Hezzie Raymond “Ray” Brannon, Jr.

Topics

Description

H.R. Brannon, Jr., a research scientist and engineer at Humble Oil & Refining Co. (a predecessor of ExxonMobil), co-wrote 10 technical publications, received 4 patents, and was a member of the National Academy of Engineering. In 1957, he was the lead author of a trailblazing article, “Radioactive Evidence on the Dilution of Atmospheric and Oceanic Carbon by Carbon from Fossil Fuels”. Through the study of the carbon isotopes in the wood of growing trees, Brannon’s team was able to trace both an increase in atmospheric carbon, and the contribution of fossil fuel combustion to that rise. The Brannon group’s work shows that there was early understanding and industry interest in tracking fossil fuel’s impact on the carbon cycle and atmospheric CO2 levels.

Location Notes

Brannon and his team at Humble Oil did their pioneering carbon isotope research in the Humble Research Center, later the Exxon Mobil Upstream Research Center, at 3120 Buffalo Speedway, Houston Texas 77098. Perhaps a sign in that vicinity would be good.

Bibliography

Brannon, H.R., Jr., A.C. Daughtry, D. Perry, W.W. Whitaker, M. Williams. “Radiocarbon Evidence on the Dilution of Atmospheric and Oceanic Carbon by Carbon from Fossil Fuels.” Eos, Transactions of the American Geophysical Union, Volume 38, Issue 5, october 1957, pp. 643-650.