His career began at
Standard Oil of Indiana in the 1930s and included increasingly important research and management positions at
Mobil Oil, Houdri Process Company,
Air Products, and the
M.W. Kellogg Company, of which Oblad became vice president of research. Among his most recognized achievements was development of
catalytic cracking, a process he worked on with
Eugene Houdry and others that made economically feasible the low-cost, mass production of high-octane
gasoline. After a distinguished career in industry, Oblad accepted a teaching and research position at the
University of Utah as Distinguished Professor of Fuels Engineering, where he also served for several years as acting college dean. Oblad received honorary doctorate degrees from both the
University of Utah and
Purdue University in recognition of his contributions to each institution. A lifelong member of
the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and dedicated husband and father of six, Oblad died in 2000 of causes incident to age. Oblad also wrote an article on the work of
Eugene Jules Houdry and was a member of the
National Academy of Engineering and the
National Academy of Sciences. ==Sources==