AASG HONORARY MEMBERS 2012 Honorary Member Report... · Web viewFall I continue research on coastal...

2012Honorary Members

Report

AASG HONORARY MEMBERS 2012

GENEVIEVE ATWOOD UTAH I continue with all what I've been up to for the past decade.

Spring semesters I teach (adjunct) at the U of Utah in the geography department...Geography of Utah and Analysis of Utah Landforms.

Summers I teach teachers via school districts... all outside, no inside sessions: rocks and minerals of Wasatch Front; landforms of Wasatch Front; geologic history of the Wasatch Front; Great Salt Lake - evidence of climate changes; and Earth Science Outside.

Fall I continue research on coastal processes of Great Salt Lake. Finally, I've hit my stride with confidence to teach using web / podcasts as well as face to face.

Every day in every way I wake up and fight for Earth science education. Don and I do okay. We get older, 'natch. Hugs to all...

Genevieve

Earth Science Education30 North U Street; Salt Lake City, Utah 84103Phone: 801-534-1896Email: [email protected]

EARL H. BENNETT IDAHOWe had another good year in Idaho. I won all of the “old people awards” that are

given out for those in their late 60s last year and will now have to wait until my 80s to win the really old “survivor awards.” Got rid of my job as president of the Univ. of Idaho Retirees Assoc. but picked up the presidency of the North Idaho Chamber of Commerce (NICC). The NICC only does one thing; we bring all of the Idaho legislators to north Idaho right after the election. This is supposed to introduce them to the northern part of the state. The tour costs about $80K and the only reason I mention it is that everyone is so enamored with our legislature that the suggestion was made that we raise $25K and distribute it to the legislators only if they promise to stay home and never come to north Idaho.

My ongoing interest in history paid off as I used my knowledge of National Banks to help sell an old $5 banknote for $50,000 to support a museum in the Silver Valley of north Idaho. Continued working for the State Historical Society and several county societies and of course, worked diligently at my most important volunteer job as City Historian for Genesee, ID (population 800 on a good day).

Did some consulting and pretty much stayed in the state. Carol is great and so are our Yorkies.

Earl

151 Pine St. P.O. Box 157; Genesee, Idaho 83832Phone: 208-285-1354Email: [email protected]

1


THOMAS M. BERG OHIOThe year 2011 was a time of construction for the Berg Family. After many years of

waiting and planning, we finally built a cabin on our property in the Catskill Mountains. The land (about 4 acres) was given to Betty and me by her father in the 1960s, and was a last remaining parcel of land owned by the Brandow family since the late Eighteenth Century. Betty’s dad was a dairy farmer, and he had worked the farm since he was a boy. Our five children always cherished memories of the farm and the smell of cows and silage. So we kept the land for the kids and their memories.

We purchased a “Mountain King” cabin kit from Conestoga Log Cabins. Our son Michael was in charge of all the planning and organization. I supervised the drilling of a water well. The cabin arrived on July 14 on one of the biggest tractor-trailers I’ve ever seen. My four sons, one son-in-law, four grandsons, and three granddaughters all converged on the site and put the thing together in three weeks. Because of my bad left leg, my assigned task was to build all the interior cabinets. Betty and our daughter Anne were chief cooks for the work crew. It was truly amazing to watch my children and grandchildren put the cabin together. I never knew they had learned how to use complicated tools and heavy equipment. It helped that my son Peter has a degree in architecture from Temple University. The roof is very steeply pitched, so we hired a local builder to install that. It also helped that my youngest son Steve learned how to use heavy machinery in the Marine Corps. There is still some interior work to be done, but we can now go and enjoy our log cabin in the Catskills in our elder years. We have named the place “Brandowdale,” which is the name Betty’s dad gave to the original farm.

During 2011, I served as President of the Ohio Section of AIPG, and I continue on the Executive Committee for 2012 as Past-President. In 2011, a lot was accomplished. The full report is at http://www.aipg-ohio.org/aipg_ohio/resources/aipg-oh-sect-ann-rept-2011.pdf. We are currently working on a resolution to restore general-revenue funding to the Ohio Geological Survey. As President of the Ohio Section, I attended the Annual AIPG Meeting in Illinois.

Our family continues to grow. In addition to our five grown children, we have 15 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren.

In 2011, I continued my service as a Deacon in the Catholic Church, but stepped back somewhat, moving into a “semi-retired” status.

In the arena of geologic research, I did some work on a number of very large trace fossils that I discovered in the Monongahela Group in southeast Ohio. They appear to be dwelling burrows and belly furrows of fish or amphibians. I gave a paper on the subject at the 2012 North-Central GSA Meeting in Dayton.

Betty and I send best wishes to all the Honorary Members and current State Geologists in AASG. I won’t be able to attend the Texas meeting, but hope to make the next.

Best wishes to all,

Tom1304 Durness CourtColumbus, Ohio 43235-2191Phone: 614 431 2480Email: [email protected]

2

http://www.aipg-ohio.org/aipg_ohio/resources/aipg-oh-sect-ann-rept-2011.pdf


JOHN P. BLUEMLE NORTH DAKOTAMary and I won't be able to make it to the meeting in Austin. We keep busy with our

writing and photography, and following the ongoing Bakken oil play, which some think has gotten out of hand in North Dakota. The drilling and production are providing revenue and jobs so the state's economy is in great shape. With the rapid increase in activity come more people and traffic than our small towns are used to or ready to deal with. Even some of the ghost towns have come back to life. There are no rooms available so I have to round-trip it if I want to do anything in the area -- or reserve a few months in advance. Most people still think the oil is a plus; certainly those who own mineral rights do.

I recently wrote a book on North Dakota's landforms, and the publisher asked me to add a chapter on our energy industry, as he thinks that might make it sell better. I'm sure he is right, but I'm having some trouble on the part dealing with oil and gas, as it changes daily (or at least the level of activity, technology, and economics of it change -- the geology seems more reliable).

I hope you have a great meeting!

John

2714 Mercury LaneBismarck, North Dakota 58503-0472Phone: 701-258-4981Email: [email protected]

WILLIAM V. BUSH ARKANSASI could probably send last year’s letter and cover most of our activities over the past

year. I’m still listed as a consulting geologist, but about all I do is help friends and landowners with gas leases and a few groundwater requests. .My rock hammer gets more activity in the flower beds than on the outcrop.

Retha and I remain very active in our church doing volunteer work. Retha still teaches English as a Second Language and works with young mothers. I get by the survey to keep up with new projects and offer my advice and political support whether they ask for it or not. It’s the only place in town I can get a free cup of coffee.

I’m still on the ole golf course about 100 times a year. In fact Retha and I along with three other couples are going to Branson, MO next week for three days of golf for the men, a good show for all, and I’m sure some shopping for the women.

I enjoy getting AASG emails over the year to keep up with survey activities. I am very proud of the work that the surveys are undertaking. So many new names.

Bill

11225 Gila Valley DriveLittle Rock, Arkansas 72212-3507Phone: 501-223-9228Email: [email protected]

3

mailto:[email protected]


EMERY T. CLEAVES MARYLANDThe past year began with a six week summer “vacation” at the family cottage in

Maine. The usual routine of visiting was highlighted by two family weddings. We came away enriched from the experience of renewal with family and friends as we tapped the roots of our family history and welcomed the future of the young couples.

In the fall we enjoyed Grandparents Events in Cary, North Carolina with Juliet’s and John’s four children at their schools.

At home we are active at church, and always challenged by outdoor activities in our yard’s many flower gardens.

Last winter my activities were curtailed by hospitalization due to complications of diabetes.

I continue as a member of the State Water Quality Advisory Committee, and remain committed to a strong, statewide stream gauging and groundwater water quality and water level monitoring networks.

VICKI J. COWART COLORADOAs for an update on my last year - it was more of the same but more intense. The

work I do is pretty well captured in the headlines - legislatures and Congress try to restrict women's access to health care, and Planned Parenthood stands up for the women.

This year we also hit the news because of Komen's heavy handed capitulation to the anti forces - but in the end, Komen got it right and came back. My organization got all our original Komen funding for the breast health work we do plus lots of folks sent us more money so we opened breast health programs in new locations. Women who need health care help won this round. (BTW: last year Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains got 4.5% of Komen Denver's grants yet we found 19% of all the cancers they helped find). I love the work!

On the personal front - Chris and I will celebrate our 25th anniversary this fall! Personal bests for both of us!

Vicki

Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains7155 E. 38th AvenueDenver, ColoradoPhone: 303-321-7526Email: [email protected]

JAMES F. DAVIS CALIFORNIASally and I valued our experience at the 2011 AASG annual meeting in Dubuque

last year. We have moved from our home in Carmichael, CA, near Sacramento and after 32 years, to Madison, WI where our daughter Virginia Hayes, our son-in-law Brian and our four grandchildren reside. Our son, Victor remains in Napa, CA. This move took place just before the GSA 2011 annual meeting so we were unable to attend even though the meeting

4


took place in nearby Minneapolis. I regret among other things missing the AASG midyear meetings.

Although I miss my friends and colleagues in geology in California and the western states, I am reconnecting with many friends in the midcontinent region. This June we are planning a move from our small suite in Ginny's and Brian's home to a retirement center here in Madison. As a result, that process will not make it possible for us to be present at the AASG 2012 annual meeting in Texas.

We look forward to being present at the ASSG annual meeting in 2013. In the meantime we still are planning to reconnect with many of you at the 2013 GSA meeting in

North Carolina and I look forward to being at the AASG meeting at that event. Sally and I remain in good health.

I am still active in many geoscience-related activities.

All of the best,

Jim

c/o Brian Hayes7013 Bluff Point DriveMadison, Wisconsin 53718Phone: 916-487-6125Email: [email protected] H. FAKUNDINY NEW YORK

The last year was good to Anne and me, and was fun.

On the contrary, the New York State Geological Survey has had a bumpy time. It is possible that the State Geologist, Taury Smith, will not be allowed to attend the meeting. Bill Kelly and I will attend. Anne and I have been traveling a bit since last year’s meeting: riverboat trip from Moscow to St. Petersburg last August, a week in Barbados in February, and a riverboat trip in Belgium and Holland to see tulips. Kayaking, biking, gardening, and exercise classes take a bunch of our time.

I have been trying to wrap up the writing of my old research projects. It’s more difficult without deadlines. I have also continued to consult to New York State on the geology of radioactive-waste disposal in western New York.

Anne will not be able to attend the meeting this year, but she sends greetings to all of the good friends she has made over the years. I can’t wait for the meeting, since Austin is my old “stompen” grounds.

5



Sorry to hear of the passing of our colleagues who had serve the association so well. And great to hear of Bill Hambleton’s 90th birthday.

Bob

3288 River Road 9-JRensselaer, New York 12144Phone: 518-465-1808Email: [email protected] D. FELLOWS ARIZONA

I was sorry to miss the Iowa meeting – I’m an Iowa native and graduate of Iowa State. We’ll miss the meeting this year because we’ll be in England, Wales, and Scotland at that time.

A lot has happened during the past year. Our three sons all live within a short drive and we see our grandkids regularly. I hike regularly, lead geology “walks,” work in the garden, take lots of pictures, and am active in a men’s club.

Every year in mid January I lead a geology tour or two at a birding event in Willcox, 90 mi. southeast of Tucson. I’ve represented the Arizona Geological Survey at that event for the last 12 years, including seven after retirement.

My men’s club, the Foothills Forum, has 125 members, mostly retired. Each year for the last several years a handful of them have accompanied me on “geology walks” in the foothills of the Catalina Mountains on the North side of Tucson. It’s good exercise and a great way to get better acquainted with other members. In October I begin a two-year term as chairman of the club.

Gardening is a fun activity for me. Our summers are just too hot (for me) so I concentrate on a winter garden, with good success. We eat “organic” garden-fresh veggies from December to April.

My most fun activity during the year was creating photobooks. Since January 1 I’ve done eight of them. It’s an ideal way to put digital images into attractive hard-cover books that record images that otherwise would have to be viewed on your computer or TV screen.

Jeanne and I love to travel and hope we still have a few good years left to do that. We’re hoping we’ll be able to attend the 2013 AASG meeting. Best regards to all of the Members, Associates, and especially the Honoraries. Knowing Scott, I’m betting the meeting will be a huge success!

Larry

2021 Shalimar WayTucson, Arizona 85704Phone: 520-742-4888Email: [email protected]

6


WILLIAM L. FISHER TEXASStill teaching full time, two graduate courses and one undergraduate course yearly,

supervising graduate students, and doing a modest amount of research.

Away from the University I am doing some consulting and serving on the board of a Brazilian start-up E&P company, chairing the AAPG Foundation and few other professional activities, but much less than earlier.

Still do a bit of ranching but less of that with every year that passes.

I will attend at least part of the Austin meeting and hope to meet some new hands and visit with some older ones.

Bill

8705 Ridgehill DriveAustin, Texas 78703Phone 512-471-1797Email: wfisher@ mail.utexas.edu

PETER T. FLAWN TEXASIt has been 42 years since I have been a State Geologist. I served from 1960 until

1970. So my memories of AASG and the meetings I attended are ancient history.

I have an office in the Jackson School of Geosciences building at The University of Texas and, in fact, my office is next to Bill Fisher's, whose associations with AASG are much more recent than mine.

I knew Ian Campbell so I have followed the email exchanges about the Ian Campbell Medal with interest. The most recent issue of "The State Geologists Journal" that I have in my library is dated 2002, as is the State Geological Survey Fact Book.

Peter

3718 Bridle PathAustin, Texas 78703Phone: 512-471-1797Email: [email protected]

MIMI R. GARSTANG MISSOURIThis year has allowed Dennis and I to enjoy our family, our new home and also

travel to many places where we have not frequented previously. We spent time in Florida, Arizona (the Grand Canyon) and Mexico. We also toured many new attractions in both the Chicago and Washington, DC areas where our two youngest sons currently live.

About mid-year, I found that I had more free time than I really wanted to have at this point in my life. Therefore, I began to explore job opportunities in the greater Kansas City area. I am currently working part time for Leggette Brashears and Graham, Inc. For those of you not familiar with the company, they are recognized as Environmental

7


Engineering and Groundwater Remediation Professionals. They have offices in about 16 states across the nation. I have really enjoyed the opportunity to get back into site characterization and remediation activities.

I now have totally occupied ALL my free time! I have continued to do volunteer charity work and spend time with grandkids!

Mimi

6005 NW 103rd StreetKansas City, Missouri 64154Email: [email protected]

GARY B. GLASS WYOMINGNothing new here in Wyoming. We still have our booth in the local flea market,

where we sell antiques, collectibles and just about anything else. Church activities and thirteen grandchildren account for most of the rest of our time. I still find myself identifying rocks, minerals and fossils for family, friends and acquaintances and helping people with natural gas, oil and coal questions, although I warn them that you get what you pay for and my identifications and advice is free.

Judy and I are both in good health with the usual aches and complaints of those our age. Sure don't miss these budget tightening times as that was something I lived with through my tenure as State Geologist. On the other hand, it was good training for living on a fixed income.

Best regards to all,

Gary

1309 ReynoldsLaramie, Wyoming 82072Phone: 307-471-1772Email: [email protected] G. GROAT LOUISIANAMy current activities at The University of Texas at Austin include:

Director, Center for International Energy and Environmental PolicyDirector and Graduate Advisor, Energy and Earth Resources Graduate programAssociate Director, Energy InstituteJackson Chair in Energy and Mineral Resources, Department of Geological SciencesProfessor, LBJ School of Public Affairs

I am currently on leave serving as President and CEO of The Water Institute of the Gulf, a new not-for-profit corporation based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. It conducts research into coastal and deltaic systems with the objective of providing a better

8


understanding of processes that will lead to innovative approaches to coastal restoration and protection. The url is: thewaterinstitute.org.

Best regards,

Chip

Jackson School of GeosciencesThe University of Texas at Austin1 University Station C1100Austin, Texas 78712Phone: 512-471-1772Email: [email protected]

CHARLES W. HENDRY, JR. FLORIDAI have nothing to report on regarding my Honorary Status except that I still live at the

Westminster Oaks Continuing Care facility in Tallahassee, FL and stay as active as life permits.

"Bud"

2758 Timbertrail CircleTallahassee, Florida 32308Phone: 850-877-2436Email: [email protected] M. HOSKINS PENNSYLVANIA

Up until December 2011 I continued mapping with one of the PAGS’ staff in a Ridge and Valley Province quadrangle. In trying to resolve the Devonian Marcellus stratigraphy there we discovered a nearby outcrop with a thrust fault truncating a complex overturned fold. Stress directions of the fold and fault are widely separated. Although more work will be done, we apparently have in a single outcrop evidence for two sequential Alleghanian deformations that we know are present in the Appalachians but usually show up as very large refolded thrusts.

In January I had my right knee replaced which led to a femur fracture resulting in a long (26 day) hospital stay and longer recuperation plus the discovery of AML for which I now am engaged in a clinical chemotherapy trial.

9



This is my last year as AASG’s Honorary Member representative to the Executive Committee. Thanks to all for responding to my many messages sent via the AASG mail list and individually.

Don5403 Rodgers Ave. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17112-2573Phone: 717-545-8406Email: [email protected] A. HULL OREGON

Sandi & I will likely miss the meeting in Austin due to prior travel commitments.

During the past year we have been spending most of our time at the coast (you know the appeal of Cannon Beach) with travel to visit kids, spoil grandkids and attend conferences. In Cannon Beach we are busy with volunteer work at the local library, history museum, and church.

I work with the city to prepare for the "Big One"; with an active subduction zone under our feet the ever present threat of earthquakes & tsunamis requires ongoing public education and evacuation preparation. Now that debris from last year's Japanese event is washing up on our beach the reality of this scenario is even more real.

DonP O Box 742Cannon Beach, Oregon 97110Phone: 503-436-1307Email: [email protected] S. JOHNSON VIRGINIA

The past year (2011) and so far this year has been as most in the past—busy as busy can be for Shelby and myself. The problem is that as we get older, the slower we get and thus the longer it takes for us to get things done. These are simple things—cutting the grass, cleaning house, taking care of pets/cars/etc.

My consulting is still limited to only one client—Pounding Mill Quarry Corporation. They made me a Vice President of Geology. One problem is that the quarries are a four-hour drive out of Charlottesville. I try to limit my on ground contact to twice a month. The contact is mainly with the mine engineer and the two geochemical labs we established for quality control on our production of high-calcium limestone. Day to day contact is by cell phone. In March, we started drilling about 5,000 feet of core to aid us in our stripping and production for the next four to five years. We installed two new XRF units this year and I’m pretty busy making sure of our quality control on the two new units.

Health wise, we are both in pretty good shape. We have all of the normal aches and pains for our age—mainly arthritis. The docs want to take both my knees and replace them

10



—I plan to keep them as long as possible. Now, I have a problem with my back. Shelby is doing great regarding her heart. She has now developed a very strong case for glaucoma and I put drops in both eyes each night.

One of our kids is employed. Linda is with the Charlottesville Fire Department. Linda still has her business in teaching emergency medical care to the area rescue squads. David was employed by Munday Quarries as Assistant to the President and oversaw all operations of their four plants as the Operations Manager. He was released from Munday Quarries in November of 2010 and is still looking for permanent employment. Munday Quarries was put up for sale and was purchased by another Virginia company in late 2011.

We will not see you folks in Texas, but will see everyone in Arizona (we hope). One of our main reasons for not attending Texas is the heat (Shelby) and we cannot take those long hikes (field trips) because of my knees and our arthritis.

The best of everything to each of you.

Stan1016 Holmes AvenueCharlottesville, Virginia 22901Phone: 434-296-2683Email: [email protected] F. KASABACH NEW JERSEY

Hello fellow Honoraries. We decided that it would be a bit too stressful to attend the Texas meeting this year and also enjoy various family activities which have taken precedence. The first is to be on hand for the birth of our youngest son’s twins at the end of May. These are their first children and we will be going to Pittsburgh and helping them for several weeks. Following the Pittsburgh trip, we will be taking our other son’s family to Germany and Switzerland for our 50th Wedding Anniversary, while the grandsons are still young enough (11 & 13) to be excited to be traveling with their grandparents.

Last year I had two operations to place 5 stents around my heart as two of the three grafted arteries from my earlier by-pass had become clogged as well a couple of other ones. Following my recovery Carol suddenly became seriously ill and ended up in the hospital for 12 days with a tick-borne disease called babesiosis, which is similar to malaria, and also contracted a bacterial lung infection. After her hospitalization, it took nearly 5 months of various drugs to finally get rid of the chronic cough.

11


We both are now in reasonably good health and back to gardening and volunteering. I am still on several county advisory boards as well as the town environmental commission and planning board and keeping busy as the secretary and trustee of the Sterling Hill Mining Museum and church activities.

Haig8 Ryerson DriveTrenton, New Jersey 08690Phone: 609-586-7590Email: [email protected] M. KELLEY NEW YORK

I published, digitally, New York State Museum Record #3, "Mineral Industry of the State of New York, 2007-2010 with a report on the Economic Impact of the New York State Mining and Construction Materials Industry" the latter part in conjunction with a couple of economists. Subsequent to the digital release, I raised additional funds to have the thing published in hard copy, this at the request of the New York State Construction Materials Association, the main industry representative group for mining, etc., in NY. The hard copy publication was released last month. The report presents a summary of current mining activity statewide with specific chapters focused on the sand & gravel, crushed stone, cement, ready-mix concrete, and hot-mix asphalt industries, along with the aforementioned economic impact analysis. It is meant to provide some perspective for planners, legislators, and regulators on the importance of mining in NY.

Additionally, I am working with a retired USGS geologist to complete and publish a legacy bedrock map of a quadrangle just north of NY City. This map has been the most requested open file map from the NYSGS and its author passed away before publication was completed. Currently, the map and overlays have been digitized and I am editing the accompanying manuscript.

For my sins, I'm still active in the perpetual (18 year) struggle to pass legislation providing for professional licensure for geologists in NY. After initial positive movement by both houses of the legislature in the '90s, and having been passed by every session of the State Senate since the bill was introduced, the bill has been stalled in the NYS Assembly due to opposition from another (well funded) professional organization. However, we endeavor to persevere.

All for now. Take care.

Bill

57 Bauer RoadAverill Park, New York 12018Phone: 518-486-2002Email: [email protected] L. KOCH IOWA

12




I have been somewhat up and down health wise during the past year RE my Multiple Myeloma condition. In February, I began a new program of chemotherapy----I had been receiving intravenous injections of Velcade twice, weekly, but the chemical became less and less effective thru time. In February, I started a new chemo program with a pill called Revlimid—it is stronger than Velcade and has a more adverse affect on blood parameters. Last week, I needed a transfusion of two pints of Packed Red Blood Cells, which perked me up immensely. So far, I am at least at 85% RE not being so short of breath and not being so fatigued.

Jean and I are registered for the Austin meeting--we will do some touring in Louisiana before heading to Austin. I am hoping that I can participate in the field trips without wearing out.

Don1431 Prairie du Chien RoadIowa City, Iowa 52245Phone: 319-338-6429Email: [email protected]

RAYMOND LASMANIS WASHINGTONI am still fully employed with the Washington Department of Natural Resources.

After years in management, I am enjoying being an in-house consultant in all matters relating to mineral economics from leasing of state trust lands for sand/gravel, coal, metals, and oil/gas to oversight of actual operations. I have also been involved in doing mineral evaluations for all state land transactions from acquisitions to land exchanges. Serving as an expert in court has added extra spice to my work.

Personally, I am still an avid mineral collector and recently have been elected President of the Rice NW Museum of Rocks & Minerals in Hillsboro, Oregon.

Ray

PO Box 149Rainier, Washington 98576Phone 360-902-1056Email: [email protected]

MORRIS W. LEIGHTON ILLINOISThis past year, I attended the AASG Meeting in Dubuque, Iowa on June 12-15 with

two members of my family in tow, Kathy and Rachel Lee, my middle daughter and granddaughter from Satellite Beach, Florida. Both took great delight in attending, meeting many of you, and seeing what Dad/Grampa used to do. This year in Austin, Texas, I will be accompanied by Kari and Kami Downey, my youngest daughter and granddaughter from Tallahassee, Florida. My oldest daughter, Randi Leighton, from Dora Creek, Australia, attended the AASG in Illinois in 2006 at the time of the ISGS' Centennial; so after the Austin Meeting, I can boast that all three of my daughters have attended at least one of the

13


AASG Meetings, and of course, Jean was at many, many, many of them too. It has been great having them and introducing them to such an august group.

So, I am keeping my hand in geology at the ripe old age of 85, turning 86 after the AASG meeting next month.

I continue to have lunch on occasion with Bill Shilts in his new capacity as Executive Director of the Prairie Research Institute, the University of Illinois organization to whom the scientific surveys at Urbana-Champaign now report.

I had planned to attend the GSA Meeting in Minneapolis-St. Paul last October, but had to cancel out at the last minute. Other trips have included visits with family and friends in Australia and Florida both last year and this plus one by plane to Denver, then rental car to Yellowstone, the Grand Tetons, and Glacier National Park (and back to Chicago by train) this past September. I still love to travel. That keeps the blood stirring. I plan to keep traveling as long as I can.

Three highlights included seeing my Australian grandson, Steven Flynn, graduate with honors from the University of New South Wales this past March in Sydney, Australia, and then watching my granddaughter, Rachel Lee graduate (as co-valedictorian of her class) from high school in May in Satellite Beach, Florida, followed by celebrating my granddaughter Kami Downey's achievements completing her course work at a technical and vocational college in Tallahassee, Florida. Steve has a job with ExxonMobil as a project engineer in their refinery in Melbourne, Australia; Rachel is heading up to Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, her 1st choice, to pursue research in neuroscience, and Kami will initially be working with her parents in their lovely Magnolia Cafe just north of Tallahassee.

Best regards to all in the AASG!!

Brud

302 E. Sherwin DriveUrbana, Illinois 61802Phone: 217-367-8448Email: [email protected]

ERNEST A. MANCINI ALABAMA I retired from the University of Alabama in December 2009 and started the Berg-

Hughes Center for Petroleum and Sedimentary Systems (BHC) at Texas A&M University in January 2010. The UA was especially kind to me, and I plan to teach part time in the future in the department. The focus of the BHC is to foster and support integrated geoscience and petroleum engineering teaching and research. I am at TAMU every other week teaching, supervising the research of three graduate students, and directing the activities and functions of the BHC from September to May. I stay at the La Quinta close to campus so I can walk back and forth to the office of the BHC in the Halbouty Building.

I received the Don R. Boyd Medal from the Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies in 2011.

14


I spent two years as the principal organizer of an AAPG Hedberg Research Conference on Microbial Carbonate Reservoir Characterization. We will hold the conference in Houston from June 3 to 8, 2012. My research since 1996 has chiefly focused on microbialites. Microbial carbonates are a major petroleum reservoir offshore Brazil and Angola. I have also taught short courses for industry over the past 4 years on microbial carbonates. Marilyn and I live in Northport, Alabama (same house since 1989) 60% of the time, and in Condon in the Swan Valley, Montana (since 2006) 40% of the time. We travel a great deal with our 4 grandchildren. Last year we spent two weeks with our grandsons in Italy visiting our family. This summer our daughters and their families will be with us for two weeks in the Swan Valley, Montana.

I keep in close contact with AASG members, particularly Bob Jordan, Nick Tew and Bill Fisher. I hope you all have an outstanding AASG meeting in Texas.Best regards,

Ernie15271 Four Winds LoupNorthport, Alabama 35475Phone 205-339-4262Email: [email protected]

EDWIN A. NOBLE NORTH DAKOTAVia telephone, Ned Noble called to say that he wishes well to all. He is presently

restricted to a walker.11407 Great Meadow DriveReston, Virginia 22091Phone 703-860-4499DONALD F. OLTZ ALABAMA

This year was spent fishing onshore, moving, fishing offshore, putting an addition on the house, fishing.

I've also been active on the rubber chicken circuit again, trying to explain what "fracking" is all about to people that don't know what a well looks like. Also had some input at the state level on fracking and will address an engineering convention at the end of June, on fracking.Regards to all.

Don50 Pier PointeNew Bern, North Carolina 28562-8925Phone: 252-636-2905Email: [email protected]

15



JAY PARRISH PENNSYLVANIAI started my second year of teaching remote sensing for Penn State University's

Dutton Institute. I attended the UAV-g conference in Zurich and will be teaching a course on UAS (drones) this fall. I also had the privilege of a behind the scenes visit to the Louvre's conservation department to pick up some image data, and visited with Pascal Cotte (http://www.lumiere-technology.com/) for the image processing part of my seminar. The class also covers radar, thermal and ethics. For the ethics part, take a look at the work of the Satellite Sentinel Project (www.satsentinel.org).

I continue to teach a basic remote sensing class as well. And you don't have to be in the graduate program to take the courses. (https://www.e-education.psu.edu/).

On a more medical note, I continue to have problems with my heart valve and will probably need a replacement this year.

Jay

Pennsylvania State University2217 Earth-Engineering Sciences BuildingUniversity Park, Pennsylvania 16802-6813Phone: 717-468-5748Email: [email protected]

CHARLES A. RATTE VERMONTAt age 85 and Judy at 76, we are still actively helping with the chores of running an

experimental organic farm (owned by my daughter and son-in-law). They provide us with housing and all of the organic vegetables we can eat. I am "In Charge" of the raspberries, tomatoes, and mowing the lawns (a ride-on mower, of course), and put in time planting and weeding. Other than problems with bad knees, the 1/2 dozen pills I take every day seem to keep the aging body going (at half speed). No complaints!

ChuckP. O. Box 263Saxton River, Vermont 05154Phone: 508-693-9533Email: [email protected] SCHMIDT FLORIDA

I have recently been determined to be out of remission and I am again beginning chemo. Due to my dialysis and chemo schedule, I will not be able to attend the annual meeting, although I had hoped to be able to make it. I am a home body just going to doctor appointments. I am in good spirits and hope for another stem cell transplant in six months or so.

16


https://www.e-education.psu.edu/

http://www.satsentinel.org/

http://www.lumiere-technology.com/


Cheryl and I took a cruise in March to the southern Caribbean. We had a great time. Cheryl is planning on working another year then retiring next summer. She will continue teaching at the Tallahassee Community College.

I hope all have a successful meeting, the agenda and associated field trips look great, sorry I can't make it.

Walt6663 Chevy Chase WayTallahassee, Florida 32317-7412Phone: 850-877-3455Email: [email protected] A. SCHOLLE NEW MEXICO

I have little to report other than that I have really enjoyed my first year of retirement and have spent it, wisely I think, mainly in unwinding, hiking with my two dogs, rock-hounding, learning lapidary techniques, organizing photos and collections sorely neglected over the past decades, and reading scientific literature again in an attempt to get back to doing a bit of research. I have given a few lectures for AAPG, have taken on consulting projects (I'm off to Denmark for a month of work on North Sea chalks), and am revising an old AAPG memoir on sandstone petrography with some colleagues.

It has been especially nice to wake each morning and ask myself what I will do that day. Sadly, not a question that ever came up previously. I'll be at the Austin meeting and look forward to seeing the AASG crowd again

Peter

Email: [email protected]

R. THOMAS SEGALL MICHIGANMy wife and I are now totally and happily retired. My last and final geological consulting job occurred during the summer of 2011

and was successfully completed. Glenna and I took a month long vacation to the east coast this past April. During

that time we had the pleasure of visiting with Bob and Jane Jordan. Again the Jordans and Segalls think it would be a great idea to have a Honorary Geologist get together of our own that would be purely social.

This September Glenna and I are off to Denmark and Sweden to visit many of our previous foreign exchange students who are now grown up and have families of their own.

Tom7008 Soapstone Lansing, Michigan 48917Phone: 517-980-0390Email: tomsegall@comcast .net

17



WILLIAM W. SHILTS ILLINOISThe Survey 'experiment' continues to go well here at the University of Illinois, with

the five Illinois Surveys in the newly renamed 'Prairie Research Institute' covering geology, water/climate, biology, archeology, and sustainable development. You can scan our recently released 2011 Annual Report on our web site, www.prairie.illinois.edu. Personally, I am enjoying the challenge of ending my career as executive director of the Institute, a totally unexpected opportunity which I intend to pursue for a few years yet. I also have been reconnecting with colleagues in Canada, where I had a 'real' job, and am hosting a post-doc from the University of Quebec at Montreal (UQAM), where I'm still an adjunct, to work with me on fleshing out some of my Quebec research, which wasn't completed when I came down here in 1995. I'm also looking at working with colleagues at the Geological Survey of Canada to build on some of the arctic work that I carried out starting in 1970 when arctic research was very different than it is today, both from a logistical point of view and from availability of funding, even for the very applied minex research that we did there.

Finally, I am hoping that the Surveys here can survive the very serious funding shortfalls that the state of Illinois is experiencing; so far the multidisciplinary nature of the Institute, with its diverse client base and 4:1 grant/contract to state appropriation success ratio, has allowed us to continue to thrive (even though our base funding was 'zeroed out' last year through a budget oversight - we got the funding back in full in the fall, and the resulting flap and publicity was actually good for us in the legislature and on campus). I'm hoping that this Institute model will be considered in more states because, as far as Geological Surveys are concerned, the threat of poorly thought-out budget cuts by legislatures is lessened by having biologists and climate/water scientists and their constituencies as integral parts of the Surveys' home institution. I'm in my 48th year of working for a Survey, starting in Vermont and going through Canada, Illinois and finally to this multi-Survey Institute, so I am dedicated to preserving and promoting this great type of public service career.

Regards to all my friends, whether retired or still guiding their Surveys.

BillInstitute of Natural Resource Sustainability607 E. Peabody Drive, Rm. 179Champaign, Illinois 61820Phone: 217-333-5111Email: [email protected] P. THOMAS CONNECTICUT

The two big activities as Connecticut's retired State Geologist are the Northeast Region GSA Meeting and the Dinosaur State Park Project. I was the sponsorship chairman for NEGSA held in Hartford this past March. We raised a substantial amount of funds to help underwrite student participation. I was delighted with the large turnout of students and impressed with their posters and oral presentations. Based on what I saw, I would say that

18


http://www.prairie.illinois.edu/


the geologic profession is in good condition and we can expect a well trained new crop coming along to replace us old timers.

The Dinosaur State Park Project is coming along. The main track-way area containing over 1500 tracks was covered over some 40 years ago to protect it until funds were available to build a structure over it. Most people forgot about it and think that the present Exhibit Center, containing about 500 tracks, is what was discovered in 1966. Only a few of us that were there that first day are still alive. So I have been working with the people at the Park on a project to uncover and protect the main track-way area for the 50th Anniversary of the discovery and a rededication of the Park in August 2016. It has been fun for me to relive the excitement of that first day discovery.

I will not be at the annual meeting this year, but send my best to the members for a very successful and enjoyable meeting.

Hugo27 Lakewood Circle S. Manchester, Connecticut 06040Phone: 860-649-0326Email: [email protected] J. TUTHILL IOWA

Well when you get to be 86 the greatest contribution you can make to a conversation is silence. We didn't have much of a winter for the border country. We sold our place in Green Valley, AZ about 6 years ago. The trip was just getting too long. We closed about two weeks before the housing crash. I always maintained it was better to be lucky than it was to be smart.

Connie is well. She's younger than I am of course and is still pretty to look at. We have a new great-grandson in Laramie, WY. He's just a bit older than 1 yr. We also have a 3 year old great grand-daughter in Dumont, NJ and another great-granddaughter on the way in Erie, PA.

On 13 August we had a family reunion on Devil Track Lake (Grand Marais, MN) to celebrate Connie's 85th BD. The entire family plus two Labs - one white and one black were here. Annie is our 9 year old black lab. She has diabetes so we take our insulin together morning and night.

I'm expecting to be offering a summer school course on the geology of the Arrowhead of MN for the Cook County Higher Education North Shore Campus. It has taken about 20 years of study for me to feel confident enough to tackle the subject. It was a long climb into the hard rock for a dirt geologist.

If any of the AASG or honoraries come near America's north coast, do look me up.

19



Our name is in the Duluth phone book and we're only 125 miles farther to the northeast. Great scenery and good fishing (Trout, Northern Pike, and Walleyed Pike.

Best,

Sam

117 South Shore Drive; Grand Marais, Minnesota 55604-2252Phone: 218-387-1124Email: [email protected]

JAMES H. WILLIAMS MISSOURIFor the past year, I had no new starts for geology activities. I am still participating in

AIPG and AEG plus our Association of Missouri Geologist organization. However, I missed the AMG meeting this year, waylaid by a sciatica nerve.

I implied last year that the Quaternary of Missouri would be completed. However, it appears some global cooling has set in and the glacier is still frozen. It is to melt shortly especially as one of the authors, Bill Duley, has retired but remains part time active at the Survey. Once that glacier melts, the editor makes the last mark, the report likely will be available only as print on demand; funding limitations are not going away. My work on the Engineering Geology and Geomorphology has gone through a major revamp and now hopefully ready for some final edits and perhaps additions.

As far as personal activities, farm and flying remain on the radar. Had an instrument flight check yesterday and did reasonably well. Far from the level maintained when flying two to three times a week, but still can get from here to there. The farming business has seen major changes, changes from small family farms to a Walmartized agriculture landscape. Hogs in multi thousands along with chickens from start to finish. Hogs and chickens while much different, pigs cannot really fly, they both adapt to confinement from start to finish. Cows are different. Small cow-calf farmers remain but even here most have larger herds in the hundreds. But not as confined livestock that is until the animal reaches moderate growth, the for most confinement does begin Fattening feed lots can best be seen at 30,000 feet if one has a window seat flying across the western plains and surrounded by pivot systems.

For us, we do no machinery work but farm upkeep for grain crops with a fifty-fifty cooperative arrangement with a large farm operator. Same for hay production.

That is about it. Will miss the Annual Meeting in Texas, Marilyn and heat just do not get along. People our age are expected to go south to avoid the winters; we seem to do best staying north and in the winters. There is a limit to how far north, for us it is northern Missouri.

Jim11451 State Highway U; La Belle, Missouri 63447Phone: 660-462-3365Email: [email protected]

20


AASG HONORARY MEMBERS 2012 Honorary Member Report... · Web viewFall I continue research on coastal...

Documents

Transcript of AASG HONORARY MEMBERS 2012 Honorary Member Report... · Web viewFall I continue research on coastal...