1950 President Edwin T. Hodge
/THE OREGONIAN, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1970
Dr. Edwin T. Hodge Dies; Sparked OMSI
Dr. Edwin T. Hodge, noted geologist and the man who sparked the drive to found the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, is dead, The Oregonian learned Friday.
1950 - DR. EDWIN THOMAS HODGE (Charter Member)
In accordance with Dr. Hodge's wishes, there was no funeral for the 81-year-old scientist, who died at his home, 2915 NW Luray Terrace, Nov. 7.
A professor of geology at both the University of Oregon and Oregon State University, Dr. Hodge served as a consultant to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 1932 to 1942. In that capacity, he located the site for the Bonneville Dam and supervised its foundation work.
Society Formed
On April 18, 1935, the Geology Society of the Oregon Country was formed from the nucleus of 100 students taught by Dr. Hodge. In an address to the society In 1945, he offered the concept for a museum "that will become the Smithsonian of the West.”
As geology society president, he appointed Dr. John Cyprian Stevens as the society's museum director and in 1946 OMSI was born.
Dr. Hodge edited numerous publications, dealing with his field, including a 16-volume summary of the natural resources of the Pacific Northwest.
His reports on mineral sources have been used extensively by the electrochemical and electrometallurgical industries of the Northwest. In addition to his teaching, Dr. Hodge acted as a geological consultant for industry and governments on four continents.
Dr. Hodge was preceded in death by his wife, Lydia Herrick Hodge, an artist and educator. They had no children.
The geologist is survived by a niece, Mrs. Marion Walker, Portland.
The family suggests remembrances be contributions to the Geological Society of the Oregon Country, in care of OMSI.
