Elliott 'Bud' Sherman (February 23, 1921 - January 10, 2003) was a man who could rub elbows with royalty or share a beer with a stranger at the Pyrenees with equal comfort. Bud was born in Palo Alto, California and raised in San Marino and Pasadena. He had great childhood stories about sneaking out to dive for coins in hotel fountains, being treated to the occasional soda by Walt Disney, and hiking the John Muir trails. A family classic is his secretly learning to fly at age 15 and buzzing his house to drive his mother crazy. He never lost his love for flying and he renewed his license and became an instrument-rated pilot at age 60.

Bud's college education at Stanford was interrupted by World War II. After the war, he transferred to UCLA where he received his degree in geology in 1947 and met his wife, Kay, his personal Delta Gamma sweetheart. Bud was a lifelong geologist, opening many fields and making significant discoveries. His career began with his father, RW Sherman, as a Class AA-1 Ditch Digger and included Talisman Oil Company, Continental Oil Company, and RS Rheem, ultimately founding his own consulting firm, Argosy Oil Company in 1963. Bud worked throughout California and also had experience in foreign exploration drilling wells in Brazil, South America, Sumatra and the Straits of Malacca in Thailand, Borneo, and the South Philippines.

A man of diverse interests, Bud was an avid reader and wood worker. He supported numerous charities and schools, including Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Garces Memorial High School and Santa Clara University. His involvement in Santa Clara ranged from serving as a member of the Board of Trustees to designing and building a boat trailer for the Santa Clara rowing program.

Bud is survived by his wife, Kay of 55 years; daughters, Kathleen Russell, Maureen (Mark) Braatz, Ann (Chris) Jones; six grandchildren; and his sister, Virginia Brewington (SPHS '45) and numerous family and friends.

Bakersfield Californian, January 14, 2003