geologist
with Superior Oil Company. He explored for oil and gas primarily in south Louisiana and the Gulf of
Mexico for the next four years until he joined the team at Exxon/Mobil.
Ron enjoyed playing varsity tennis at Berry and managed to play on the West Georgia tennis team
his freshman year. Too many labs and not enough dedication, however, put an end to his competitive
tennis career after that year. While at the Academy, Ron was also a dedicated member of the
campus crew, working for "Pop" Cordle. There's no telling how many times Ron cut the grass on "The
Stretch" with that old, red Farmall tractor.
Ron reports the he bought his first electric guitar while at the Academy from Danny Murdock
(....before Danny accidentally tried to burn down Friendship Hall). Music quickly became a passion
while at West Georgia where he joined his first rock band. He has managed to continue playing in
various bands since that time and currently plays guitar in a blues/country rock band in Houston in
his spare time. When he retires Ron says, "I think I'll probably relocate to the Texas 'hill country'
somewhere outside of Austin....great music scene and lots of old hippies around there."
