By Kia Heavey
Dr. Kevin M. Bohacs has lived in Houston for most of his career, but he was born and raised in Greenwich. He credits his many childhood visits to the Bruce Museum and camp at the Greenwich Audubon Nature Center with awakening his life-long interest in science in general and geology in particular.
On Tuesday, Aug. 27, the American Geosciences Institute’s (AGI) presented Dr. Bohacs with the 202 4 Marcus Milling Legendary Geoscientist Medal “in recognition of his lifetime of notable achievements in the geosciences and global impact across disciplines.” The award was conferred at the International Meeting for Applied Geoscience & Engineering (IMAGE) in Houston.
The AGI presents the Medal to recognize individuals for their lifetime achievements in the Earth sciences. It honors those who have made consistent contributions through high-quality scientific achievements and service that demonstrate lasting, historic value. It celebrates geoscientists who have not only excelled in their research but have also been recognized for their contributions to professional societies, universities, or other organizations.
At the same event, Dr. Bohacs was also honored with the Sidney Powers Memorial Award. This award is bestowed by the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) to honor exceptional contributions to petroleum geology. AAPG’s highest honor, it recognizes distinguished achievements, celebrating individuals who significantly advance the field through innovation, education, or exploration and who embody excellence in the geological sciences.
Dr. Bohacs graduated from St. Mary parochial schools in Greenwich. He earned his B.Sc. in geology from the University of Connecticut in 1976 and his Sc.D. in experimental sedimentology from M.I.T. in 1981. He went on to lead a distinguished career in the geosciences and is particularly noted for his contributions to sedimentology and stratigraphy. Dr. B ohacs spent over 30 years with Exxon Mobil, where he focused on the study of lacustrine systems, mudstones, and sequence stratigraphy, significantly impacting the understanding of hydrocarbon source rock stratigraphy, among others. His research spanned the globe, leading him to far-flung locations often worthy of a Hollywood adventure film.
Not surprisingly, Dr. Bohacs is a long-time member of the storied Explorers’ Club, headquartered in New York City. His expertise also led ExxonMobil to “lend” him to other organizations, including a stint with NASA during which Bohacs helped the agency decide the best place to land the Mars Rover in hopes of finding evidence of water on the Red Planet. Beyond research, Dr. Bohacs has cheerfully donated time and expertise to education and community service, including roles in professional societies like AAPG and GSA.
The son of Mary and Julius Bohacs, Dr. Bohacs’s love of public service was ingrained during his youth in Greenwich. He was a member of Boy Scout Troop 1 in Byram, where he earned his Eagle Scout in 1971. He has served the Scouts in numerous roles ever since, including as a Geology merit badge counselor. This past July, he arranged a special tour of the gold mine at Philmont Scout Ranch for Greenwich Police Chief Jim Heavey’s Scout expedition trek crew. He volunteered with the Greenwich Fire Police and Amogerone Volunteer Fire Company No. 1. He earned his Emergency Medical Technician certification in the first EMT class held in Greenwich in 1972.
He also started his ongoing volunteer service with the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Services and Health and Safety Training Services in Greenwich, and he served as First Officer of the First Aid Detachment. In Houston, he rose to the positions of Disaster Services Chair for Texas and the Gulf Coast Region. Hurricanes Katrina and Rita happened on his watch.
Dr. Bohacs continues to reside in Houston with his wife of 32 years, Connecticut native Susan Mitterling. He currently operates KMBohacs GEOconsulting and continues to travel the world. He and Susan visit Greenwich several times a year to catch up with family and friends and to enjoy Shangri-La-on-the-Sound.
