Early Background
I was born in Lincoln, Nebraska (William Jennings Bryan Memorial Hospital)
a long time ago. After attending the public schools, I entered the University
of Nebraska (before it was a football power). I graduated with a B.S.
in geology and minors in chemistry and military science. A short time on
active duty in the U.S. Army Reserve (artillery) as a second lieutenant
followed. The Korean "war" was winding down at this time, all I got to
see was Ft. Sill, Oklahoma. Which was fine by me. Then back to the University
of Nebraska for a Masters degree in geology. For a thesis I mapped an area
of Precambrian granites and gneiss in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
Then the big adventure began. I left the Midwest for New York City and
Columbia
University. For the first time I ventured east of Detroit. My Ph.D.
research was in central Nevada. I spent nine months of the year in the
city and three months camped in a tent on the flanks of the Toiyabe Mountains.
It was a wonderful life. During my last two years at Columbia, I taught
full time at Brooklyn College. Life became even more wonderful after I
met and married Cheryl. My Ph.D. in hand and Cheryl by my side, I joined
the Juniata faculty in 1966.
Teaching Responsibilities
I have taught several courses over the years. Those that I no longer teach
include geomorphology, petroleum geology advanced environmental geology
and the summer field methods course. The courses I currently teach are
listed in the table below. Each of these courses is taught with the
idea that students learn best if they are actually doing rather than just
reading. That makes the laboratory very important and field exercises are
an integral part of the lab. You can see pictures of the students on their
various field trips by clicking on the appropriate highlighted text.
Other Juniata Responsibilities
Over the years I have served on numerous faculty committees including curriculum
committee chair and professional development committee. Off and on since
my third year at Juniata until the 1998-99 academic year I have been Chair
of the Geology Department. I even served as acting chairperson of the science
division.
Professional Activities
I currently hold memberships in the following professional organizations:
In 1974-75, courtesy of a National Endowment for the Humanities Grant,
I was able to spend a year at Stanford University studying the inter-relationships
between man and geology within their "Values, Technology, and Society Program."
Additional sabbaticals were spent at the Pennsylvania State University.
A sabbatical supported visit to the U.S. Virgin Islands was also made.
AAPG field course on modern carbonates and GSA short course on contaminant
hydrology.
Hobbies and other Pleasant Diversions
Numerous hobbies occupy my free time. Lately my mountain bike gets most
of my attention. You will often find me on the Lower Trail between Alexandria
and Martinsburg, PA. Travel of one sort or another is probably what I like
best. In the summer this means traveling west to the mountains or desert
or to the Maritime Provinces of Canada. I like to canoe lakes and streams
and cross-country ski. Most of the time I will have one of my cameras along,
for probably my oldest hobby is photography. Follow the links to a few
of my favorite places and examples of some of my photography.
Newfoundland, 1996. What a wonderful place but
you have to have a certain tolerance for gray (skies and fog).
