William A. Zagorski, Marcellus shale division vice president of geology at Range Resources Corp. (NYSE: RRC), will be honored by the American Association of Petroleum Geologists with the organization's Norman H. Foster Outstanding Explorer Award this Spring.

According to the release, the AAPG is recognizing Zagorski for his leading role in the development of the Marcellus shale. The Norman H. Foster Outstanding Explorer Award is given in recognition of distinguished and outstanding achievement in exploration for petroleum or mineral resources. He will be recognized during the AAPG's annual convention in Pittsburgh in May.

Zagorski has also been named the “Father of the Marcellus” by the Pittsburgh Association of Petroleum Geologists.

Zagorski led the Range Resources geosciences team that pioneered the development of the Marcellus shale as a world-class shale gas discovery in Washington, Pa., in 2004, according to the release.