1963 President Albert Richard Kenney

Albert Richard Kenney, Sr., was born on December 7, 1913, at Reuben, Josephine County, Oregon, the eldest son of James Peter and Opal Harlin Kenney. Reuben then was a "whistle-stop" on the Southern Pacific Railroad and is no longer in existence. With the responsibility of a child, his father had just given up gold mining as an occupation for that of a railroad employee which offered a more reliable income.

Albert received his grammar school education at Metzger, Oregon, and was graduated from Tigard Union High School at Tigard, Oregon. The depression prevented him from using the science scholarship which he had received. As an alternative he pursued his interest in the natural sciences by attending night school whenever he could. The depression further directed his steps to the CCC Camps where again he was in contact with the natural world.

Albert moved to Portland and became an employee of the Southern Pacific Railroad. Here he married Laurette Wheeler and together they reared three sons, Albert Richard, Jr., Charles Harlin and Robert Roland. Their first date reflected their interest in science for she took him on a tour of the museums and animal department of the University of Oregon Medical School upon which campus she was employed. During a portion of World War II Albert was in the service of the U.S. Army and was stationed at Camp Wolters, Texas.

1963 - ALBERT RICHARD KENNEY

After the war, prompted by the desire to rear their children outside of a city and their love of the ocean and marine zoology, Albert and Laurette moved to Netarts, Oregon. While living at the coast, Albert searched out the Astorian fossils up and down the coast.

While living at Netarts, Albert went into the employment service of the State of Oregon at Tillamook. The office was adjacent to the Chamber of Commerce. Learning through this office of Camp Hancock, he volunteered and served as counselor for three consecutive summers. It was through the contacts there he learned of and joined the Geological Society. He had served as President of the Tillamook Rock Hounds, the one local society that approached his interests.

Albert tells this story of the incident which kindled his interest in geology. With the advent of the Model T. Ford, touring became a vogue. His parents became addicted to this mode of recreation. They would bundle their four offspring into the Ford and away they would go. It happened at the Oregon Caves. As children were not permitted on the tours of the caves at that time, Albert's parents instructed him to take care of his brothers and sister while they made the tour. It was very evident that Albert was disgruntled. A lady noticed and as an effort to pacify a heart-broken boy, she directed his attention to fossils which were in a nearby bank. This kindled an interest that never waned.

As his predecessor, Leonard Delano, had instituted the practice of pursuing a theme for his term of office which was photogrammetry, Albert chose the Geophysical Provinces of Oregon.

President Kenney instituted the first President's Camp-out which was a week long caravan trip through the Steens Mountains. The banquet for 1964 was the first to be held at Portland State College, now Portland State University.

Historical note from Carol Hasenberg in 2024:

Albert Kenney married Rosemary Richartz in 1972 and the couple moved to Australia, where Rosemary worked as a dietician at the Royal Adelaide Hospital until 1979. Then she and Albert returned to Portland, where Albert died in the mid-1980’s. Rosemary Kenney then became GSOC President in 1989. Rosemary died in 2024 at the age of 97.