Fonds F3408 - Dr. Laszlo Sikabonyi fonds

Dr. Laszlo Sikabonyi was born in Szigetvar, Hungary on June 12, 1927 and graduated with a diploma in geology and Geophysics and a PhD in Natural sciences from the University of Budapest. He also performed post graduate work in Moscow at the Lomonosow University and Imperial College, London. As a young geologist in Hungary, Sikabonyi worked for the Hungarian American Oil Company and Geological survey, and also lectured at the University of Budapest. While in Hungary he published several papers about manganese ore deposits in Hungary. He immigrated to Canada in 1954 and worked for Amoco, Hunt Oil and Placid Oil Co. He established Plains Geological Service Ltd in Calgary and also worked from 1964-1967 as a consulting geologist on many projects, including the discovery of the Rainbow Oilfield in Northern Alberta. He continued writing and publishing articles after moving to Canada, including releasing several books about petroleum geology.

Dr. Sikabonyi established several international petroleum exploration companies - Blue Star International Petroleums Ltd. and Polar Bear International Petroleums Ltd., which obtained licenses and permits around the world, including Germany, Kenya Ethiopia, Egypt, Italy and Hungary. In Hungary, Blue Star was awarded the first concessions granted to a foreign company since World War II.

Dr. Sikabonyi passed away on May 16, 1998 at his home in Rome, Italy. He is survived by his wife Mary Ellen (nee Baugh) and his four children.