This Day in History (1997): Al-Khowaiter Retires from Petroleum Engineering

From the Jan. 1, 1997 edition of The Arabian Sun

Othman H. Al-Khowaiter retires today after more than 32 years with Saudi Aramco.

Al-Khowaiter joined the Producing Department as a petroleum engineer in 1964, following graduation from the University of Texas at Austin with a bachelor of science degree in petroleum engineering.

In 1980, Al-Khowaiter was promoted to manager of the Quarayyah Seawater Plant, and in 1981, transferred to the Abqaiq Producing Operations department as manager. He became the general manager of Abqaiq Producing in 1982, Safaniyah Producing in 1986, and Drilling and Workover in 1990. He was named vice president of Petroleum Engineering and Development in January of 1996.

The most rewarding experience during his assignments was the teamwork he was able to establish among the various groups with whom he had the pleasure to work.

Al-Khowaiter intends to keep busy walking (last year he walked from Ras Tanura to Dhahran) and farming, and said he is willing to provide free consultation on caring for palm trees.

Also on this date:

2015 — The Eurasian Economic Union is created, offering a political economic union between Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan

2007 — Bulgaria and Romania join the EU

1999 — Euro currency is introduced in 11 member nations of the European Union

1994 — The North American Free Trade Agreement comes into effect

1985 — The first British mobile phone call is made by Michael Harrison to his father, Sir Ernest Harrison, chairman of Vodafone

1983 — The ARPANET officially changes to using TCP/IP, the Internet Protocol, effectively creating the internet

1979 — Normal diplomatic relations are established between the People's Republic of China and the U.S.

1971 — Cigarette advertisements are banned on American television

1965 — The People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan is founded in Kabul Afghanistan

1960 — Cameroon achieves independence from France and the U.K.

1912 — The Republic of China is established

1899 — Spanish rule ends in Cuba

1801 — Ceres, the largest and first-known object in the Asteroid belt, is discovered by Giuseppe Piazzi

1773 — The hymn that became known as "Amazing Grace" is first used to accompany a sermon

1438 — Albert II of Habsburg is crowned King of Hungary

153 BC — For the first time, Roman consuls begin their year in office on Jan. 1