AASP Primary Records Program
Dick Hedlund
Photo
Richard A. Hedlund
Where are They Now Series
Judy Lentin
AASP Newsletter 25(2): p. 16, 1992.
At the time of the organizational meeting of AASP, Dick was employed by Atlantic-Richfield Co. as a research palynologist in Plano, Texas. His chief responsibility was as project supervisor for the southern Alaska Basins project. In 1971, he left Texas and returned to Oklahoma where he worked for Amoco Production Company as a staff research scientist, research group supervisor and Special Research Associate until he elected to take early retirement this year. His research for Amoco included mainly Mesozoic and Cenozoic biostratigraphic applications on a world-wide basis.
Dick was a member of the original Constitution Committee, was elected Councillor in 1968, originated the Membership Directory in the same year, served four years as Editor, and was elected President of the Association for the 1973-1974 term. He served in several other capacities and was Co-Chairman of the 1977 Annual Meeting in Tulsa. He has served as Trustee of the AASP Foundation from its inception in 1977 to the present and is the Editor of the "Contributions Series". He was a recipient of the Association's Distinguished Service Award in 1983. In addition, Dick has authored numerous technical reports for publication in various journals.
Dick and his wife Donita still live at 6923 South Knoxville Ave, in Tulsa, where he plans to continue doing research. Their three sons have left the nest (almost): Richard Jr. is a dentist in Oklahoma, Phiillips is employed in marketeing in Houston, and Karl Eric is finishing his sophomore year at Westminster College. Dick continues to pursue his "hobby" as an organist/choirmaster in their parish church and he and his wife plan to spend some time traveling in the future.
Dick's palynologic interests are wide-ranging and include Mesozoic/Cenozoic pollen and dinoflagellate cysts and their applications in solving chronostratigraphic problems. He is available for consulting in these areas and plans to remain active in the scientific community.