Luther Crocker Snider

Luther Crocker Snider (1882–1947) was a Professor of Geology at the University of Texas at Austin, joining in 1941 after a career spanning academia, government, and the oil industry. He held roles as Chemist, Field Geologist, and Assistant Director of the Oklahoma Geological Survey (1909–1915), and later served oil companies including Pierce Oil, Cosden Oil, and Henry Doherty & Company. He specialized in petroleum geology and was the first UT geology faculty member to publish a textbook, Earth History, though this predates his UT tenure. His research emphasized petroleum exploration and geological methods relevant to the oil industry.

Education:

• BA, Indiana University, 1907 (Phi Beta Kappa)
• MA, Indiana University, 1908
• PhD, University of Chicago, 1915

Professional Contributions: Snider served as Editor of the AAPG Bulletin (1933–1937) and President of the AAPG (1940). His teaching and mentorship included supervision of 3 MA students during his 6-year tenure at UT. His unfinished second textbook reflects his commitment to geological education.

Legacy: Snider’s career bridged academic and industrial geology, impacting oil exploration strategies in Texas and beyond. His work with geological surveys and corporate roles positioned him as a key figure in early 20th-century petroleum geology.