The Louisiana Gulf Coast Oil Exposition’s symbolic golden hardhat will be worn at this year’s event by a “wildcatter.”

In recognition of his years of service in the oil and gas industry and his tireless commitment to his community, Dwight S. “Bo” Ramsay is honored as the 2011 “LAGCOE Looey.”

In his almost 60 years of oil and gas exploration experience, he has been witness to the many ups and downs of the oil industry.

Yet, geared with the optimism of a true explorer, Ramsay has welcomed the opportunities afforded by changing business cycles.

“So much has changed from the companies that I knew early on such as Pure, Gulf, Union Producing and Texaco,” Ramsay said in a news release.

“The new generations of oil producers have continued to advance our technologies, causing more and more areas to open up,” said Ramsay, an industry veteran whose career began when the price of oil was $3.50 a barrel.

A veteran of World War II and the Korean Conflict, Ramsey — armed with a geology degree — began his oil industry career in 1952.

His exploration work discovered sizeable fields in Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas.

He then ventured into the offshore marine business and now his company, Aries Marine Corp., employs approximately 300 people — some of whom are just now receiving their 30-year commendation.

Ramsay’s philanthropy has improved the quality of education in Acadiana, supported Bridge Ministries, his church and the Lafayette Community Health Care Clinic.

For his service to the community, he was recognized by the Planned Giving Counsel of Acadiana as the outstanding Philanthropist in 2007, and recently, the Upper Lafayette Foundation recognized his philanthropy in 2011.

Ramsay is a member of the Lafayette Geological Society and the Colorado and Kansas Societies. He is a certified professional geologist by the American Association of Petroleum Geologist and is a member of the Society of Independent Professional Earth Scientists.