Horace R. “Buzz” Collins, State Geologist of Ohio

Buzz Collins, State Geologist of Ohio from 1968 to 1988, passed away on December 19, 2018 in Canton, Ohio. Buzz received degrees in geology from Ohio and West Virginia Universities, and he served as an Officer and Pilot in the U.S. Army. He began with the Ohio Survey in 1959 as a Coal Geologist, and was appointed State Geologist in 1968. His focus was on serving the people of Ohio, through effective mechanisms such as a Severance Tax to support an aggressive program of County geologic mapping, and mineral production statistics. In the mid-1990s, the Ohio laboratory and core repository was named the Collins Laboratory.

2018 Association of American State Geologists (AASG) Journal

AASG Editor Dave Norman, State Geologist of Washington, working with his highly capable staff, has released the 2018 AASG Journal, which outlines the ongoing, comprehensive role played by state geological surveys across the USA. The Journal illustrates the earlier quantitative report by AASG Statistician Rick Allis, State Geologist of Utah, who reported that funding to state geological surveys in FY17 was stable as a whole at $223 million, and total staffing was at 1869 person-years. A slight increase was projected for FY18. A few years ago, total funding dropped from an all-time high of $237 million in 2012, a value related to the federal stimulus. Gender balance among geoscientists is gradually rising, and is now at 28%. The Journal is available here.

Don Hoskins, former State Geologist of Pennsylvania

Don Hoskins, State Geologist of Pennsylvania from 1986 to 2000, has died of a sudden and unexpected cerebral hemorrhage. Upon his passing, he still had a geologic map in progress. While AASG President in 1994/1995, he played a key role in enhancing the National Geologic Mapping Program. Previous to that, Don was AASG Secretary-Treasurer from 1990 to 1992. Don played a leadership role in the commemoration of the AASG Centennial in 2008. He will be missed.

Scott Tinker receives the Campbell Medal

Scott Tinker has received the 2018 AGI Medal in Memory of Ian Campbell for Superlative Service to the Geosciences, AGI’s highest award.

The AGI citation notes, for example, that Scott has served the geoscience profession admirably at many levels, including as President of AGI (2015-16), AAPG (2008-09), and AASG (2007-08), as well as in various capacities for SEPM and SEG.

The Medal honors Ian Campbell, 1959-1969 State Geologist of California, whose service to the profession touched virtually every facet of the geosciences. Campbell was a most uncommon man of remarkable candor, integrity, accomplishment, and influence as a geologist, educator, administrator, and public servant.

The Campbell Medal holds special significance for AASG, due to the role that Ian Campbell played in AASG, and due to the respect and admiration that the AASG community felt for Ian.

The Medal is presented each year to a nationally recognized, living statesman with a distinguished record of significant achievements in science, education, and administration, in support of the profession of geology and its role in society.

The award is intended to inspire us all to similarly contribute to our science, our profession, and to the public.

Rex Buchanan recognized for service to AGI

AGI has presented their 2018 William B. Heroy Jr. Award for Distinguished Service to AGI to Rex Buchanan, Director Emeritus of the Kansas Geological Survey (KGS). The AGI citation states that Rex’s contributions to AGI span decades and are among the highlights of his career as a geoscientist and science communicator, and as interim director of the KGS from 2010 to 2016.

https://www.americangeosciences.org/awards

David Applegate recognized for contributions to public understanding of geoscience

AGI has awarded their 2018 Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Public Understanding of the Geosciences to Dr. David Applegate, Associate Director for Natural Hazards at USGS. The AGI citation states that throughout, for example, frequent congressional testimony and media interviews, “Dave’s calm demeanor and penchant for explaining complicated information clearly to the general public in these interviews became hallmarks of his communication success.”

https://www.americangeosciences.org/awards

Robert G. Doyle, State Geologist of Maine from 1958 to 1979

Bob Doyle, former Director of the Maine Geological Survey, passed away on August 13. He developed a rigorous program in economic geology, and in 1967 oversaw the creation of the first modern statewide bedrock geologic map of Maine.  In his later years, he remained active in the geological community and introduced many students to geology through the courses he offered at the local community college. His obituary is available here.

Karen Berry, AASG President, 2018-2019

On July 1st, 2018, Karen Berry, State Geologist of Colorado, will become AASG President. Karen has been with the Colorado survey since 1999. Previously, she was an exploration geologist in Texas, engineering geologist in Arizona, geotechnical reclamation specialist, and a county geologist. She serves on several boards and commissions. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in geological engineering from Colorado School of Mines in 1982.

Frye Award to Texas

The AASG/GSA Frye Award recognizes the best nominated state geological survey publications in environmental geology. The 2018 Frye Award has been presented to Texas authors, for the 2017 publication, “Geological CO2 Sequestration Atlas for Miocene Strata Offshore Texas State Waters”, edited by R. H. Treviño and T. A. Meckel

http://www.beg.utexas.edu/node/4086

Mankin Award to New Mexico

The AASG Mankin Award recognizes the best nominated state geological survey publications in regional, energy, or mineral resource geology, with an emphasis on surface or subsurface geologic mapping, compilations, and associated reports. The 2018 Mankin Award has been presented to New Mexico authors, for Memoir 50 — Energy and Mineral Resources of New Mexico

https://geoinfo.nmt.edu/publications/monographs/memoirs/50/

Bob Marvinney is the longest-serving State Geologist

Bob Marvinney, State Geologist of Maine, is the longest-serving State Geologist, having been appointed in 1995. Bob is originally from New Jersey. After studying geology in college and graduate school, he worked briefly in the oil business in Houston before joining the Maine Geological Survey.

Simon Engelhart, State Geologist of Rhode Island

Simon Engelhart has been named State Geologist of Rhode Island. Among his many contributions, Simon has done research on relative sea-level changes from Last Glacial Maximum to present, glacial isostatic adjustment modeling, coastal paleoseismology and paleogeodesy, as well as paleoenvironmental reconstruction using micropaleontology. Simon holds degrees from Durham University and University of Pennsylvania.

Tim Cowman, State Geologist of South Dakota

Tim Cowman has been named State Geologist of South Dakota. Among his many contributions, Tim has done research on the historical and recent geology of the Missouri River, including the geomorphic processes that control river dynamics, river energy distribution, and sedimentation. He has a Master's Degree in Natural Sciences from University of South Dakota, and a Bachelor's Degree in Earth Sciences and Chemistry, also from USD.

Derric Iles completes his time as South Dakota State Geologist

After 39½ years with the South Dakota Geological Survey, and 21 years as State Geologist, Derric Iles retired on April 20, 2018. He contributed extensively to documenting the geology of his state, he hosted a superb 2013 AASG Annual Meeting, and he did an excellent job on AASG Executive as Treasurer. For his service, Derric received the 2018 AASG Distinguished Service Award. He and Irma will now retire to Missoula, Montana. 

AASG Annual Meeting, Delaware, June 3-7, 2018

Delaware State Geologist David Wunsch and the staff of the Delaware Geological Survey will host the 110^th Annual Meeting of the Association of American State Geologists (AASG) at the Atlantic Sands Hotel & Convention Center in Rehoboth Beach, from June 3^rd to 7^th, 2018. The web site and registration for invited attendees are now open:

http://sites.udel.edu/aasg-annual-meeting-2018/

Bud Hendry, former State Geologist of Florida

Charles Walter "Bud" Hendry Jr., State Geologist of Florida from 1971 to 1988, has passed away. Over 39 years with the Survey, he also was draftsman’s assistant, stratigrapher, water resource manager, Assistant State Geologist, and contributor to 19 Survey publications. He was a pioneer in informed water resource and land-use management, coauthor of ‘Springs of Florida’, and overseer of new mines and energy regulatory programs. Photo: State Archives of Florida

Emery Cleaves, former Maryland State Geologist

Emery Cleaves, Maryland State Geologist from 1992 to 2006, passed away on Saturday, February 3, 2018. He was President of the Association of American State Geologists in 2002-2003, and in 2010, he received the AASG Distinguished Service Award (DSA), as an indication of the many roles he played in AASG. He was highly engaged in water resource issues, and he was a tireless advocate for stream gauges. 

White House nominates Dr. James Reilly as USGS Director

On January 26th, the White House announced their nominee to be USGS Director - Dr. James F. Reilly, II, Ph.D., of Colorado Springs. Their release indicated that he is now an advisor for the U.S. Air Force, while he previously held management positions in academia and business. During his 13 year career at NASA, he flew 3 spaceflight missions, conducting 5 spacewalks for a total of over 856 hours in space. Prior to NASA, he was chief geologist at Enserch Exploration, Inc., where he worked in in Antarctica and the Gulf of Mexico. He earned his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. in geosciences from the University of Texas at Dallas.