Alumni Newsletter Fall 2007 - Department of Geological Sciences ...

GEOLOGICAL 

SCIENCES 

ALUMNI NEWSLETTER NOVEMBER 2007 

UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI-COLUMBIA

1 

GEOLOGICAL 

SCIENCES 

ALUMNI NEWSLETTER 2007 

From Our Department Chair 2 

Faculty 

News 4 

Research grants 9 

New faculty/staff 10 

Ethington award/other staff 11 

News releases 12 

Photo Gallery 14 

Visiting Speakers 17 

Field Camp 

Field course 18 

Students 

Undergraduate research program 20 

Undergraduate 21 

Graduate 22 

Awards 23 

Publications 24 

Development Activities 

Contributions 26 

Endowments 28 

Scholarship fund 29 

Board members 32 

From our board chair 33 

Alumni 

News 34 

In memoriam 40 

Editor: Kevin L. Shelton 

Composition: Marsha Huckabey 

Printing costs of the Newsletter are provided by the 

Geology Development Fund. 

On the cover: View of the Archean Barberton 

granite-greenstone belt, South Africa taken by 

Alan Whittington. Dr. Keith Benn (University of 

Ottawa) for scale. 

Roster 

Assistant Professors 

Martin Appold (Johns Hopkins University, 1998) 

Hydrogeology 

Marie-Helene Cormier (University of California- 

Santa Barbara, 1994) Marine tectonics 

Francisco Gomez (Cornell University, 1999) 

Paleoseismology and neotectonics 

Mitchell Schulte (Washington University, 1997) 

Biogeochemistry 

Alan G. Whittington (Open University, 1997) 

Crustal petrology 

Associate Professors 

Robert L. Bauer (University of Minnesota, 1982) 

Precambrian geology 

Cheryl A. Kelley (University of North Carolina, 1993) 

Aquatic geochemistry 

Kenneth G. MacLeod (University of Washington, 1992) 

Paleontology and biogeochemistry 

Eric A. Sandvol (New Mexico State University, 1995) 

Seismotectonics 

Professors 

Mian Liu (University of Arizona, 1989) 

Geophysics 

Peter I. Nabelek (SUNY, Stony Brook, 1983) 

Trace-element geochemistry 

Kevin L. Shelton (Yale University, 1982) 

Economic geology 

Michael B. Underwood (Cornell University, 1983) 

Sedimentology 

Carol M. Wicks (University of Virginia, 1992) 

Hydrogeology 

Professors Emeriti 

Raymond L. Ethington (University of Iowa, 1958) 

Conodont biostratigraphy 

Thomas J. Freeman (University of Texas, 1962) 

Carbonate petrology 

Glen R. Himmelberg (University of Minnesota, 1965) 

Chemical petrology 

William D. Johns (University of Illinois, 1952) 

Clay mineralogy 

Staff 

Kristin Bandeko Bennett, administrative assistant 

Marsha Huckabey, administrative associate I 

Carol Nabelek, research chemist 

Stephen Stanton, library information specialist II

2 

From Our Department Chair 

This past year has been a time of great accomplishments 

that can be attributed to the hard work 

and dedication of our faculty, staff, students and 

alumni. Highlights of our activities are presented 

throughout the Newsletter and reflect the spirit and 

excitement of teaching, learning and discovery that 

underlie our success. 

In academia, there is little that rivals the satisfaction 

of hiring a new faculty member. Last year we 

were able to hire Karyn Rogers (PhD, Washington 

University) as a tenure-track assistant professor 

in biogeochemistry. She will join our faculty in 

January 2008 following a postdoctoral fellowship 

at MIT’s Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute. 

Karyn’s picture and a brief biography can be found 

in the faculty section of the Newsletter. 

As you read through the Newsletter you will see 

that all of our faculty members are involved actively 

in research and presentations at national and 

international conferences that bring recognition 

and prestige to our department. Please join with 

me in celebrating their notable accomplishments. 

In particular, Professor Emeritus Raymond Ethington 

received the Raymond C. Moore Medal for 

Paleontology at the 2007 SEPM annual meeting in 

Long Beach, Calif. Associate Professor Eric Sandvol 

was named a winner of the 2007 Provost’s 

Outstanding Junior Faculty Research and Creative 

Activity Award. 

We continue to attract talented students at both the 

master’s and doctoral levels. We have 23 graduate 

students in residence. This past year they presented 

numerous papers at national and international 

conferences, published six papers and received 10 

research grants and fellowships based on proposals 

that they wrote. Six of our students completed 

master’s degrees this year: Chris Brocka; Sara 

Harkins; Jennifer Maloney; Elyn Potter; Mary 

Schubert; and Angela Van Boening. Cathy Zumsteg 

completed her doctoral degree. 

We are fortunate to have a new group of talented 

graduate students. Nine new students arrived this 

fall. Gina Applebee (BS, College of Charleston) 

will work on her master’s with Marie-Helene 

Cormier, studying marine tectonics and faulting 

associated with mid-ocean ridges. Brian Bollin 

(MS, University of Utah) will study for his doctorate 

in remote sensing and seismology with Paco 

Gomez and Eric Sandvol. Michael Hillix (BS, 

University of Kansas) will pursue his master’s 

with Mike Underwood studying sedimentology 

and tectonics in the Nankai Trough area of 

Japan. Hal Johnson (MS, MU) begins doctoral 

studies with Marie-Helene Cormier, employing 

geophysical techniques to studies of the Missouri 

River. Danielle Robinson (bachelor of science 

in physics, master’s in education, Truman State 

University) will work toward her master’s degree 

in geophysics with Eric Sandvol on a seismic 

experiment in the Puna Plateau in northern 

Argentina. Gleb Skobeltsyn (MS, Novosibirsk 

State University in Russia) will be working on his 

doctorate with Eric Sandvol studying tectonics in 

the eastern Mediterranean. Sarah Stephenson (BS, 

Beloit College) will pursue her master’s degree 

with Peter Nabelek, studying the fluid evolution 

of igneous systems in California. Mark Sutcliffe 

(BS, Millersville University, PA) will work on a 

master’s study of microtectonics of the Laramie 

Range, Wyoming, with Bob Bauer. Zachary Wenz 

(MS, University of Alaska) will be working on his 

doctorate with Martin Appold on the geochemistry 

of mineralizing fluids in sediment-hosted Zn-Pb 

deposits. In summary, we’re doing great! However, 

we would not be able to make competitive 

offers to attract these quality students without the 

help of our alumni scholarship funds. Thank you. 

Our undergraduate program is growing. The 

number of majors is approaching 55 students, up 

from approximately 30 students three years ago. 

Furthermore, I believe the quality of our majors 

is improving, as reflected in our students’ GPA’s. 

The departmental scholarship funds that our 

alumni have supported are critical in allowing us 

to attract and retain some of the best students on 

campus. In addition to our scholarship program, 

this past fall we instituted a departmental Undergraduate 

Research Program. This year we are 

funding five undergraduate projects that will lead 

to senior theses. 

Our alumni also give us reason to celebrate. M. 

Ray Thomasson (BA ’52, MA ’53) received the 

2006 William B. Heroy Jr. Award for Distinguished 

Service to the American Geological Institute. 

Larry Knox (MA ’76) is the 2007 Vice President of

3 

the Energy Minerals Division of the American Association 

of Petroleum Geologists. Martha George 

(BS ’76) has been named to receive a 2008 Arts 

and Science Distinguished Alumni Award. Look 

for highlights of the award in our 2008 Newsletter. 

On behalf of the faculty, students and staff, I want 

to thank those of you who continue to support our 

department through your annual gifts. I want to 

recognize several recent gifts to the department. 

M. Ray Thomasson (BA ’52, MA ’53) and wife 

Merrill Shields made a generous donation to the 

AAPG Foundation to enable students and faculty 

at MU to have uninterrupted access to the entire 

AAPG/Data Pages Digital Library in perpetuity. 

John H. Marshall, Jr. (BA ’49, MA ’50) recently 

made a generous gift to his charitable remainder 

unitrust, which supports opportunities for excellence 

in the department. Scott Raymond (BS ’72, 

MA ’74) created the Scott H. Raymond Geology 

Faculty Enhancement Endowed Fund. As part of 

our overall Geology Student Scholarship Fund 

(GSSF) campaign, Ed (MA ’73) and Connie 

Williamson established the Craig Russell Knotts 

Memorial Scholarship Fund in honor of Connie’s 

brother. Gene (BA ’55) and Thelma Schmidt 

established the Gene W. Schmidt Undergraduate 

Scholarship Fund. Lu Tlapek and family established 

the John “Jack” W. Tlapek Geology Student 

Scholarship Fund in memory of her husband, 

a former geology development board member. A 

detailed story about the Geology Student Scholarship 

Fund and its recent success can be found later 

in the Newsletter. 

Enjoy the Newsletter and remember to keep us 

informed of your activities. 

Sincerely, 

Kevin L. Shelton 

Chairman and 

E.B. Branson Professor 

Professors Alan Whittington and Peter Nabelek during dinner at the 6th Hutton 

Symposium on the Origin of Granites and Related Rocks in Stellenbosch, South 

Africa, at one of the excellent Cape Wineries. True MU Tigers!

4 

FACULTY 

NEWS 

Faculty News 

Martin Appold continued work on several 

sites of sediment-hosted Zn-Pb deposits. Masters 

student Sara Harkins completed her project on the 

lead isotope composition and genesis of non-sulfide 

and sulfide Zn-Pb deposits in the Flinders Ranges 

of South Australia, and recently accepted a job as 

a hydrogeologist with Golder Associates in Denver. 

Ongoing fluid inclusion research of deposits in 

the Ozark Plateau provided the first clear evidence 

of the involvement of highly metal-rich fluids in 

the formation of these types of deposits. In June, 

Martin traveled to Minas Gerais, Brazil to begin 

a study on the Vazante and Morro Agudo Zn-Pb 

deposits and the factors that control the precipitation 

of non-sulfide versus sulfide Zn-Pb mineral 

assemblages from saline groundwaters. Another 

new project begun this year was a study of rapid 

vertical ascent of hydrocarbons from zones of deep 

overpressure in sedimentary basins via a mechanism 

called solitary waves—regions of expanded aperture 

that can form and propagate in faults in visco-elastic 

materials. During 2006-07 Martin taught courses in 

physical geology, groundwater hydrology and the 

role of groundwater in geologic processes. 

Bob Bauer spent another summer in Wyoming 

serving as director of the Branson Field Camp. The 

field camp was filled to capacity this summer with 

students from across the country (see the field camp 

report for details). Bob also worked this summer 

with two students (James Clements and Rachel 

Kohler) who are completing master’s and senior 

theses on Laramide deformation near Lander. As 

director of graduate studies, Bob is working actively 

with other faculty members to attract a good crop of 

new graduate students and to increase the number of 

doctoral students in the department. Bob’s courses 

included Structural Geology, Continental Tectonics, 

and Field Camp last year. This fall Bob is teaching 

Advanced Structural Geology and is continuing 

to coordinate the department’s scientific writing program 

for our bachelor of science majors. 

Marie-Helene (Milene) Cormier completed 

her first year at MU, teaching Marine Geology and 

developing a class on Seafloor Imaging. In February 

and March, she co-led a 35-day oceanographic 

expedition to deploy a series of pressure sensors 

along the East Pacific Rise. The sensors will remain 

at the seafloor for about three years and monitor 

vertical motion associated with volcanic eruptions. 

The objectives are to detect every eruption along 

that section of ridge and to characterize sub-surface 

magma movements. Undergraduate geology majors 

John Krueger and Joshua Meyers joined in the expedition 

and helped with many aspects of the operations. 

Milene is looking forward to working on the 

project on intraplate earthquakes in China, recently 

funded by NSF with Mian Liu, Eric Sandvol and 

Paco Gomez. Her contribution to the project will be 

to apply underwater earthquake geology methods to 

seismogenic faults beneath Bohai Gulf. Milene has 

two new graduate students this fall: master’s student 

Gina Applebee, and doctoral student Hal Johnson 

(MS ’01), who works at the USGS in Columbia. 

Their addition helps make the marine tectonics research 

group a reality. 

Ray Ethington states he interrupted his nap long 

enough to prepare this report of his activities for the 

past year. A glance at last year’s newsletter reminds 

him that he is still working on the things he claimed 

to be doing a year ago. He chooses to believe that 

this is because he, like most people, relegated the 

most difficult and time-consuming tasks to last, 

but he is forced to acknowledge that, as a budding 

octogenarian, he may have lost a bit in his efficiency 

rating. In his spare time, he has consulted with a 

seemingly endless succession of Missouri residents 

about the meteorites, dinosaur bones or fossil vegetables 

they found somewhere north of Arkansas and 

south of Iowa. Some residents eventually agreed, 

reluctantly, that they had discovered chert fragments, 

glacial erratic boulders, weathered Burlington Limestone, 

or crinoid columnals of no commercial value. 

Others left grumbling that they ought to be able to 

find someone who knows something about anything. 

In all, it has been a good and interesting year, and, at 

his age, you cannot have too many of those. 

Tom Freeman is a founding member of the newly 

established Geosciences External Advisory Board at 

the University of Arkansas. Fall and spring meetings 

provide Tom and Peggy with good reasons to 

revisit their alma mater. This fall Tom is once again

FACULTY 

NEWS 

5 

teaching Geology of Our National Parks for MU’s 

Lifelong Learning Program. His course includes 

trips to Rock Bridge Park (ref: Mammoth Cave and 

Carlsbad Caverns) and The Pinnacles (ref: Canyon 

Country of Utah). Tom is contemplating yet another 

entry-level laboratory manual, this one to be titled 

“Physical Geology Laboratory—Illustrated with 

National Parks and Monuments.” If you have digital 

picture(s) of parks and monuments illustrating 

topics covered in intro geology courses, Tom would 

love to hear from you (at FreemanT@missouri. 

edu). At the request of our Mizzou Alumni Association 

(new name), Tom recently sent a letter to 

our entire readership urging non-members of MAA 

to ‘join up.’ (‘Looking for a few good men…and 

women!’) The most satisfying part of this little 

exercise for Tom was swapping stories with alumni 

about their years at MU and learning of their current 

professional activities and families. 

Paco Gomez has had an exciting year. His 

ongoing research concerns the earthquake history 

and associated deformations along the Dead Sea 

fault system in the eastern Mediterranean. Some 

of the fieldwork involved working with graduate 

student Rani Jaafar to collect GPS measurements 

in Jordan and Lebanon. Additional fieldwork by 

Paco focused on a section of the fault in northwestern 

Syria. At the other end of the Mediterranean 

Sea, he also had a successful field season in the 

Atlas Mountains of Morocco, where he worked 

with graduate student Mike Rigby on neotectonic 

studies of an active thrust fault. Other research has 

involved working with graduate student Deepak 

Manjunath to image small deformations in Chile 

using satellite radar imagery. Paco is developing 

new research activities that will study intraplate 

earthquake recurrence and crustal deformation in 

north China. This project is part of a larger NSFsponsored 

effort with colleagues Mian Liu, Milene 

Cormier and Eric Sandvol. In addition to the 

research, teaching has been enjoyable over the past 

year. Along with teaching introductory geology 

and surficial processes, Paco taught a course about 

the geological nature of earthquakes and approaches 

to assessing earthquake hazards. 

Bill Johns had recent forays to San Francisco to 

visit a granddaughter at Stanford University and 

to Santa Fe, N.M., to attend the annual meeting 

of the Clay Minerals Society in which he is still 

active. He continues his study (for fun) of Art 

History and Archaeology, and this semester is 

enrolled in a fabulous course at MU on Greek Art 

and Architecture. He is also continuing his piano 

study, having reached the point at which he will be 

playing Beethoven’s Variations on a Swiss Air for 

a recital in December. He submitted his last (and 

he does mean last) paper, finishing his collaboration 

with colleagues at the University of Vienna, 

which has continued for the past 20 years. So you 

see he still manages to keep busy after almost 10 

years of retirement. He has just submitted a paper 

for his class titled “The Mask of Agamemnon: 

Genuine or Hoax” Anybody have any opinions 

Last year he spent two semesters studying Latin. 

None of it came back after about 60 years. “Oh, 

well, I have trouble remembering what happened 

last week,” he says. 

Cheryl Kelley has had both ups and downs 

this past year. On the up side was the pleasure of 

working with master’s student Elyn Potter who 

successfully defended her thesis in the spring. 

Elyn determined the stable isotopic composition 

of methane produced in the hypersaline microbial 

mats growing in the salterns of Guerrero Negro, 

Baja California, and related it to methanogenic 

pathways. In addition to defending her thesis, she 

presented her work at the ASLO Aquatic Sciences 

in Santa Fe, N.M. Another pleasure that Cheryl 

enjoyed was the teaching of the new course, Earth 

Systems and Global Change. She had many bright 

students in the class, and many good discussions 

occurred regarding current climate change, as well 

as past changes. On the very down side, Cheryl 

found out that brain cancer returned to her brother, 

after about 18 years of being in remission. A full 

year of very intense chemotherapy was not able to 

turn the tide, and her brother entered hospice care 

this past summer. Cheryl is currently on a leave of 

absence to spend time with her brother and the rest 

of her family. 

Mian Liu’s collaboration with Chinese colleagues 

has brought a handsome dividend this 

year. Mian, Eric Sandvol, Paco Gomez and 

Milene Cormier have recently received $2.16 million 

from the National Science Foundation (NSF)

6 

FACULTY 

NEWS 

to lead a multi-institutional collaboration with 

China for a five-year study of intraplate earthquakes 

in North China. This project will provide 

both undergraduate and graduate students a unique 

opportunity of working on some of the most challenging 

geological problems with a team of international 

students and scientists. Mian continues 

to work with students and colleagues on mountain 

building, active tectonics, and earthquakes 

in many regions in the world. He and Youqing 

(Richard) Yang received an NSF grant this year to 

study multi-timescale continental deformation in 

the western U.S. Their preliminary results may 

bridge the apparent gap between short-term deformation 

measured by space geodesy and long-term 

tectonics reflected in geological data. Gang Luo, 

a doctoral student, has been investigating how the 

cyclic trench coupling between the Nazca and the 

South American plates leads to current mountain 

building in the subAndes. His research helped 

Mian and Paco win a NASA grant to continue this 

study. Two postdoctoral researchers from China, 

Drs. Huai Zhang and Hui Wang, stayed at MU for 

the first half of the year working with Mian. Huai 

and Mian worked on a parallel finite element computing 

system that has been published in Physics 

of Earth and Planetary Interior this year. Hui 

worked with Mian and Mian’s former student, Dr. 

Qingsong Li, on the development of the Eastern 

California Shear Zone. Mian also enjoyed teaching 

and has returned to Keller Auditorium this fall 

to teach Principles of Geology. 

Ken MacLeod continues to work on paleontological 

and paleoclimatic questions up and down 

the geologic column. In January, doctoral student 

Damon Bassett published a paper on early Ordovician 

ocean temperatures estimated from oxygen 

isotopes of conodonts. Doctoral student Carolina 

Isaza and postdoctoral scholar Alvaro Jiménez 

Berrocoso are working on different aspects of 

ocean circulation during the Late Cretaceous 

greenhouse climate interval. Undergraduate Becca 

Dodds (BS ’06) co-authored a GSA abstract addressing 

changes in seasonality across the Eocene-Oligocene 

boundary. Doctoral student Scott 

Lepley was funded in January to look at Missouri 

climate trends in post-glacial Missouri using isotopic 

analyses of subfossil oaks from north-central 

Missouri. Scott passed his doctoral comprehensive 

exam last spring and spent the summer working for 

Newfield Exploration, Inc. in Tulsa, Okla. Carolina, 

Alvaro, and Ken spent three weeks coring 

Upper Cretaceous rocks in southern coastal Tanzania 

this fall. Ken is currently teaching Sedimentology, 

and Scott will be covering the class while Ken 

is in the field. 

Peter Nabelek was inducted as a fellow of 

the Geological Society of America last year. He 

is pleased to report that Angie Van Boening 

and Jennifer Maloney graduated with master’s 

degrees. Angie’s study of petrogenesis of 

early mafic rocks in the Black Hills has made a 

significant contribution toward understanding 

the early Proterozoic tectonic history of the 

Wyoming craton’s margin. Jennifer’s thesis on 

Li and its isotopes in tourmaline from San Diego 

County, Calif., provides nice evidence for the 

crystallization process of pegmatite dikes. A new 

student, Sarah Stephenson will work on fluid 

inclusions in the aureole of a granitoid pluton in 

the White Mountains of California to determine 

how composition of fluids may have influenced 

deformation of quartzites and marbles during 

magma emplacement. A highlight of the year was a 

field trip to the Barberton granite-greenstone belt in 

South Africa, which was held in conjunction with 

a Hutton conference. Alan Whittington was there 

too, but it was better to see those komatiites and a 

python along the Komati River. 

Eric Sandvol has had a very busy year with the 

seismology research group. They recently finished 

an experiment in southwestern Turkey across the 

Isparta Angle. Senior Amanda Lough helped with 

the deployment of the array and has already completed 

some important analysis from the collected 

data. After a number of tricky permission problems 

in China, Eric completed deployment of a very 

large collaborative seismic array (ASCENT) that 

covers much of the central and northern Tibetan 

plateau. The data from the ASCENT seismic array 

should help in the understanding of the mechanisms 

for the uplift of the Tibetan plateau. In 

addition to the Tibetan plateau, Eric has begun 

work on studying the Puna plateau in the central 

Andes. The Puna and Tibetan plateaus are the two 

highest in the world and therefore two of the most

FACULTY 

NEWS 

7 

important. The deployment of approximately 65 

seismic stations began in November. This project 

will address fundamental questions on the processes 

that form, modify and destroy continental 

lithosphere. Xueyang Bao has made good progress 

in his efforts to measure seismic attenuation of 

the crust in the Middle East. He has now begun 

work on verifying that our model can be used to 

isolate earthquake source properties. Qie Zhang 

has continued his work on developing a robust 3-D 

seismic velocity model of the New Madrid Seismic 

Zone as well as traveling to Tibet to help deploy 

the ASCENT array. Two new students that have 

entered Mizzou’s seismology program: Gleb Skobeltsyn 

and Danielle Robinson have both joined us 

this fall. Gleb will work on imaging the structure 

of the Caucasus mountain range and Danielle will 

work on the experiment in the Puna plateau. 

Mitch Schulte spent the summer before his 

third year at Mizzou on Cape Cod, where he was 

appointed as a guest investigator at Woods Hole 

Oceanographic Institution. He worked with Dr. 

Jeffrey Seewald and one of Jeff’s students, Eoghan 

Reeves, on methods to analyze organic sulfur compounds 

and experiments to try to generate them 

under hydrothermal conditions. Mitch’s funding 

came from the university’s Research Council. 

During the summer, Mitch also learned that he 

will be funded for his first major grant at Mizzou, 

through the Exobiology Program at NASA. The 

U.S. Advisory Committee for the International 

Ocean Drilling Program appointed Mitch to be a 

U.S. representative on the Science Steering and 

Evaluation Panel for a three-year term. The first 

assignment was the SSEP’s meeting in November 

in Bordeaux, France. Graduate student Steve 

Pagan expects to graduate this winter or next 

spring with his master’s degree. Steve is working 

on calorimetry of aqueous organic compounds. 

Rachel Barker, an undergraduate major, will work 

with Mitch this year on her senior thesis on possible 

hydrothermal systems on Europa. During this 

fall semester, Mitch is teaching another new class, 

taking over Rocks and Rock-Forming Minerals, 

and is teaching Geomicrobiology and Microbial 

Biogeochemistry for the second go-around. 

Kevin Shelton completed a busy year as department 

chair. As a welcome break from admin- 

istrative duties, Kevin traveled in early July with 

master’s student Justin Beasley to Ireland and the 

Isle of Man, where Justin is studying dolomites and 

Zn-Pb ore deposition in Carboniferous limestones. 

While on the Isle of Man, they discovered a 150 

meter-long sphalerite-mineralized fault breccia, 

the first recorded zinc ores hosted in carbonates of 

the island. This past March, Kevin was a recipient 

of the Professional Award of Merit from the 

Association of Professional Engineers, Geologists 

and Geophysicists of the Northwest Territories and 

Nunavut, Canada. The 2007 award was given to 

the Exploration Science and Technology (EXTECH 

III) Research Team of which Kevin is the only U.S. 

member. The research has contributed significantly 

to an enhanced understanding of the Yellowknife 

shear-zone-hosted gold deposits. In addition, 

the project has been able to compile and archive 

substantial information for one of the world’s 

largest gold mining camps and, through a series of 

presentations, field trips, and published volumes, 

has made all of this information available to the 

public, particularly the exploration community. On 

the home front, Ben returned to Duke University 

for his junior year as an electrical and computer engineering 

major. Emily started 10 th grade at Hickman 

High School and is learning to drive. Lois is 

facing the realization that in three short years she 

will face life in Columbia with just Kevin! 

Mike Underwood is on research leave this academic 

year, immersed in activities associated with 

the Nankai Trough Seismogenic Zone Experiment. 

The drilling project went operational in September, 

with the first of three Stage 1 expeditions aboard 

the Japanese vessel, Chikyu. Mike is sailing on 

part of Exp. #314 (LWD transect) as the Specialty 

Coordinator for Lithostratigraphy and all of Exp. 

#315 (mega-splay pilot hole) as a Sedimentologist. 

Mizzou is well-represented, occupying three of the 

eight berths assigned to the USA. Underwood’s 

shipmates include Junhua Guo (doctoral candidate) 

and Bill Likos (professor in civil engineering). 

The project management team continues to plan 

additional non-riser expeditions, and the first-ever 

scientific riser drilling will commence in January 

2009. Total depth for that hole will be ~3,500m 

(11,400 ft.) below seafloor at a water depth of 

2,500 m (8,200 ft.). Back on campus, Mike taught 

Sedimentology, The World’s Oceans, and Fragile 

Beaches. He is advising two doctoral students

8 

FACULTY 

NEWS 

(Junhua Guo and Hitoshi Banno) and welcomed 

one new master’s student (Michael Hillix) into the 

group. At home, Gail left her 2 nd grade classroom 

this fall to become one of the district’s new math 

coaches. 

Alan Whittington’s year was dominated by 

the arrival of Hamish (pronounced Hay-mish), born 

on December 29, 2006, safely in time to count as a 

deduction for 2006. Big brother Xander coped quite 

well with the shattering forever of every child’s (and 

faculty member’s) dream that the world revolves 

around them. Angela was subsequently given adjunct 

status in Geological Sciences, although for unrelated 

reasons. In between new baby preparation, Alan 

taught Theoretical Geochemistry and gave a talk at 

the University of Arkansas. The winter semester 

was a sleep-deprived blur, punctuated by occasional 

highlights such as Nick Barber completing his senior 

thesis and presenting his research at the regional 

GSA meeting in Lawrence, Kan. The family spent 

five weeks away in the summer, visiting La Palma in 

the Canary Islands for Angela to attend an astronomy 

conference, and allowing Alan to look at recent 

alkalic lava flows and the Caldera de Taburiente. 

This was followed immediately by conferences in 

Cambridge, UK, and Stellenbosch, South Africa. 

The post-conference field trip to the Meso-Archean 

Barberton granite-greenstone belt was truly amazing, 

he says. 

Carol Wicks was on research leave this past 

year and traveled to the Karst Research Institute in 

Slovenia, the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory 

at Florida State, and the Edwards Aquifer 

Authority in San Antonio to build collaborations 

and write proposals with researchers at those Institutions. 

She gave talks at the University of Kansas, 

University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Illinois 

State. Carol spent the rest of the research leave 

wrapping up the long-term research project on the 

habitat of the pink planaria. This involved Toby 

Dogwiler and Eric Peterson, two of Carol’s former 

students. Amy Morrissey, an undergraduate major, 

started her thesis project working with Carol and 

Cheryl Kelley this past spring. Amy is investigating 

whether geographically isolated aquatic 

hypogean communities have similar food webs. 

Carol accompanied the Geology Club and Mitch 

Schulte on the trip to the Grand Canyon. Over the 

year, Carol saw fantastic karst in Slovenia and the 

awesome Grand Canyon – a good year! 

Fall welcome reception for new and returning students and 

staff. From left, master’s students Will Romine and Gina 

Applebee enjoy snacks and conversation with administrative 

assistant Kristin Bennett.

FACULTY 

RESEARCH GRANTS 

9 

Active Research Grants 

American Chemical Society 

Paco Gomez $35,000 

American Philisophical Society 

Martin Appold $5,000 

Chinese Academy of Sciences 

Mian Liu $50,000 

Department of Energy 

Eric Sandvol $215,000 

Integrated Ocean Drilling 

Program, Management International 

Mike Underwood $44,069 

Midas Ore Research 

Kevin Shelton $6,500 

MU Research Council 


NASA 

Cheryl Kelley $67,000 

Mian Liu and Paco Gomez $180,000 

Mitch Schulte $512,000 

National Science Foundation 



National Science Foundation (cont’d) 

Mian Liu, Milene Cormier, 

Paco Gomez, Eric Sandvol $2.16 million 

Mian Liu and Paco Gomez $181,279 

Mian Liu $410,387 

Mian Liu $111,839 

Ken MacLeod $225,000 



Ken MacLeod, Carol Wicks 

and Ray Ethington $175,000 

Peter Nabelek and Mian Liu $162,465 

Peter Nabelek $149,709 



Alan Whittington and 

Peter Nabelek $141,288 

Alan Whittington $219,968 

Carol Wicks $80,000 

UM Research Board 




U.S. Geological Survey 

Martin Appold $77,688 

Bob Bauer $8,750 

U.S. Science Support Program-IODP 


Snow on the columns with the Geology Building on the left. 

Photo by Wally Pfeffer.

10 

FACULTY 

NEW FACULTY/STAFF 

New Faculty 

Karyn Rogers will join our faculty as an assistant professor in January 2008. She completed her PhD at 

Washington University in St. Louis in August 2006 and is currently a postdoctoral scholar at the Woods 

Hole Oceanographic Institution. Karyn is a geomicrobiologist interested in the interaction between microbes 

and their geochemical environment. Karyn uses techniques from microbiology, molecular biology 

and geochemistry to understand how energy generated by chemical disequilibria can affect the diversity and 

activity of microorganisms in hydrothermal environments and also uses modern terrestrial environments as 

analogs for putative hydrothermal systems on early Earth and Mars. She has studied the shallow marine 

hydrothermal systems of the Aeolian Islands in Italy, hot springs in Yellowstone National Park, and natural 

gas wells in southeastern Oklahoma, and will undertake her first deep-sea submersible dive this winter on 

the East Pacific Rise. Karyn will teach Low Temperature Geochemistry this spring and Advanced Geomicrobiology 

next year. 

Staff 

Kristin Bandeko Bennett joined our department 

in fall 2006 as an administrative assistant. Kristin 

was formerly a staff member in the School of 

Social Work. She has rapidly acclimated to the 

variety of new tasks associated with our department, 

including field camp, graduate admissions, 

grants, etc. 

Marsha Huckabey celebrated her 21st year in the 

department last September. As an administrative 

associate, she continues to excel at running the 

fiscal aspects of the department. She also works 

with our geology development board in their many 

activities throughout the year.

FACULTY 

ETHINGTON AWARD/OTHER STAFF 

11 

Ray Ethington receives SEPM Award 

Ray and Leslie Ethington, and geology development board member Tim McHargue (BS ’71, MA ’74) 

celebrate Ray’s receiving the Raymond C. Moore Medal for sustained excellence in paleontology at the 

2007 annual SEPM meeting in Long Beach. Ray’s citation reads “In recognition of his myriad research 

accomplishments and leadership roles in Paleozoic stratigraphy, conodont biostratigraphy and paleontology, 

undergraduate and graduate education, and service to the publication of others’ research in sedimentary 

geology, in which Raymond Ethington indeed exemplifies the spirit and example set by R.C. Moore.” 

Postdoctoral, Research and Teaching Staff 

This year we are pleased to have three postdoctoral, research and teaching staff. Postdoctoral fellow, Alvaro 

Jimenez Berrocoso (left) is working with Ken MacLeod on Late Cretaceous greenhouse climate. Research 

Scientist Richard Yang (center) continues his work with Mian Liu on continental deformation in the western 

U.S. Instructor Cathy Zumsteg (right) has teaching responsibility for Principles of Geology and coordinates 

all of our introductory laboratories.

12 FACULTY 

NEWS RELEASES 

Study Finds that a Single Impact Killed 

the Dinosaurs 

Data supports the single-impact theory in a controversial 

discussion 

COLUMBIA, Mo. – The dinosaurs, along with 

the majority of all other animal species on Earth, 

went extinct approximately 65 million years ago. 

Some scientists have said that the impact of a large 

meteorite in the Yucatan Peninsula, in what is today 

Mexico, caused the mass extinction, while others 

argue that there must have been additional meteorite 

impacts or other stresses around the same time. A 

new study provides compelling evidence that “one 

and only one impact” caused the mass extinction, 

according to a University of Missouri-Columbia 

researcher. 

“The samples we found strongly support the single 

impact hypothesis,” said Ken MacLeod, associate 

professor of geological sciences at MU and lead 

investigator of the study. “Our samples come from 

very complete, expanded sections without deposits 

related to large, direct effects of the impact – for 

example, landslides – that can shuffle the record, so 

we can resolve the sequence of events well. What 

we see is a unique layer composed of impact-related 

material precisely at the level of the disappearance 

of many species of marine plankton that were contemporaries 

of the youngest dinosaurs. We do not 

find any sedimentological or geochemical evidence 

for additional impacts above or below this level, as 

proposed in multiple impact scenarios.” 

MacLeod and his co-investigators studied sediment 

recovered from the Demerara Rise in the Atlantic 

Ocean northeast of South America, about 4,500 km 

(approximately 2,800 miles) from the impact site 

on the Yucatan Peninsula. Sites closer to and farther 

from the impact site have been studied, but few 

intermediary sites such as this have been explored. 

Interpretation of samples from locations close to 

the crater are complicated by factors such as waves, 

earthquakes and landslides that likely followed the 

impact and would have reworked the sediment. 

Samples from farther away received little impact 

debris and often don’t demonstrably contain a 

complete record of the mass extinction interval. The 

Demerara Rise samples, thus, provide an unusually 

clear picture of the events at the time of the mass 

extinction. 

“With our samples, there just aren’t many complications 

to confuse interpretation. You could say that 

you’re looking at textbook quality samples, and the 

textbook could be used for an introductory class,” 

MacLeod said. “It’s remarkable the degree to which 

our samples follow predictions given a mass extinction 

caused by a single impact. Sedimentological 

and paleontological complexities are minor, the 

right aged-material is present, and there is no support 

for multiple impacts or other stresses leading 

up to or following the deposition of material from 

the impact.” 

The impact of a meteorite on the Yucatan Peninsula 

likely caused massive earthquakes and tsunamis. 

Dust from the impact entered the atmosphere and 

blocked sunlight, causing plants to die and animals 

to lose important sources of food. Temperatures 

probably cooled significantly around the globe 

before warming in the following centuries, wildfires 

on an unprecedented scale may have burned and 

acid rain might have poured down. MacLeod and 

many other scientists believe that these effects led 

to the relatively rapid extinction of most species on 

the planet. Some other scientists have argued that 

a single impact could not have caused the changes 

observed and say that the impact in the Yucatan 

predates the mass extinction by 300,000 years. 

MacLeod’s co-investigators were Donna L. Whitney 

from the University of Minnesota, Brian T. Huber 

from the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural 

History and Christian Koeberl of the University of 

Vienna. The study was recently published in the ‘in 

press’ section of the online version of the Geological 

Society of America Bulletin. Funding was 

provided by the U.S. Science Support Program, the 

U.S. National Science Foundation and the Austrian 

Science Foundation. Samples were recovered on 

Leg 207 of the Ocean Drilling Program.

FACULTY 

NEWS RELEASES 

13 

Geologist to Study Volcanism with 

Under-Ocean Sensors 

By recording activity where it happens under water, 

sensors will capture rare data 

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Earthquakes and volcanic 

activity occur when the tectonic plates that make 

up Earth’s surface move apart or converge. While 

this activity is relatively easy to observe on land, 

it’s more difficult to observe under the ocean, where 

most of it occurs. A University of Missouri-Columbia 

researcher will soon undertake a study to learn 

more about this process by placing sensors on a 

mid-ocean ridge called the East Pacific Rise. 

“Right now, we can only listen from land using seismometers, 

or in the oceans using hydrophones, and 

try to find out when there is activity in a mid-ocean 

ridge,” said Marie-Helene Cormier, assistant professor, 

Geological Sciences. “We might not know for 

a few days, and then it might take at least a week to 

get a ship to the site. If we want to study what’s happening, 

it’s very difficult to get accurate and timely 

information. Our goal is to put sensors in place so 

that we can record activity as it is happening. When 

we recover our sensors, we’ll be able to study what 

was happening during those moments.” 

In mid February, Cormier and her colleagues, Spahr 

Webb and Roger Buck of Columbia University, will 

place sensors on the seafloor in multiple positions 

along the East Pacific Rise southwest of Mexico. 

The sensors will measure and record changes in 

the pressure of the water column above them. 

Cormier said the pressure of the water is expected 

to decrease during ridge activity because magma 

flows up between the two plates, creating new 

seafloor and raising the height of the sensors by a 

few inches. She and her team will collect data from 

the sensors while they are in place until they are 

removed from the ocean floor in 2009 or 2010. MU 

undergraduate students are expected to accompany 

Cormier on the research mission to learn more about 

geology and marine research. 

“We expect there will be activity in this area while 

the sensors are there,” Cormier said. “We’ll measure, 

use computer models and compare data of the 

seascape from previous missions to this area to learn 

more about what’s happening.” 

The data from this study could help scientists better 

understand what happens when tectonic plates 

move apart. This activity can cause underwater 

volcanic eruptions and earthquakes that result in the 

cycling of large quantities of seawater through the 

ocean floor, creating a nutrient-rich environment for 

bacteria and microorganisms. Cormier said the new 

magma and heat that come from below the earth’s 

surface attract organisms to the new nutrient-rich, 

warm waters that are expelled from the seafloor. 

“We want to understand more about what’s happening 

under the oceans,” Cormier said. “We can 

look at maps of Earth and see many details about 

the landforms above sea level, but we don’t know 

nearly as much about what’s under the ocean. Seventy 

percent of our land is under the ocean, so it’s 

important to map out what landforms there are and 

understand what’s happening there.” 

This research is supported by a National Science 

Foundation (NSF) grant. Two recent and current 

MU undergraduate students are accompanying 

Cormier on the research mission to learn more about 

geology and marine research. 

From left, MU 

undergraduates Josh 

Meyer and John 

Krueger join Roger 

Buck (LDEO) and 

Milene Cormier at 

sea.

14 

PHOTO GALLERY 

FIELD STUDIES 

The Laxey Wheel on the Isle of Man, built 

in 1854, remains the largest working waterwheel 

in the world. It has a diameter 

of 72 feet and was used to pump 250 

gallons of water a minute from underground 

lead-zinc-silver mines developed 

in Lower Paleozoic metamorphic rocks. 

The photo was taken by master’s student 

Justin Beasley who, with advisor Kevin 

Shelton, is studying the origin of zinc-rich 

fault breccias on the southern end of the 

island. 

Doctoral student Geoffroy Avard takes 

notes while on the side of an active 

dome on Kamchatka’s Bezymianny 

volcano. Geoffroy spent three weeks 

at 3,000m altitude sampling rocks 

and gases as part of a cooperation 

between USA and Russia, involving 

the Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption 

Response Team and the Alaska and 

Cascades Volcano Observatories. 

Eric Sandvol with Buddhist monks at a 

remote monastery in northeastern Tibet. 

Eric installed a seismic station within the 

house of the Monastery’s Lama.

PHOTO GALLERY 

FIELD STUDIES 

15 

Mike Rigby (and hircine fi eld assistants) 

in the Middle Atlas Mountains 

of Morocco. Mike’s master’s research 

with Paco Gomez involves mapping the 

structural geometry across the front of 

the active mountain belt, combined with 

geomorphic observations of the recent 

fault movements. 

Undergraduates Joshua Meyers 

(MU), John Krueger (MU), and Wanda 

Vargas (Lehman College-CUNY) 

examine seafl oor basalt dredged from 

the East Pacifi c Rise while on a 35-day 

oceanographic expedition with Milene 

Cormier. 

Kevin Shelton and master’s student 

Justin Beasley in County Sligo, Ireland, 

studying Carboniferous limestones that 

host zinc-lead deposits of the region.

16 PHOTO GALLERY 

FIELD TRIPS 

Students and faculty from MU and 

Oklahoma State study sedimentary 

features of the Davis Formation on a joint 

fi eldtrip led by Kevin Shelton to southeast 

Missouri’s lead belt. MU alumni 

were well-represented by OSU Assistant 

Professor Anna Cruse (BS ’94, MS ’97) 

(with sunglasses) and Paul Gerdemann 

(BA ’52) (with the white cap). 

Field camp students measuring fossil 

dunes in the Nuggest Sandstone in 

Wyoming. 

Undergraduate Ashley Ripple and Hendrik 

Falck of the C.S. Lord Geoscience 

Centre examine a gold-mineralized shear 

zone at the Con mine, Yellowknife, NWT, 

Canada. Ashley is completing her senior 

thesis with Kevin Shelton, studying the 

fl uid history of the Proterozoic West Bay 

fault in the Yellowknife area.

VISITING SPEAKERS 

SPEAKERS 

17 

Visiting Speakers 

A rich and varied program of visiting speakers was 

funded by our Williamson Family Endowment 

Fund. Last year’s Williamson Family Colloquia 

included: 

Jim Alexander, Missouri Department of Natural 

Resources 

Failure of Taum Sauk Dam 

Donna Blackman, Scripps Oceanographic Institute 

(JOI/USSAC Distinguished Lecturer) 

Discoveries, hypotheses, and drilling surprises: 

adventures in studying the formation and evolution 

of oceanic lithosphere 

David Blowes, University of Waterloo 

(Birdsall-Dreiss Lecturer) 

Predicting, preventing and remediating 

acidic drainage from sulfide bearing 

mines and mine wastes 

Ray Coveney, University of 

Missouri-Kansas City 

Widespread hydrothermal effects on 

Pennsylvanian strata of the midwest 

Hendrick Falck, Northwest Territories 

Geoscience Office 

Ore deposits of the Nahanni area, Northwest 

Territories, Canada 

Douglas Gouzie, Missouri State University 

The 2006 Nixa sink collapse – a “perfect storm” of 

karst conditions 

Andrew Harris, University of Hawaii 

Cyclic lava dome extrusion at Santiaguito and its 

impact on downstream communities: a satellite 

perspective 

Jean-Laurent Mallet, Ecole Nationale Superieure 

de Geologie, Nancy, France, (AAPG 

Distinguished Lecturer) 

Integrated earth modeling: from seismic interpretation 

to flow simulation in reservoirs 

Tony Nemer, University of Missouri-Columbia 

The advent of paleoseismology in seismotectonics: 

case studies from the Lebanese restraining 

bend 

Jeffrey Nunn, Louisiana State University 

Migration pathways in the central north slope 

foreland basin: thermal and solute constraints 

Cheryl Seeger, Missouri Department of 

Natural Resources 

The geology of the deposits of the 

Southeast Missouri iron metallogenic 

province 

Chris Sorlien, University of 

Missouri-Columbia 

Folding and faulting for offshore 

Santa Barbara to Los Angeles: from 

low risk to catastrophic earthquake 

scenarios 

Angela Speck, University of 

Missouri-Columbia (Physics) 

The nature of stardust: astromineralogy 

and the dust around aging stars 

Daniel Stockli, University of Kansas 

Transition from intra-arc extension to continentcontinent 

collision in northern Iran 

Mike Wise, Smithsonian Institute 

Mineralogy and mineral chemistry of the Sebago 

pegmatite group, Maine 

Alvaro Jimenez, University of Missouri- 

Columbia 

Black shales, fossil distribution and anoxic conditions 

on Demerara Rise (late Creataceous, tropical 

western North Atlantic) 

Gary Lofgren, NASA 

Chondrules in Meteorites, a study in crystallization 

of silicate melts

18 

FIELD CAMP 

FIELD COURSE 

A Hot Summer and a Full 

House at Camp Branson 

This summer’s field camp session included a great 

group of students from across the country. Despite 

a very hot summer and a nearly full capacity of 

students, the students worked hard to make it 

through projects ranging from our traditional field 

mapping and sed-strat projects to our advanced 

projects in hydrogeology and geophysics. Many 

of the students came to Camp Branson specifically 

to participate in our advanced projects options, 

so we are pleased that our curriculum revisions 

over the past few years have helped to attract new 

students. 

We had 41 students in camp 

this summer—the most 

since 1997. The students 

came from 15 schools, 

25 from Missouri schools 

(MU, Missouri State, Univ. 

of Central Missouri, and 

Washington University) 

and 17 from other states 

(LA, MA, MI, NC, NY, 

PA, SC, & TN). Schools 

represented included 

Clemson, University of 

Massachusetts, Syracuse, 

Tufts, Bloomsburg University, University of 

Tennessee at Chattanooga, University of North 

Carolina, SUNY Cortland, Centenary University, 

and Millersburg University. One of the factors 

that increased our enrollment this summer was 

the University’s decision to charge the same 

tuition for both Missouri resident and non-resident 

students attending the camp. This also allowed us 

to give more scholarships and larger scholarships 

to Missouri resident students from funds donated 

to field camp scholarship fund by our alumni. The 

photo on the next page shows the students who received 

scholarships to help them attend the camp 

and their university affiliations. 

It was a hot, dry summer in Wyoming. From 

mid June to mid July the Wyoming State Climate 

Office (see link) reported average temperatures in 

west-central Wyoming 8-10º above normal and 

rainfall less that half of normal. These conditions 

were in sharp contrast to the snow that hit camp during 

the first week of June, but they certainly had an 

effect. We were quite concerned about fire hazards 

by early July, and the Forest Service banned all 

campfires in the National Forest after July 4. The 

most obvious social effect in camp was afternoon 

swimming in the Popo Agie (see photo). Many 

students used the swimming hole adjacent to the 

Middlebush cabin to cool off after a hot day in the 

field, and the natural waterfall slide at the Popo Agie 

falls above camp was common weekend recreation. 

The hot, dry conditions, combined with a low winter 

snow pack, made for unusually low-water and 

warm-water conditions in the Popo Agie. For the 

first time in many years there was no water running 

in the overflow channel below the Sinks. 

The low water did have an 

interesting effect on our 

advanced hydrology dyetracing 

project. In last year’s 

newsletter, I reported on the 

dye-tracing project that students 

conducted during the 

2006 camp session. The students 

timed the flow of water 

from the Popo Agie Sinks 

(were the Popo Agie sinks 

into an underground cavern) 

to its reappearance downstream. 

The exact pathway 

through the subsurface from 

the Sinks is unknown, but the stream water returns 

to the surface about 400 m downstream at a large, 

spring-fed pool called the “Rise.” Last fall the 

students gave a poster presentation at the annual 

GSA meeting on their results (Baum et al., 2006), 

and we recently published a paper on the project in 

the Journal of Geoscience Education (Lautz et al., 

2007). Last year’s flow rate matched that recorded 

by the USGS in 1983 of a little more than 2 hours. 

However, this year’s experiment, with low-water 

conditions, took more than 6 hours (more experiments 

to follow). 

The new projects were again run by a dedicated 

group of faculty members. Eric Sandvol (MU) and 

TA Danielle Robinson (now a graduate student at 

MU) guided the students through seismic studies 

across the project area, and Dennis Dahms (Univ. 

of Northern Iowa) ran a terrace mapping project in 

which the students map a sequence of Pleistocene

FIELD CAMP 

FIELD COURSE 

19 

to Holocene stream terraces in Red Canyon. Don 

Siegel (Syracuse) and Laura Lautz (SUNY Environmental 

Sciences and Forestry) headed up the 

hydrogeology projects. 

Other faculty and instructors this year included Annie 

Holmes (Univ. of Tennessee at Chattanooga) and 

Linda Ivany (Syracuse) who covered the sedimentation-stratigraphy 

projects. Bob Bauer and Jon Mies 

(Univ. of Tennessee at Chattanooga) covered the 

structural-mapping projects on Dallas and Derby 

Domes, and Bob ran the hard-rock mapping projects 

in the South Pass area. Mark Anders (Columbia 

University) and Dennis Dahms again ran the 

four-day trip through northwestern Wyoming and 

adjacent areas. Mark provided his expertise on the 

Snake River Plain, the Yellowstone hot spot and the 

Heart Mountain detachment, and Dennis presented 

stops on the Pleistocene glacial history of the region 

and the Yellowstone thermal areas and their associated 

geomicrobiology. We had yet another great 

cadre of TA’s this summer with Angie Van Boening, 

Danielle Robinson, both MU graduate students 

and Jeff Steadman (now a graduate student at Iowa 

State). Angie deserved special recognition for her 

fourth summer as a TA at Camp Branson. Angie recently 

accepted a teaching position at the University 

of Nebraska at Omaha (not too far from the family 

home in Lincoln). 

Past newsletter reports on field camp described our 

new caretaker’s cabin that was built to house a yearround 

caretaker. At the end of camp last summer, 

Dick McCauley took over and did a great job this 

summer as our full-time care taker. Camp Branson 

can be quite secluded during winter snows, but 

we’re happy that Dick likes the winter and serves as 

our year-round presence in camp. 

Thanks to all of the faculty, staff, and alumni 

contributions that help Camp Branson continue to 

flourish. 

Wyoming State Climate Info: http://www.wrds. 

uwyo.edu/wrds/wsc/dtf/droughtupdate.pdf 

Field Camp web site: http://web.missouri.edu/fieldcamp/ 

Baum, C. et al., 2006, A Vanishing Act: Understanding 

the path of the Popo Agie River through the 

Sinks Canyon Cave. Geological Society of American 

Abstracts with Programs. 

Lautz, L.K., Siegel, D.I., and Bauer, R.L., 2007, 

Dye Tracing through Sinks Canyon: Incorporating 

Advanced Hydrogeology into the University of 

Missouri’s Geology Field Camp. Journal of Geoscience 

Education, v. 55, no. 3, p.197-201. 

Scholarship recipients: Front row: Barbara Horrighs, Abel 

Witmer, Samantha Olney, Rebekah Van Wey. Back row: 

Amanda Lough, Kate Pecsok, Rachel Barker, Cory Beaver, 

Brandon Kienenberger and Mark Sutcliffe.

20 STUDENTS 

UNDERGRADUATE 

New Undergraduate Research Program 

Last fall we began a departmental Undergraduate Research Program. The program is funded from four Opportunities 

for Excellence in Geology Endowments (the John and Betty Marshall, Gene and Thelma Schmidt, 

Walter D. Keller, and Norman E. Smith funds). We plan to fund about five undergraduate projects annually 

at about $3,000 each that will lead to senior theses. 

The intent of the program is to provide funds to enable undergraduates to conduct meaningful field- and 

laboratory-based research as part of their MU education. There are a number of benefits to such a program: 

(1) It encourages and rewards research starting early in our students’ careers. 

(2) It is a great recruiting tool to attract students to our program. 

(3) Our students will be more competitive and better prepared for graduate school and the work force. 

(4) The program increases our department’s visibility on campus and beyond. 

(5) Integrating meaningful research into our undergraduate curriculum allows us to create a unique role 

relative to other state-funded universities in Missouri. 

Five students are funded through this program during 2007-08. Miriam Galenas is characterizing the viscosity 

of mid ocean ridge basalts with Alan Whittington. Jacob Hahn is studying clay mineralogy of the eastern 

continental margin of India with Mike Underwood. Rachel Kohler is evaluating small-scale deformation as 

a proxy for regional Laramide fold mechanisms with Bob Bauer. Amy Morrissey is determining the stable 

isotope systematics of aquatic food webs in karstic watersheds with Carol Wicks. Ashley Ripple is investigating 

the complex fluid history of a major Proterozoic fault in the Yellowknife gold district, Canada with 

Kevin Shelton. We are extremely grateful to the donors to the Opportunities for Excellence in Geology 

Endowments who have provided research opportunities for these students. 

Miriam Galenas presents the results of her summer Undergraduate 

Research Mentorship Program, measuring the 

viscosity of mid-ocean ridge basalts, at the Summer Research 

forum in the Bond Life Sciences Center on Aug. 2, 2007. At 

left is advisor Alan Whittington.

STUDENTS 

UNDERGRADUATE 

21 

Undergraduate Degrees 

Bachelor of Arts 

Alicia M. Matson 

Bachelor of Science 

Summa Cum Laude 

Amanda C. Lough 

Bachelor of Science 

John P. Krueger 

Kimberly A. Royal 

Senior Thesis 

Nick Barber 

The effect of fl uorine on the viscosity of dacitic 

melts: Preliminary results. 

Advisor: Alan Whittington 

Scholarships 

Edmond & Mary Raymond Scholar 

Jake L. Schell 

Pearl T. Sando Scholars 

Christopher Burrows 

Miriam G. Galenas 

Martin C. Krueger 

Amy J. Morrissey 

Fred Strothmann Scholars 

Rachel L. Barker 

Shaunte P. Branham 

Joseph L. Kessinger 

Katharine E. Pecsok 

Sara E. Rohrs 

Field Course Scholars 

Rachael Barker 

Cory Beaver 

Barbara Horrighs 

Brandon Kienenberger 

Amanda Lough 

Samantha Olney 

Katharine Pecsok 

Mark Sutcliffe 

Rebekah Van Wey 

Abel Witmer 

Students enjoying the Geology Club picnic in Peace Park. From left: Justin 

Beasley, Sarah Mitchell, Scott Lepley, Kate Pecsok and Chris Brocka at the grill.

22 STUDENTS 

GRADUATE 

Graduate Degrees 

Master of Science 

Chris Brocka 

Laramide stress conditions and deformation 

mechanisms during the formation of Derby and 

Dallas Domes, Weiser Pass Quadrangle, Wind 

River Mountains, Wyoming. 

Advisor: Robert Bauer 

Sara Harkins 

Lead isotope analysis of non-sulfi de and sulfi de 

zinc-lead deposits of the Flinders Ranges, South 

Australia. 

Advisor: Martin Appold 

Jennifer Maloney 

Lithium and lithium isotopes in tourmaline as 

indicators of crystallization processes: A study of 

San Diego County pegmatites, California. 

Advisor: Peter Nabelek 

Elyn Potter 

Changes in stable carbon isotopes of methane 

along a salinity gradient in a hypersaline microbial 

mat system. 

Advisor: Cheryl Kelley 

Mary Schubert 

Study of a historical karst geochemical data-set 

from a Marble Cave, Oregon Caves National 

Monument. 

Advisor: Carol Wicks 

Angela Van Boening 

Petrogenesis and tectonic implications of mafi c 

rocks in the Precambrian core of the Black Hills, 

South Dakota. 

Advisor: Robert Bauer 

Doctor of Philosophy 

Cathy Zumsteg 

Metamorphism of the Wales Group and Moira 

Group on Prince of Wales and Dall Islands, 

southeastern Alaska. 

Advisor: Glen Himmelberg 

Scholarships 

John F. Burst Scholar 

Justin M. Beasley 

Graduate School Fellows 

Danielle D. Robinson 

Mark A. Sutcliffe 

Hal & Ruth Johnson Scholar 

Rani H. Jaafar 

Walter D. Keller Scholars 

Gina M. Applebee 

Harold E. Johnson III 

Dan E. McMillen Scholars 

Geoffroy Avard 

Carolina Isaza 

Gang Luo 

Jennifer Maloney 

GSSF Scholars 

Hitoshi Banno 

Justin M. Besley 

James W. Clements 

David M. Hillix 

Danielle D. Robinson 

Sarah K. Stephenson 

Mark A. Sutcliffe 

Peck Graduate Scholars 


James W. Clements 

Steven E. Pagan 

Michael T. Rigby 

William L. Romine 

Sarah K. Stephenson 

James H. Stitt Scholar 

David M. Hillix 

Fred H. Strothmann Scholar 

Hitoshi Banno 

W.A. Tarr Scholar 


M. Ray Thomasson Scholar 

Gleb Skobeltsyn

STUDENTS 

AWARDS 

23 

Amanda Lough receives the Estwing 

Hammer from Bob Bauer. This award 

honors the top undergraduate student to 

attend fi eld camp. 

Carolina Isaza receives the 2006-07 

Superior Graduate Achievement Award 

from Bob Bauer. 

Angela Van Boening receives the 

2006-07 James H. Stitt Graduate 

Teaching Award from Bob Bauer.

24 STUDENTS 

PUBLICATIONS 

Student Publications and 

Abstracts 

Avard, G., Whittington, A., Rose, W., Matias, 

O., and Cornejo, J., 2006. Domes and Flows: Do 

Temporal Trends in Dacitic Magma Chemistry and 

Rheological Behavior at Santiaguito, Guatemala, 

Reflect Magma Chamber or Conduit Processes: 

Fall Meeting, San Francisco, CA. 

Sandvol, E., Bao, X., Zor, E., Xie, J., Mitchell, B., 

Gasanov, A. H., and Yetirmishli, H., 2006. Measurements 

of Regional Phase Q in the Middle East: 

Presented at the 29th Annual Seismic Research 

Review, Orlando FL. 

Barber, N., and Whittington, A., 2007. The effect 

of fluorine on the viscosity of dacitic melts: 

preliminary results: GSA North Central-South 

Central section meeting, Lawrence, KS. 

Bassett, D., MacLeod, K.G., Ethington, R., and 

Miller, J., 2007. Phosphate oxygen and the temperature 

and isotopic composition of Early Ordovician 

seawater. Palaios, v. 22, p. 98-103. 

Cooper, J.R., Crelling, J.C., Rimmer, S.M., and 

Whittington, A.G., 2007. Coal metamorphism by 

igneous intrusion in the Raton Basin, CO and NM: 

Implications for generation of volatiles: International 

Journal of Coal Geology, v. 71, p. 15-27. 

Dogwiler, T., Wicks, C.M., and Jenzen, E., in 

press. An assessment of the applicability of the 

heat pulse method toward the determination of 

infiltration rates in karst losing-stream reaches: 

Journal of Cave and Karst Studies, v. 69, no. 2. 

Underwood, M.B., Guo, J., Kawamura, K., 

Ogawa, Y., and Moore, G.F., 2006. Composition 

of clay minerals from mudstones in the Nankai 

accretionary prism, Tenryu and Shiono-misaki 

Canyons: AGU Fall Meeting, San Francisco. 

Harkins, S. A., Appold, M. S., Nelson, B. K., 

Brewer, A. M., Groves, I. M., in press. Lead isotope 

analysis of non-sulfide and sulfide zinc-lead 

deposits of the Flinders Ranges, South Australia: 

Economic Geology. 

Harkins, S., Appold, M., Nelson, B., Brewer, A., 

Groves, I., 2007, Lead isotope and fluid inclusion 

microthermometry constraints on the origin of 

non-sulfide zinc and sulfide zinc-lead deposits in 

the Flinders Ranges of South Australia: Geological 

Society of America, South Central-North Central 

Meeting, Lawrence, Kansas, April 12, 2007. 

Harkins, S.A., Appold, M.S., Nelson, B.K., 

Brewer, A.M., Groves, I.M., 2006. Lead isotope 

analysis of non-sulfidezinc and sulfide zinc-lead 

deposits in the Flinders Ranges, South Australia: 

Geological Society of America, Abstracts with 

Programs, v. 38, 141-10. 

Stechern, A., Joachim, B., Behrens, H., Hellwig, 

B., and Whittington, A., 2006. Influence of water 

on the viscosity of dacite and andesite melts: DMG 

84 th Annual Meeting, Hannover, Germany. 

Jaafar, R., Gomez, F., Abdallah, C., Gebran, K., 

Reilinger, R., Alchalbi, A., Yassminh, R., and 

Daoud, M., 2007. GPS measurements of present 

day crustal deformation within the Lebanese 

restraining bend of the Dead Sea Fault System: 

AGU Fall Meeting, San Francisco, CA. 

Li, Q., and Liu, M., 2006. Geometrical impact 

of the San Andreas Fault on stress and seismicity 

in California: Geophys. Res. Lett, 33, L08302, 

doi:10.1029/2005GL025661. 

Li, Q., and Liu, M., 2007. Initiation of the San Jacinto 

Fault and its interaction with the San Anreas 

Fault, Pure Appl. Geophys., DOI 10.1007/s00024- 

00007-00262-z. 

Li, Q., Liu, M., Zhang, Q., and Sandvol, E., 

2007. Stress evolution and seismicity in the 

central-eastern United States: Insights from 

geodynamic modeling, in Continental Intraplate 

Earthquakes: Science, Hazard, and Policy Issues, 

Stein, S. and Mazzotti, S., eds., pp. 149-166, doi: 

110.1130/2007.2425. 

Luo, G., 2006. Strain partitioning of central Andes 

during short and long term: AGU Fall Meeting, 

San Francisco, 12-18-2006. 

Maloney, J.S., Nabelek, P.I., Sirbescu, M.C., and 

Halama, R., 2007. Lithium and its isotopes in tour-

STUDENTS 

PUBLICATIONS 

25 

maline as indicators of crystallization processes: A 

study of San Diego County pegmatites, California: 

6 th Hutton Symposium, 123-124. 

Potter, E.G., Kelley, C.A., and Bebout, B.M. 

2007. Stable carbon isotopes of methane in 

hypersaline microbial mats: American Society of 

Limnology and Oceanography (ASLO) Aquatic 

Sciences meeting. 

Rigby, M., Gomez, F., Zakir, A., Hahou, Y., and 

Jabour, N., 2007. Recent faulting and active shortening 

of the Middle Atlas Mountains, Morocco, 

within the diffuse African-Eurasian plate boundary: 

AGU Fall Meeting, San Francisco, CA. 

Van Boening, A.M., and Nabelek, P.I., 2006. Petrogenesis 

and tectonic implications of mafic rocks 

in the Precambrian core of the Black Hills, South 

Dakota: GSA Annual Meeting, CD. 

Yuvan, J., Shelton, K.L., and Falck, H., 2007. 

Geochemical investigations of high-grade quartzscheelite 

veins of the Cantung mine, NWT in Falck, 

H. and Wright, D.F., eds., Mineral and Energy Resource 

Assessment of the South Nahanni Watershed 

Under Consideration for the Expansion of Nahanni 

National Park Reserve, Northwest Territories: 

Open-File Report, Geological Survey of Canada/ 

Parks Canada, 40 pp. 

Gomez, F., Nemer, T., Rigby, M., and Jabour, N., 

2007. Recent faulting in the Prerif and Middle 

Atlas of Morocco: implications for earthquake 

hazard and regional tectonics: Conference of the 

Moroccan Association of Petroleum Geology. 

Student Grants and Awards 

Geological Sciences Undergraduate 

Research Grant 

Nick Barber 

Miriam Galenas 

Jacob Hahn 

Rachel Kohler 

Amy Morrissey 

Ashley Ripple 

Geological Society of America NC-SC 

Sectional Meeting 

Outstanding Student Oral Presentation 

Sara Harkins 

MU Undergraduate Research 

Mentorship Program 

Miriam Galenas 

Superior Graduate Student Award 


Thomas Strange Fellowship 

Amy Morrissey 

U.S. Geological Survey Kleinman Grant 

Will Romine 

James H. Stitt Graduate Teaching Award 

Angela Van Boening

26 

DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES 

CONTRIBUTIONS 

Investments in the Future 

The Department of Geological Sciences gratefully acknowledges the financial support of alumni 

and friends who promote the recognition, welfare and progress of the Department of Geological Sciences 

and the University of Missouri-Columbia. Donors whose cumulative gifts to MU, including corporate 

matching contributions, total $25,000 cash or pledge or $50,000 or more deferred are recognized through 

the University of Missouri-Columbia’s Jefferson Club. 

Snow at Camp Lander (before it was Camp Branson) on June 

14, 1945. Photo taken by Betsy Page McRae (MU ’48). 

Ambassadors 

Mr. and Mrs. Norman F. Jeffries 

Very Distinguished Fellows 

Drs. Alice M. and John F. Blount 

Dr. and Mrs. Tom Freeman Jr. 

Mrs. Hugh M. Looney 

Mr. John H. Marshall Jr. 

Dr. and Mrs. Herman Ponder 

Mrs. Lucille Tlapek 

Distinguished Fellows 

Mr. and Mrs. Richard G. Boyd 

Mrs. Stephan M.L. Eisner 

Mr. Donald S. Garvin 

Mr. B. Ray Holifield 

Mrs. Wallace B. Howe 

Mr. and Mrs. Ed A. Williamson 

Fellows 

Mrs. Frank D. Gorham Jr. 

Michael W. Quearry 

Mr. and Mrs. Robert L. Rayl 

Mrs. James F. Westcott 

Members 

Mr. and Mrs. David K. Baumann 

Dr. and Mrs. Richard Bishop 

Dr. and Mrs. John F. Burst 

Mr. and Mrs. Paul E. Gerdemann 

Mr. and Mrs. John J. Hebberger Jr. 

Mr. and Mrs. Harold E. Johnson III 

Mr. and Mrs. Andy Kemmer 

Ms. Amy C. (Patterson) King 

Mr. and Mrs. Ernie Knirk 

Mr. Andrew Kugler Jr. 

Ms. Jane Espy Meyer 

Mr. and Mrs. Robert C. Miles 

Mr. Gary C. Mitchell 

Mr. and Mrs. M. Clay Parsons 

Mr. and Mrs. David Rapp 

Mr. Scott H. Raymond 

Mr. and Mrs. Robert K. Sylvester 

Dr. and Mrs. M. Ray Thomasson 

Mrs. Keith Tuthill 

Mr. and Mrs. Tom Ware


CONTRIBUTIONS 

27 

2006–07 Contributors 

Henry W. Allen 

John L. Berkley 

James H. Brown Jr. 

Jack D. Burgess 

Wayne F. Canis 

Robert E. Carver 

Christopher N. Clark 

James W. Danser 

George H. Davis 

John G. Elliott 

Mrs. Stephan Eisner 

David Fulton 

Thomas J. Freeman Jr. 

Alice C. Fuerst 

Donald S. Garvin 

John H. Gatchell 

Richard J. Gentile 

William M. Hoag 

Richard D. Hoare 

Hal & Ruth Johnson 

Amy C. King 

David T. King Jr. 

Ernie Knirk 

Tillie Looney 

John H. Marshall Jr. 

Joan S. McDougal 

Timothy R. McHargue 

Jim P. Miller 

Gary C. Mitchell 

George E. Moore Jr. 

Dennis Murphy 

Susan C. Murphy 

William J. Neal 

John L. Nold 

David M. Patrick 

Jack J. Pennington 

Stephen & Alice Phillips 


Scott H. Raymond 

Thomas D. Rush 

Gene & Thelma Schmidt 

Eugene S. Schweig III 

Merrill Shields 

Marjorie C. Smith 

Walter Staley Jr. 

David J. Steyaert 

Craig A. Stewart 

Ray M. Thomasson 

Lucille Tlapek 

Kay N. Werner 

Ed & Connie Williamson 

Matching Gifts: 

Anadarko Petroleum Corp. 

ChevronTexaco 

Chevron USA, Inc. 

Dominion Foundation 

ExxonMobil Foundation 

Marathon Oil 

Phillips Petroleum 

Special Thanks 

Our Department of Geological Sciences gratefully acknowledges the establishment of four new endowment 

funds from our alumni. These are: 

Scott H. Raymond Geology Faculty Enhancement Endowed Fund 

Craig Russell Knotts Memorial Scholarship Fund 

Gene W. Schmidt Undergraduate Scholarship Fund 

John “Jack” W. Tlapek Geology Student Scholarship Fund

28 


ENDOWMENTS 

Endowed Scholarship Funds 

William Burrows Allen Field Camp Scholarship 

Mr. & Mrs. Richard G. Boyd Endowment Fund 

John F. Burst Graduate Fellow in Industrial Minerals 

Richard P. Frey Memorial Paleontology Fund 

Donald S. Garvin Geology Field Camp Scholarship 

Leonard D. Harris Scholarship 

Wallace B. Howe Fellowship in Geology 

Clayton H. Johnson Memorial Scholarship Fund 

Hal and Ruth Johnson Fellowship Fund 

Walter D. Keller Scholarship Fund 

Larry & Sherilyn Knox Geology Student Scholarship 

Maurice Mehl Memorial Scholar in Field Geology 

Robert & Lisa Miles Geology Student Scholarship 

James G. Mitchell Memorial Fund in Geology 

Ernest J. Palmer Memorial Scholarship 

Mrs. Pat Scholarship for Geology Students 

Raymond E. Peck Undergraduate Scholarship 

Raymond E. Peck Graduate Fellowship 

Edmond A. & Mary L. Raymond Scholarship 

Carl B. Rexroad Geological Sciences Endowment 

Pearl Todd Sando Geology Scholar Endowment Fund 

James H. Stitt Memorial Scholarship Fund 

Fred Strothmann Perpetual Geology Scholarship 

W.A. Tarr Scholarship 

David & Jennie Steyaert Geology Student Scholarship 

Dr. M. Ray Thomasson Graduate Fellowship Fund 

George W. Viele Memorial Geology Field Camp 

Scholarship Fund 

Unrestricted Endowment Funds 

Lily Marie Carter Endowed Geology Fund 

Geology Endowment Fund 

Walter D. Keller Opp for Excellence Endowment 

John & Betty Marshall Opportunities for Excellence 

Scott Raymond Endowment for Outstanding 

Achievement 

Gene & Thelma Schmidt Geology Endowment 

Norman E. Smith Opportunities for Excellence 

John M. Ware Memorial Geology Endowment 

Williamson Family Geology Endowment 

Other Endowed Funds 

E.B. Branson Professorship 

Mitchell Family Endowment for Camp Branson 

R.E. Peck Professorship 

A.G. Unklesbay Travel Award 

Bequests 

Blount Opportunities for Excellence in the 

Department of Geological Sciences 

Cache Creek Exploration Co. Scholarship Fund 

Norman & Shirley Jeffries Graduate Fellowship 

Robert W. Quearry Scholarship Fund 

Carl R. Swartzlow Memorial Geological Sciences 

Endowment Fund 

Charitable Remainder Trusts 

John & Betty Marshall Opportunities for Excellence 

in the Geological Sciences 

Jack & Mildred Schindler Geological Sciences 

Endowment Fund


SCHOLARSHIP FUND 

29 

On June 1, 2005, the Geology Development Board and the Department of Geological Sciences initiated a 

campaign to establish the Geology Student Scholarship Fund (GSSF). 

Help Us to Shape the Future 

Our department has a tradition of commitment to excellent training of students in the geological sciences. 

Caring faculty mentors in the classroom, the laboratory and the field have shaped our students’ lives. To continue 

this legacy, we ask you to share in establishing a permanently endowed fund to provide scholarships to 

undergraduate and graduate students. 

To Attract the Finest Students 

The department seeks private gifts to raise $1 million for an endowed Geology Student Scholarship Fund to 

help attract the finest students. Our immediate need is scholarships for graduate students. Annually, 5 percent 

of the fund will be distributed to enhance stipends for students. For example, a $1 million fund will provide 

10 scholarships at $5,000 per student to supplement current graduate stipends. 

To Compete with Peer Institutions 

A department’s ability to offer competitive graduate financial support directly influences the quality of its 

graduate program. As a result of declining state support in recent years, the level of graduate student financial 

support the department is able to offer has not been on a par with competitor universities. For example, 

stipends for master’s and doctoral students have been $3,000 to $6,000 higher per year per student at schools 

such as Kansas, Illinois and Indiana than at MU. This discrepancy is causing the department to lose prospective 

graduate students. The Geology Student Scholarship Fund will significantly affect our ability to attract 

top students. We expect increases in the number and quality of our applicants, and an improved chance of 

getting our best applicants to come to MU. 

To Partner with the MU College of Arts and Science 

In tandem with our Geology Student Scholarship Fund campaign, the College of Arts and Science committed 

to significantly increase the level of our graduate teaching stipends. Through this partnership, gifts to the 

fund will greatly affect our ability to attract quality students as well as reward the accomplishments of current 

graduate students. From 2004-2007, we received a 20% total increase in our TA stipends, 12% more than we 

would have received had we not initiated the GSSF campaign. 

How You Can Help 

Alumni and friends of the department are uniquely positioned to help an already strong department. The 

members of the Geology Development Board have pledged lead gifts to the fund. Now we ask for your help. 

Please join in strengthening the future of the department through a gift to the Geology Student Scholarship 

Fund. 

• Gifts of all amounts will help make a difference in the lives of our students. 

• Gifts of $25,000 or more will allow donors to name individual scholarships within the fund in honor of a 

mentor, family member or geology friend. 

• Gifts of $100,000 will produce a $5,000 scholarship for a new graduate student each year. 

Assist the Next Generation 

“Our department has an excellent graduate student body that is doing top-notch research comparable to that 

at leading universities across the nation with whom we compete for quality students. Enhancement of student 

stipends will make us a more attractive choice for our best graduate student applicants. As you know, life 

as a graduate student is not easy. We have to teach, take classes and conduct research while living on a tight 

budget. In partnership with the department, the College of Arts and Science has begun to raise the level of 

support for current graduate students. We are very thankful for your support of this campaign and its impact 

on our own and future students’ educational experiences.” 

Carolina Isaza-Londoño 

MS 2004 and current PhD student

30 



Fund Tops $700,000 Level 

Geology Student Scholarship Fund Campaign 

Our new Geology Student Scholarship Fund (GSSF) topped the $700,000 level in early July. As you may 

recall, our goal is to raise $1 million to provide 10 $5,000 scholarships annually to help attract top graduate 

students. 

New Funds Within the GSSF 

Several new funds were created this year under the umbrella of the GSSF fund. 

Ed (MA ’73) and Connie Williamson established the Craig Russell Knotts Memorial Scholarship Fund in 

honor of Connie’s brother. 

Gene (BA ’55) and Thelma Schmidt established the Gene W. Schmidt Undergraduate Scholarship Fund. 

Lu Tlapek and family established the John “Jack” W. Tlapek Geology Student Scholarship Fund in memory 

of her husband and former Geology Development Board member (BS ’59, MA ’62). 

We are grateful for these generous gifts and hope that these scholarship funds will encourage former friends 

and classmates to make additional contributions. 

Inaugural Awards from the GSSF Honor Geology Professors 

Several new funds were created last year to honor former and current professors. The following students 

received the inaugural awards from those funds. 

Dr. Raymond L. Ethington Student Scholarship Fund 

James Clements 

Glen R. Himmelberg Geology Student Scholarship Fund 

Sarah Stephenson 

William D. Johns Geology Student Scholarship Fund 

Hitoshi Banno 

Professor Tom Freeman Geology Student Scholarship Fund 

Justin Beasley 

Dr. David K. “Dai” Davies Memorial Scholarship 

David Hillix 

Dr. George W. Viele Student Scholarship Fund 

Mark Sutcliffe



31 

Inaugural Dr. David K. “Dai” Davies Memorial 

Scholarship Awarded 

David Hillix was awarded the fi rst Dr. David K. “Dai” Davies 

Memorial Scholarship. David is working with Mike Underwood 

on a master’s project regarding sedimentology and stratigraphy 

of IODP cores from offshore Japan. 

Students visit the Grand Canyon 

MU geology students hiking in the Grand Canyon on a May 

2007 trip led by Mitch Schulte and Carol Wicks. Trips such as 

this are made possible by generous donations from our alumni 

and friends.

32 DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES 

BOARD MEMBERS 

Geology Development Board 

Membership, 2007 

Ed Williamson, Chair 

BP Amoco (retired) 

Houston 

David Fulton, Vice Chair 

MWH Americas Inc. 

Broomfield, Colo. 

Geoffroy Avard 

University of Missouri-Columbia 

Mary S. Clark 

Department of Natural Resources 

Jefferson City, Mo. 

B. Ray Holifield 

Holifield Co. Inc. 

Giddings, Texas 



Harold E. Johnson III 

U.S. Geological Survey 

Columbia, Mo. 

Ernest P. Knirk 

Dominion Exploration & Production 

Calgary, Canada 

Larry M. Knox 

Dominion Exploration & Production 

Houston 

Matthew M. Laughland 

Hunt Oil Co. 

Dallas 

John H. Marshall Jr. 

Marshall Energetics Inc. 

Plano, Texas 

Timothy R. McHargue 

Chevron 

San Ramon, Calif. 

Gary Mitchell 

Infinity Energy Resources Inc. 

Denver, Colo. 


Chevron 

Houston 

Scott Raymond 

Marathon Oil Co. (retired) 

Littleton, Colo. 

Gene Schmidt 

Consulting geologist 

Tulsa, Okla. 

Cheryl Seeger 

Department of Natural Resources 

Rolla, Mo. 

Walter G. Staley Jr. 

A.P. Green Refractories (retired) 

Mexico, Mo. 

David J. Steyaert 

Impact Energy Resources 

Denver, Colo.


FROM OUR BOARD CHAIR 

33 

From our Geology Development Board Chair … 

The major focus of the Geology Development Board over the past year has continued to be the Geology 

Student Scholarship Fund. Initiated in 2005, the GSSF has grown quickly and in the fall of 2007 the department 

awarded the third new $5,000 scholarship funded from GSSF endowments. This enables the department 

to continue successfully to compete with other universities for the most qualified new students. 

Our goal—one million dollars—is now within reach, and I encourage all former students to consider a 

donation to this most worthy effort. There are several scholarship endowments named for former Mizzou 

geology faculty members, and one of these would be a particularly appropriate vehicle for recognizing the 

impact that a former professor had on one’s education and experience at Missouri. 

We also note that Camp Branson will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2011. Our next board meeting will 

be devoted to discussing and determining what actions we can take to help ensure that Camp Branson will 

continue to be the premiere geological field camp in the nation. 

“Thank you!” to all of you who have helped support Geological Science programs in the past, or who are 

considering doing so in the future. The department would not be as successful as it is without your help. 

Please feel free to contact me at any time with questions or suggestions about board activities and efforts. 

All the best. 

Sincerely, 

Ed Williamson 

Chairman 

Amy Morrissey receives the 2006-07 Geology Development 

Board Outstanding Undergraduate Award from board chair Ed 

Williamson.

34 

ALUMNI 

NEWS 

Alumni News 

Clifford A. Balster (Graduate Student ’50-’51) 

reports that retirement is great and he is staying 

busy! Clifford resides in Billings, Mont. 

Bret S. Beall (FC ’81, BS ’82) writes, “Every 

time I have to manage crazy clients for 

www.god-dess.com, I remember how Dr. Raymond 

Ethington managed us crazy students; with gentlemanly 

respect, calm, and intelligence. Thanks, 

Dr. E., for being such a great mentor and role 

model 25 years later!” 

Charles Beierle (FC ’62, BA ’64, MA ’77) is doing 

consulting in geodesy and geophysics in the 

Kingsland, Texas, area. 

Jack Berkley (MA ’72) writes, “I am still chair of 

the geosciences department at SUNY-Fredonia. At 

the end of my current term in two years I will have 

served as chair longer than any other human—12 

years. Saw Bob Bauer a few years back at a Lake 

Superior Institute Conference in Duluth.” 

Mike Bernthal (FC ’79, BS ’80, MA ’82) writes 

that he received recognition for his work with the 

St. Louis County Police and their Crisis Intervention 

Team (CIT) training program over the past 

year. 

Bill Berthold (FC ’84, BS ’85) writes that he is 

still collecting rocks and good wine. Bill resides in 

Eureka, Mo. 

Virginia Ireland Beu (FC ’51) reports that she is 

still enjoying beautiful North Carolina and watching 

her grandchildren graduate from college. 

Virginia resides in Weaverville. 

David A. Bohnert (BS ’80) resides in Edmond, 

Okla., where he is president of Arbuckle Enterprises, 

Inc. 

William C. (Bill) Bridges (FC ’55, BA ’56, 

MA ’58) is retired and lives in Dallas. 

Richmond F. Brown (FC ’47, BA ’47) writes, 

“Lee and I are enjoying retirement in Michigan 

and winters in the smoky mountain area. We hike, 

bicycle, canoe, swim, fish and sail. I work on 

hydrology with local environmental organizations. 

Miss seeing Dr. Keller at GSA meetings!” 

Robert E. Busch (BS ’67) writes, “Hello to everyone. 

I hope you are all healthy, wealthy and wise 

by this juncture in your life. I’m a father of two 

boys in their early twenties with not much hope of 

becoming a grandfather anytime soon. Other than 

that, I’m happy as a clam. Go Mizzou!” 

Wayne F. Canis (MA ’63, PhD ’67) writes, “Hello 

to all. Retirement is wonderful. Six Saturdays 

each week!” 

Alden Carpenter (Former Faculty) writes, “The 

onset of Parkinson’s disase is forcing me to retire 

from teaching and research at the end of this 

semester. My current gig, teaching at the Brandeis 

University Lifelong Learning Institute, has been 

particularly rewarding. My course, The End of 

Cheap Oil and Gas, has filled up on the first day 

of registration each time. All of the students are 

retired; many of them are chemists and mathematicians 

which really keeps me on my toes. I would 

very much like to hear form as many of my former 

students as possible.” 

Cindy Carroll (MA ’83) is an energy specialist 

with the Department of Natural Resources in 

Jefferson City, Mo. 

John R. Crocker (BA ’50) writes, “Have been 

retired now for 13 years and each one busy. 

Recently went to Antarctica for an expedition and 

a tremendous adventure!” 

Torrey Curtis (FC ’67) resides in Weatherford, 

Okla. 

Christopher J. Daus (FC ’80, BS ’81) writes that 

work and family occupy his life with a little time 

for fishing. Chris says his daughter is currently at 

Mizzou and has taken a geology class. 

Fred Davis (FC ’05, BS ’05) is a research assistant 

at the University of Minnesota. 

George H. Davis (FC ’86, MS ’89) reports 

another successful year. He writes, “Got to work 

on Paseo Bridge borings and hit oil! Dick Gentile 

came out to see the core and share stories, a welcome 

visit. Have now drilled all three meteorite

ALUMNI 

NEWS 

35 

impacts in Missouri—Weaubleau, Decaturville and 

Crooked Creek. Promoted in January 2007 too!” 

Xinhua Deng (PhD ’97) writes, “I still miss those 

good old days at MU. I have settled down in the 

suburb of Washington, DC.” 

Andrew Diefendorf (MA ’73) reports that he is 

counting down to retirement. Drew writes, “Jinx 

and I are loving our move to the Carolinas and enjoying 

sailing after a 20-year hiatus. Son Aaron is 

in his third year of a PhD program at Penn State 

working on biogeochemistry of the Paleocene Eocene 

thermal maximum in the Big Horn Basin.” 

Robert Diem (FC ’51, BA ’52, MA ’53) writes 

that after living in Bella Vista, Ariz., for the past 10 

years they have many friends and a good, busy life. 

Dennis Duewel (FC ’52, BA ’53, MA ’57) writes, 

“Shirley and I celebrated our 53 rd anniversary in 

August. First saw her on Swallow Hall steps and 

started the pursuit. She was inducted into Mortar 

Board in her junior year. Someone asked if she 

was so smart why did she marry me” 

Doug Elley (FC ’67, BS ’68) writes, “Retired after 

20 years of enforcing air pollutions regulations 

around the state of Missouri. Who knows I 

may some day excavate shoebox harboring nearly 

finished master’s thesis and thereby reveal source 

of Missouri’s lead-barium-zinc ores!” 

Jessie B. Ellis (PhD ’59) is enjoying the geologic 

variety of southern California. 

Evard Ellison (FC ’46, BA ’48, MA ’49) is retired 

and living in Houston. He writes, “Hello to all who 

were at field camp in 1946.” 

Brad Esslinger (FC ’80, BS ’81, MA ’83) writes 

that life is good in Arkansas. He is still looking 

for John Callanan so if anyone knows where he is 

please let Brad know. 

James H. Evans (FC ’56, BA ’59) reports that he 

is becoming semi-retired after restoring the family 

home that is built of all stone, and watching his 

grandchildren grow and mature. 

Jerome Eyer (FC ’59, BA ’60, MA ’61) writes that 

he is still finding oil and gas, teaching introductory 

geology at a community college, working with kids, 

writing on some Russian geology and staying out of 

trouble most of the time! 

Stanley C. Fagerlin (PhD ’80) writes, “Took a 

great tour of Iceland in September of 2006. My 

cholesterol was high this spring so I went on a diet/ 

walking program and dropped 60+ pounds, which 

got my cholesterol well down into the acceptable 

range. If you are ever in northern Wisconsin please 

drop in for a visit.” 

Juliana Waring Fahy (MA ’71) writes, “Hello 

to everyone. Still chuggin’ along out west working 

mostly west slope Colorado and this year in 

Arizona.” 

Daniel Ferber (MA ’79) writes, “Greetings from 

White Salmon, Wash. We had a great time seeing 

Jerry and Debra Yunker this past summer. I am 

busy with my medical practice. Greetings to all 

my grad school cronies.” 

Ted Flanigan (FC ’77, BS ’78) sends greetings 

from Bandera, Texas. 

Lee Florea (MS ’98) reports that he is half way 

through a two-year appointment as a Mendenhall 

Postdoctoral Fellow with the U.S. Geological 

Survey in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. His primary research 

focus is groundwater flow and geochemical cycling 

in the Everglades National Park. 

James T. Frank (FC ’75, BS ’76, MA ’79) writes, 

“It’s mid-August as I write this. August—when 

thoughts turn to….football. I’ll soon be adding 

another stadium (in St. Louis, against Illinois) to 

my short collection of places where I have seen 

Mizzou play. Columbia (of course), Michigan 

(what a great road trip in 1975), Ohio State (a classic 

22-21 win in 1976), Kansas (1977, Al Onofrio’s 

last game), Colorado (1981, a win) and Texas 

A&M (2006, an unfortunate loss). Go Tigers.” 

Rob Freeman (FC ’81, BS ’82) writes, “After 

learning the conventional power generation business 

in the late 90’s, I’m really enjoying applying 

that experience now to development of wind power 

projects. Among other states, we have our sights 

set on Missouri for wind development in the next 

few years.”

36 

ALUMNI 

NEWS 

Alice Cooper Fuerst (MA ’80) continues to enjoy 

teaching Geology 101 at a community college. 

She writes, “Having seen too many geologists and 

engineers with no ability to write a report without 

the help of an editor, my main emphasis is on 

writing and public speaking, with geology as the 

subject material.” 

Richard J. Gentile (BA ’56, MA ’58) received 

a matching UMKC/USGS grant. He presented a 

paper at the combined south central/north central 

GSA section meeting in Lawrence, Kansas. 

Meg George (FC ’72, BS ’73, MA ’77) resides in 

Los Angeles. 

Martha George (FC ’76, BS ’76) resides in 

Midland, Texas. 

R. Ken Germundson (PhD ’65) reports that upon 

graduation he shifted into mineral exploration. 

Currently he is looking after projects in northeastern 

Ontario, Idaho, and Brazil. Ken writes, “It 

took a long time to find me.” 

Craig Glassinger (FC ’69, BS ’70, MA ’72) 

retired from Stone Energy the first part of 2007. 

He is presently pursuing consulting work, volunteer 

work and other hobbies. 

Ed Goodrich (FC ’51, MA ’52) writes, “After 

four years with Mobil Oil and a few more years 

consulting I drifted into teaching. I spent over 20 

years as a high school science teacher and retired 

in 1988. Since then we have traveled worldwide.” 

Lee Gorday (MA ’82) writes, “I am marking my 

16 th year with Parsons in St. Louis. Working a 

wide range of projects and using some innovative 

techniques. Carrie is soon to finish a degree so 

she can teach first grade. Jonathan has finished at 

Webster in computer programming. Laura is in 

her second year at Truman, and Kent enters middle 

school. Obviously times are busy.” 

James P. Grady (FC ’79, BS ’81) writes, “It’s 

fascinating to witness the Barnett Shale drilling 

boom up close as a casual, but well-informed 

observer. In my previous life as an exploration 

geologist I never experienced such a density of 

drilling rigs as we have now in DFW metroplex.” 

Richard Hamilton (FC ’54, MA ’55) is retired 

from 34 years of teaching science at a local high 

school. He writes, “Now I enjoy wife, family, 

grandchildren and hobbies.” 

Howard A. Hampstead (BA ’50, MA ’53) resides 

in Lakewood, Colo. 

Tom Hesemann (FC ’76, BS ’77, MA ’79) reports 

that he been married for 26 years and has three 

boys. Tom resides in Erie, Colo. 

Richard Hoare (MS ’52, PhD ’57) retired from 

Bowling Green State University, where he was 

awarded him honorary alumnus status. 

Troy L. Holcombe (MA ’64) writes, “I have been 

gradually finishing up my work in the department 

at Texas A&M University, and will soon be retired. 

I hope to remain active doing the fun things, like 

finishing up some research papers on the geology 

of the Gulf of Mexico continental shelf.” 

Ken Houser (MA ’82) writes, “I’d be happy to 

entertain anyone visiting the desert southwest. We 

won’t talk too much about geology, but environmental 

planning. Now I am your guy for that!” 

Togwell A. Jackson (PhD ’69) continues to do 

full-time research on the biogeochemistry of heavy 

metals, including mercury in freshwater ecosystems. 

He is working mainly on variations in the 

stable isotope composition of mercury in aquatic 

organisms and sediments and on effects of heavy 

metals on microbial communities in sediments 

(using various methods, including energy-dispersive 

x-ray microanalysis and transmission electron 

microscopy). 

William T. Kane (PhD ’66) resides in Cheyenne, 

Wyo. 

Art Kasey (Graduate Student ’65-’70) writes, 

“Starting my 37 th year of teaching the earth geosciences 

and geology to Fox High School teens. I 

still love the challenge! Recently we have had 

a major upgrade of equipment. I attribute much 

of my success to the wise counsel of Dr. Walter 

Keller and Dr. Clayton Johnson.”

ALUMNI 

NEWS 

37 

Robert M. Kick (FC ’77, BS ’78) reports that his 

family is well and his work opportunities continue 

to grow. He writes, “Daughter, 17, to start college 

in fall 2008, maybe at MU. Son, 14, working on 

Eagle Scout rank. Hope all is well with you!” 

David T. King, Jr. (PhD ’80) continues with 

research at Wetumpka and Chesapeake Bay impact 

craters. David writes, “I will be co-chairing a session 

on impacts at the Denver GSA meeting this 

fall. Continuing also with stratigraphic work in 

Belize. Hello to everyone from ‘way back when.” 

Ernie Knirk (FC ’62, BS ’65, MA ’70) writes, 

“Moved and currently retired in Dallas. Calgary 

was great and the future looks exciting.” 

Romaine L. Kupfer (FC ’48, MA ’49) writes, “In 

June my husband and I had our 55 th anniversary 

and counted our many blessings.” 

Lowell K. Lischer (FC ’71, BS ’72, MA ’74) 

writes, “Back in the oil industry. At least I only 

have to ‘visit’ Houston, not live there. Hello to 

all.” Lowell is the president for Texas Onshore 

Resources Inc. in Houston. 

Fred Lohrengel (MA ’64) still enjoys teaching 

field camp and his regular duties with Southern 

Utah University. He says that geology is as exciting 

as ever. 

Eric Livingston (FC ’05, BS ’05) is a geologist 

with TRC Environmental in Eureka, Mo. He is 

a Geology Registrant in Training (GRIT) after 

passing the State of Missouri Board of Geologist 

Registration fundamentals exam. 

Stuart Maier (FC ’76, MA ’77) resides in Oklahoma 

City where he works for Gulfport Energy 

Corp. 

Olav Malvik (FC ’76, MA ’77) started a new job 

with Spectraseis in Zurich. He says you can read 

about them in the June 2007 issue of the AAPG 

Explorer or on their web site at 

www.spectraseis.com. 

Christine A. Mann (BA ’79) stays busy with 

health care as are others at www.savebiogems.org. 

Melvin Marcher (FC ’54, BA ’53, MA ’54) 

writes, “My very best friend and loving wife for 

43 years, Jeanne, passed away on March 30, 2006. 

I gave up the rare book business several years 

ago—done in by the internet. I occupy my time 

reading and augmenting my stamp collection.” 

Earle F. McBride (FC ’54, MA ’56) is working 

on several unfinished research projects. He is 

circulating the 100+ slides that he took in 1954 at 

field camp to his former colleagues. These slides 

include some of the Dunwoody Canyon fire that 

the camp got conscripted to fight. 

Patrick McClung (BS ’95) does a variety of work, 

including commercial real estate, retail clothing, 

bar/restaurant, construction/maintenance, retail 

floor covering, tanning salon, land development 

and comedy club. He writes that he likes to go 

kayaking, do karate, hike and anything his daughter 

wants to do. 

Tim McHargue (FC ’69, BS ’71, MA ’74) is 

still doing turbidite research and coordinating for 

Chevron. . He is also teaching and doing research 

collaboration work at Stanford and the Colorado 

School of Mines. 

Ellen Menown (FC ’82, BS ’83) writes, “Hello to 

fellow 1982 field campers especially to Marilyn 

Miller Mohn and Tim ‘got the bus-driver blues’ 

Sheehan!” 

Arthur B. Merkle (PhD ’67) writes, “A new year 

still teaching earth science and physical science. 

All my classes are full. Have a good year!” 

John C. Miller (FC ’65, MA ’68) reports that in 

February he and Mary went to the 45 th anniversary 

of the Peace Corps in the Dominican Republic, 

where he served from 1962-1964. He now has 

a writing website (http://www.quarkspacetravel. 

com). 

Tola B. Moffett (FC ’67, MA ’73) continues to 

consult where his primary project is a 700-acre 

plume of Tri-chloroethylene. Other principal projects 

include siting landfills, BTEX contamination 

and expert witness.

38 ALUMNI 

NEWS 

George E. Moore, Jr. (FC ’35, BA ’36, MA ’38) 

writes, “Our travel days are over, but I still go to 

the YMCA. Son George is retired, Dana’s last year 

of teaching and Jerry is retired. Craig is the only 

one working. Is there anyone left that was in the 

geology department when I was” 

Thomas R. Moore (MA ’81) writes, “Changes, 

changes, changes. As I write this we are in the 

throes of consolidating our WV operations in a 

single new office in Charleston. That throws a 

twist into my living in my SW PA home, so it 

looks like I’m back to a transient lifestyle. The 

last kinder tuition payment is due in December, so 

financial liberation is near, possibly begetting more 

changes.” 

William J. Neal (MA ’64, PhD ’68) is enjoying 

retirement, his grandchildren and two great-granddaughters. 

He writes, “Mary and I travel a bit. 

I’m still dabbling in coastal geology. Look for our 

latest book Atlantic Coast Beaches published by 

Mountain Press. Always enjoy the newsletter and 

e-mail updates on department activities.” 

John Nold (FC ’62, BA ’63, MA ’64) is still teaching 

at Central Missouri State University, now the 

University of Central Missouri. John writes, “I 

am still working on the Proterozoic iron deposits 

in southeast Missouri, right now on the Pilot Knob 

magnetite deposit.” 

Jack Norman (FC ’58, BA ’60) writes that he 

spent seven years with Sinclair Refining Co. as a 

sales representative and 30 years in health care. 

Jack writes, “I’ve been married for 48 years and 

have two sons and five grandchildren. Look forward 

to visiting the Mizzou campus and geology 

department next year.” 

Dennis Ojakangas (FC ’57, MA ’59) reports that 

he is still busily retired. Dennis resides in Davis, 

Calif. 

Richard Ojakangas (FC ’55, MA ’60) writes, 

“Still residing on that old Precambrian and still 

studying it!” 

David Parrish (FC ’66, BS ’66, MA ’68) resides 

in Rapid City, S.D. 

Dustin Pearce (FC ’99) reports he was married on 

July 21, 2006, in Springfield, Mo., and vacationed 

in north California. Dustin and wife Kris moved to 

St. Louis where he is teaching physics at Mehlville 

High School. Dustin just completed year two of 

three in the Physics First program at MU. 

Harry M. Perry (FC ’49, MA ’50) resides in Katy, 

Texas. 

Mark E. Petersen (FC ’74, MA ’77) has been 

with Marathon Oil Co. for 30 years. 

Melissa Pratt Bautz (FC ’95, MS ’99) continues 

to enjoy her job inspecting mines and drilling projects 

in the Lander, Wyo. area. She and husband 

Greg enjoy fishing and hunting together. Melissa 

still teaches and plays the bagpipes. She writes, “I 

am attempting for elk No. 2 this fall, as I got my 

first in the fall of 2006!” 

Michael W. Quearry (FC ’72, BS ’73, MA ’75) 

sends greetings to all! Mike is still with Chevron 

working new ventures in Brazil. He and wife, Eva, 

are enjoying family and friends and life in Houston. 

He says that being a deacon at church has 

been a blessing for him. He writes, “I hope many 

blessings are flowing your way!” 

Scott Raymond (FC ’71, BS ’72, MA ’74) writes 

that he thinks it was Tom Petty who said, “I don’t 

know, but I’ve been told you never slow down, you 

never grow old.” Scott says, “Here’s to everyone 

keeping up the pace and running the good race.” 

Carl B. Rexroad (FC ’48, BA ’49, MA ’50) 

writes, “I’m working on Carboniferous conodonts 

with one Mississippian and one Pennsylvanian 

manuscript nearing completion. We had to forego 

a trip to the Greek Isles this spring but hope to 

reschedule. I have a granddaughter in her second 

year at Mizzou, the third generation.” 

Sharon Rudolph (FC ’76, BS ’77) reports that she 

is still enjoying Alaska. 

Lisa L’Hote Schildt (FC ’73, BS ’80) writes that 

she is still soaking up the scenery in the Pacific 

Northwest. She writes, “Spouse Ulrich and daughter 

Katharina keep me out of (most) trouble. Life 

is good.”

ALUMNI 

NEWS 

39 

Jack Schindler (FC ’49, BA ’50, MA ’51) is retired 

and lives in Bokeelia, Fla. 

Gene W. Schmidt (FC ’53, BA ’55) is still operating 

his consulting business and enjoying working 

with our development board. Gene and Thelma 

reside in Tulsa, Okla. 

Ruth F. Schulte (FC ’02) completed her master 

of science degree in geology at the University of 

Maryland in May 2007. 

Eugene Schweig (FC ’75, BS ’76) finished a busy 

year on a committee to write a 10-year science plan 

for the USGS. Buddy writes, “I learned a lot about 

how the non-geology parts of the USGS work. Last 

kid of three is in her senior year in high school, so 

we hope to be empty-nester’s soon!” 

Trish Settles (MS ’88) resides in Stow, Mass. 

Jack Sharp (Former Faculty) writes, “Society 

responsibilities (Geological Society of America and 

International Association of Hydrogeologists) are 

taking a lot of time, but I am trying to get my graduate 

students out fast so I can drop their number to 

less than 10!” 

Tim Sheehan (FC ’82, BS ’82, MS ’89) writes, “I 

have left my software engineering position with 

NASDAQ in order to pursue an intimate relationship 

with clay minerals. I am a potter now (see my 

work at www.thehaystackstudio.com). I am also 

pursuing writing as a career. This is quite a career 

change, but a welcome one.” 

Warner Sherman (FC ’89, BS ’89) is the owner of 

Sherman Engineering Services in Bolivar, Mo. 

Maynard Slaughter (FC ’54, MA ’57) resides in 

Greeley, Colo. 

Harlan Stark (BA ’51) lives in Neosho, Mo. 

John Stewart (MS ’84) writes, “It was great seeing 

Mike Underwood’s recent write-up and I loved his 

comment about predicting earthquakes. Mike’s role 

in this important deep sea drilling project is just one 

testament of the important projects Mizzou’s geology 

professor’s are taking part in around the world. 

We are proud of you. Keep it up.” 

Robert W. Taber (MS ’50) resides in Hendersonville, 

N.C. 

Katy Cory Tappmeyer (BS ’01) writes, “I received 

my master’s degree in education. I taught high 

school science for four years. I am now a mother 

of two beautiful girls. My husband, Wes, attends 

seminary here in Louisville.” 

M. Ray Thomasson (FC 50, BA 52, MA 53) writes, 

“Merrill and I have had another great year. TPA 

continues with activities in 16 states in the Rockies, 

Mid-Continent and Eastern U.S. Merrill and 

I are spending more time at Smokey Ridge, our 

place in western North Carolina and seeing more of 

England, Europe and the Far East. Or fifth and last 

daughter will get marrieid in England this summer.” 

Larry Trudell (FC ’52, BA ’56) writes, “I am still 

very much retired. Took a two-week cruise around 

Japan with relatives last October. I am still skiing, 

but not nearly as often as 10 years ago. I swim a 

mile three times a week. Not too bad for a 75-yearold.” 

Ed Van Hees (Former Postdoc) writes that he 

currently has two graduate students working on 

projects in Northern Ontario and is working on 

establishing his geochemistry lab. He reports that 

undergraduate enrollment has increased by about 

400% in the past five years and that bodes well for 

the department at Wayne State. 

Randall W. Weber (FC ’52, BA ’53) writes, “I now 

have a granddaughter that’s a freshman at MU. I 

made a map for her to find the present Geology 

Building and the old Swallow Hall, to share my 

memories. I’m trying to talk her into taking Principles 

of Geology for science credit.” 

James H. Williams (FC ’50, BA ’51, MA ’52) 

writes, “Faces of the past, alumni 2006 fall newsletter, 

reminded me of the enjoyment and the longterm 

benefits of Camp Branson. For this year much 

of the same—farming, flying and civilian patron. 

Unfortunately the continental glacier known as the 

Missouri Legislature remains frozen.”

40 ALUMNI 

IN MEMORIAM 

Stephan M. Eisner (BA ’47, MA ‘49), 82, of Oklahoma 

City, passed away on Oct. 13, 2006, with his 

beloved wife of 53 years, Ellen, by his side. Steve 

lived in New York before beginning his college 

education at the University of Missouri at the age 

of 15. He left college to join the Army at the advent 

of World War II. Steve served in the Army Counter- 

Intelligence Corps with pride and distinction. He 

was personally decorated with the French Croix du 

Combattant medal by General Charles De Gaulle for 

his heroism and valor while serving as De Gaulle’s 

American attache’ during his return to Paris. 

After the war, Steve returned to college, earning a 

master’s degree in geology. He moved to Oklahoma 

in 1947 when he began his career in oil exploration 

with The Amarada. Eight years later he started 

his own company in Oklahoma City. Steve was 

highly respected for his integrity and deep sense of 

loyalty to his many friends and colleagues. He was 

a member of the American Association of Petroleum 

Geologists, the Oklahoma City Geological Society 

and S.I.P.E.S. Steve was a true philanthropist. He 

gave generously to local charities, supported the arts 

and helped to fund scholarships at the University of 

Oklahoma Medical School and the Department of 

Geological Sciences at the University of Missouri. 

Joseph M. Jones (BA ’39, MA ‘40), 90, of San Diego, 

died Oct. 20, 2006. He was born in Stockton, 

Mo. in 1916, and moved to California as a child. As 

a teenager, Joe attended Whittier High School as a 

classmate of Richard Nixon and upon graduation, 

saved his own money and then left for college at the 

University of Missouri. There he played football, 

was on the boxing team and studied geology. He 

worked initially for the Gulf Oil Co. and after WWII 

began work for the Bank of America and was sent to 

Texas to work as a geologist in the oil industry. In 

1959 he went to Canada with a small oil company, 

Southland Royalty. He managed their offices in 

Calgary, where he met his future wife, Genevieve. 

After marrying, the couple moved to Sacramento 

with Southland Royalty, and then to Denver. Later 

the family moved to Louisiana and stayed for 13 

years as Joe worked for the United States Department 

of Interior in New Orleans. Joe was then 

promoted and moved to Alaska where he became 

manager of the United States Geological Survey 

offices in Anchorage. Upon retirement in 1984 the 

couple settled in San Diego. 

Donald M. Oliver (BA ’34, MA ‘35), 93, died 

May 15, 2006. After graduating from MU, he 

began work for Phillips Petroleum in Midland. In 

1969, he and spouse Phyllis moved to Lakeway 

and formed Custer Oil Co., a sole proprietorship 

with oil production in west Texas, New Mexico, 

North Dakota and Wyoming. They sold the company 

in 1984. 

George R. Pinkley (BA ’26), 101, of San Antonio, 

died on September 24, 2006. George was involved 

in many different aspects of the petroleum industry: 

surface mapping, magnetometer surveys, 

subsurface interpretations, prospect generation and 

marketing, well supervision and well site geology, 

title work, and drilling operations. George 

worked in a variety of places including Texas, New 

Mexico, Oklahoma, Colorado, Georgia, Cuba and 

Venezuela. George closed his office and retired in 

2000. 

Department Contacts: 

Department of Geological Sciences 

101 Geological Sciences Building 


Columbia, MO 65211-1380 

You can call our main office at: 

(573) 882-2040 or (573) 882-6785 

You can visit our web site at: 

http://web.missouri.edu/~geolwww 

or geology.missouri.edu

Alumni Newsletter Fall 2007 - Department of Geological Sciences ...

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?