1964 President Irving Gilbert Ewen

Irving Gilbert Ewen was born on October 12, 1932, in Chicago, Illinois. Soon after, Portland became his home. He later attended Gregory Heights Grade School and received his high school diploma from Ulysses Simpson Grant High School in June 1950. Pursuing courses in geology and geography at Oregon State College where he was affiliated with Delta Sigma phi fraternity, Vanport College, Portland State Extension Center, and Portland State College he was graduated in June 1959. From June 1956 through June 1958, he served in the U.S. Army full time for two years. His experience included being stationed at Ft. Belvoir, Virginia for three months and working at the Army Map Service in Washington D. C. Appro­ximately one and one-half years were spent at Ft. Sam Houston (San Antonio) Texas with the Fourth Army Headquarters with a "Terrain Intelligence Detachment."

1964 - IRVING GILBERT EWEN

Irving became interested in geology at Portland Extension Center (fore-runner to PSU) when he took the first course taught there by Dr. Ruth Edwinna Hopson (affectionately referred to by her students as "Aunty Ruthy"). His interest in geology and his attendance at GSOC meetings was inspired by Dr. Hopson. The appetite for field work and an appreciation for the out-of-doors was whetted as a result of several field trips to Collier Glacier in the Three Sisters Wilderness area.

Credit for his continuing interest and inspiration in geology is due in great part to Ralph Stevenson Mason, State Mining Engineer with the State of Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (known to many as "DOGAMI").

The frosting on the academic cake can be attributable to Dr. John Eliot Allen, Major Professor and Head of the Geology Department at Portland State College. A significant accomplishment of his senior year at Portland state was an extensive in-depth study of the land slide problems of the Wind Mountain Girl Scout Camp, east of Stevenson, Washington.

After attending several meetings of the Society at the Multnomah County Library, he became a member in 1954 and served the membership as Field Trip Chairman, Library Night Chairman, Banquet Chairman (two years), Editor of the Geological Newsletter (five years), and then was elected President in 1964, followed by two years as a director on the Executive Committee. The theme he chose for the year's lectures during his presidency was "Man and His Minerals." His President's Campout was held on Labor Day week-end, September 4-6, 1964, at the Bohemia Mining District, east of Cottage Grove. Twenty-six GSOC’ers attended. This area was chosen because of its historical interest, accessibility, and proximity to the Portland area. It was felt that visiting some of the famous mines of the area would help emphasize the importance of "Man and His Minerals."

The hobbies and other interests that greatly consume his time are hiking with the Mazamas and being a member of two rail­road enthusiast groups: Vernonia, South Park and Sunset Railroad and also the Pacific Northwest Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society.

"Irv's" part time employment during college days was with the state of Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries, He spent one summer as field assistant to Andy Corcoran (During this time he became a charter member of the "Armstrong Drilling Company" on the Bauxite Project in the South Salem hills). He also gained experience during college with the Department in drafting geologic maps.

His full time employment since 1959 has been with the Multnomah County Planning Commission.

1965 President Frederick Earl Miller

Frederick Earl Miller was born in Chinook, Montana, on April 25, 1911. His father came from Patterson, New Jersey, and worked as a plumber and sheet metal man. His mother was born in Rochester, Indiana, and was a trained nurse. The family came to the West after World War I and young Frederick entered the fifth grade at the Brooklyn Grade School in Portland. After finishing Benson Polytechnic High School, he went to Oregon State University and earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering in 1936.

1965 - FREDERICK EARL MILLER

Frederick is a member of the Professional Engineers of Oregon and is a Registered Professional Engineer. He now is a senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers. He has been affiliated with Toastmasters since 1956. He is a registered parliamentarian with the National Association of Parliamentarians and a certified parliamentarian with the American Institute of Parliamentarians. He became interested in duodecimals while in college and is a member of the Duodecimal Society of America.

Frederick and Lillian M. Passmore were married on May 22, 1937, in Portland. They have one son, Raymond T., born Dec. 13, 1939, who is married to Linda Singmaster. Their two children are Jaye Ann and Raymond Scott. Their daughter, Doris F. born March 26, 1944, is married to David Cruickshank. The Millers are members of the Trinity Baptist Church.

Since March 1941, Frederick has been employed as a Supervising engineer with the Pacific Northwest Bell Telephone Company. In March 1969, he presented a paper to the Portland Section of the IEEE entitled "A Solution of Intermodulation Problems by Use of the Time Shared Computer."

His hobbies are many and varied. Since living as a small boy in Montana, He has collected rocks and minerals. He became interested in photography in high school. Electronics have fascinated him since the first grade and he now holds an Amateur Radio license with a call sign W7KJC. Various phases of chemistry also claim his attention.

In I960, Frederick learned about the Geological Society from Franklin Monroe Brown who was then president while they were attending a meeting of the Institute of Radio Engineers. The fascination resulted with his taking a three term sequence course in geology at Portland State University from Ralph Mason. He has also attended the GSOC School courses. In 1963 he was elected a Director of the Society, vice-president in 1964, and president in 1965.

The theme of his presidency was "The Four Dimensions of Geology." He attributes his successful regime to the enthusiastic field trip leader, Lee Gavigan, and the excellent work done in the area of maps and trip logs by Paul Howell.

President Miller's camp-out at Delintment Lake was the third such venture for the society. It was held from June 19 through June 26, 1965, and nearly 100 members and friends attended the turnout. A humorous account of the many events by George Dahlin is published in the August 1965, Newsletter.

1966 President Lloyd Albert Wilcox

Lloyd Albert Wilcox was born in Grass Valley, Oregon, on September 22, 1915. He was the only son of Lloyd A. and Florence M. Wilcox who owned and operated a wheat ranch in that area.

1966 - LLOYD ALBERT WILCOX

Lloyd received his elementary education in Portland, Oregon; Sacramento, California; and Bend, Oregon. He was graduated from Bend High School in 1932 after which he attended Business College in Portland until 1936 when he had to give up school and look for work.

He went to work for the Southern Pacific Railroad until in 1942, labor trouble caused a change of jobs. He then started to work for the Spokane, Portland and Seattle Railway and after twenty-five years of travel through the Columbia Gorge and the Deschutes Canyon, he became curious as to how and why they originated. Norman Cooper, then a member, introduced us to the Geological Society in 1963. He joined immediately and has been learning ever since.

Lloyd married Reba F. Geer of Salem on February 11, 1939. Three children were born to them: Jerry, 1939; Melvin, 1941; and Karmin, 1944. At present there are five grandchildren.

Mr. Wilcox served the Society as President in 1966; was on the Executive Board in 1966, 1967, 1968; co-chairman of field trips for 1968; Master of Ceremonies for the 1968 banquet; and chairman of the Past President's Panel (P3) 1969 and 1970.

Mr. Wilcox continues to be employed in communications for the Spokane, Portland and Seattle Railway which has just merged (March 1970) with four other lines to form the Burlington Northern.

Lloyd states that he is intensely interested in people and natural science but is too indolent to pursue an active course of study in either subject.

Lloyd Wilcox led the 1966 President's Camp-out from the base camp at Todd Lake on Century Drive from August 13 to 19. There were 49 participants and 14 visitors and members who attended the camp-fire sessions, making 63 in all. For complete coverage see the Oct. 1966, Newsletter.

1967 President Ralph Stevenson Mason

Ralph Stevenson Mason (middle name after Robert Louis Stevenson, but not related) was born in Hood River, Oregon in 1912. His father was a civil engineer. Ralph grew up in Parkdale, Oregon and graduated from Parkdale High School. He attended the University of Oregon where he majored in journal­ism up into his senior year. At this time he became interested in geology and transferred to Oregon State College where he majored in geology and mining and obtained his BS degree in 1957.

1967 - RALPH STEVENSON MASON

A geode triggered Ralph's interest in geology. He found it in 1934 while exploring the canyon wall of the east fork of Hood River. Not knowing what the object was, he showed it to Dr. McKitrick in the geology department at the University of Oregon. The explanation so intrigued him that he enrolled in a basic course in geology taught by Dr. Warren D. Smith at the University of Oregon, and then went on to make this field his career.

Ralph married Dorothy Dill in 1938. They have a daughter, Michele, and a son, Bruce. Both children are married.

In 1943, Ralph joined the staff of the State of Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries, where he has been employed ever since. His position is that of Mining Engineer. In addition to this work, he has for a number of years been teaching evening courses in geology at Portland State University Extension Division. He has made innumerable appearances before groups and on TV to speak on geologic subjects.

At the present time, Ralph is a member of the following organizations; American Institute of Mining Engineers, Oregon Academy of Science, Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, and the Geological Society of the Oregon Country. He serves on the State Mapping Advisory Committee and the Governor's Committee on Synthetic Chemicals in the Environment.

His training in journalism has served Ralph well in the numerous publications on geology and mining that he has either authored or co-authored. For the Department he helped prepare bulletins on coal and ferruginous bauxite, wrote chapters on coal, iron, clay, and other nonmetallic minerals; for the recent bulletin on the mineral resources of Oregon.

He collaborated with. Ira A. Allison on a report on sodium salts in Lake County, with J.E. Allen on a brick and tile industry report, wrote a paper on the lightweight aggregate industry of the state, and prepared a key to the Oregon Mineral Deposits Map. For the Ore Bin, he has compiled annual summaries of the state's mineral Industry and has contributed articles on a wide range of subjects. His non-department publications include a USGS circular with M.I. Irwin on coal resources in Oregon; various articles on lightweight aggregates for industrial magazines; articles for the GSOC Newsletter; and reports on glacier studies for the Mazama magazine.

He has been the geology instructor at Camp Hancock for several sessions.

He led his President's Camp-out on July 22 to 50, 1968 from the Tilly Jane Forest Camp on the north side of Mt. Hood.

Mr. Mason's favorite hobby is woodworking in his basement workshop. He also likes to travel and take scenic geologic photographs. His wife, Dorothy, is the editor of the OMSI Pendulum.

1968 President Donald Duncan Barr

Donald Duncan Barr was born January 19, 1920, at St. Paul, Minnesota. John D. Barr, his father, was from Canada and his mother, Emily, was born in Wisconsin.

1968 - DONALD DUNCAN BARR

Mr. Barr attended the University of Minnesota and earned an Associate Arts degree in 1945. He further studied at the University of British Columbia during 1946 and 1947. He completed work for a B.S. degree in 1949 at Lewis and Clark College and a M.Ed, in 1951. His M.S. was accomplished at Oregon State University in 1970. In the academic years of 1962-63, he received a National Science foundation grant and was chosen to become a research intern for 1969 to 1971 also aided by a federal grant. Donald and Dorothy were married in 1948 and they have two children. Heather was born in 1952 and Alan in 1953.

Mr. Barr’s days, evenings, school year and summers are spent in related science fields of endeavor. By day from 1950 to 1970 he has been teaching biology in the Portland Public Schools. He has taught general science at the Portland Community College, and in the Portland evening high school, and natural history, 1967 - 1969, in the Beaverton Adult Education program. He is employed in the research department of the Portland Public schools, and is a National Science foundation writer on the secondary school science project. He is presently teaching and counseling at Jackson High School.

Being a Camp Leader is one of Mr. Barr's first loves. He was the Director of Camp Hancock in 1964, Camp Arago in 1965, and Damp Alpine in 1968. He led the OMSI Science Tours in 1965 and 1968.

Mr. Barr is affiliated with organizations pertaining to his varied interests. He is a member of the Wilderness Society, the Native Plant Society, the Audubon Society (National and Local), the Geological Society of the Oregon Country, the National Association of Biology Teachers, and the National Association of Geology Teachers. He is a member of St. Mark's Presbyterian Church. "Build It Yourself- Science Equipment" was the title of an article he wrote for the Portland Public Schools. He has also written for the Canadian Audubon Society Journal and the Western Conservation Journal.

The theme of the programs during his presidency was Historical Geology. His President's Camp-Out was held at Camp Arago at Coos Bay, Oregon. During his term of office the Society made the move to OMSI for the Meeting nights and maintains a permanent Library room. It was also the first year of the winter G.S.O.C. lectures open for public registrants. Mr. Barr is especially proud of the financial and permanent building structures that were contributed to Camp Hancock during 1967-1968.

Historical note from Carol Hasenberg:

I remember Don Barr, a very respected member of GSOC, from my early days in the society. I had a very interesting discussion with him about science and religion once during a GSOC event.

From the Oregonian archives, Don Barr’s obituary reads as follows:

Donald Duncan Barr 01/20/1920 to 09/11/2009 

Donald was born in St. Paul, Minn He was a science teacher for Portland Public Schools Donald is survived by his daughter, Heather Whitney; and son, Alan. 

1969 President Wallace Riley McClung

Wallace Riley McClung, the son of Donald R. and Olive D. McClung, was born in Portland, Oregon in 1920. His father was the utility executive for Pacific Power and Light Company. Both of his parents were outdoor enthusiasts, so at a very early age he acquired an affection and respect for nature.

1969 - WALLACE RILEY McCLUNG

He attended Rose City Grade School, Grant High School, Reed College, and the University of Oregon. While a youth he became active in Boy Scouts and attained the rank of Eagle Scout. During the two years at Reed his interests were in the field of Liberal Arts, but at the University he declared his major as Business Administration.

World War II broke out during his senior year, so he resigned from school and enlisted in the Air Force as a private. Shortly after enlisting in the Army Air Force he was accepted by the Officer Candidate School at Miami, Florida. Upon graduation he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant. After four years active duty in Central and South America, he went on inactive duty status as a captain in the Air force Reserve.

After he returned from duty, the University of Oregon accepted his earned credits and granted him a Bachelor of Science degree in June 1942. In 1950 he married Sylvia Barendrick of McMinnville, and three children: Gregory, Stephen, and Jan were born.

In business activities he has followed the sales field, For many years he has specialized in the electrical advertising industry.

Wallace McClung's avocations continued along outdoor lines, which included angling, camping, and photography. It was in the pursuit of these activities in Central Oregon that he gradually became curious about land forms and their historical sequence. He contacted the Oregon State Department of Geology and Mineral industries and inquired as to where information could be obtained. He was directed to the Geological Society of the Oregon Country. His interest and contribution to the Society has become outstanding in that since becoming a member in 1966, he has served on many committees, was vice president in 1969, and then became the thirty-fifth president.

He held the 7th President's Camp-out at the Ochoco Summit Forest Camp and many field trips were held in the Mitchell - John Day area with sometimes 75 people in attendance.

As a member of the executive committee and as Editor of the Newsletter for a second term, he continues to serve the Society.

1937 President Albert Dunbar Vance

Mr. Vance was born on April 11, 1883, in Decorah, Iowa, where he attended grammar and high school and made his home until 1906. His formal education was obtained at the University of Wisconsin, where he majored in Civil Engineering.

ALBERT DUNBAR VANCE  Charter Member

In 1906 he went to Big Horn Basin, Wyoming, on a government land survey contract, and in the fall of that year was appointed a United States Deputy Land Surveyor for Wyoming. With S. W. Brunt as a partner, the firm took contracts for the survey of twelve townships; contracts were completed in 1908.

During the winter of 1907 and through 1908, with the exception of that summer, Mr. Vance worked for the Reclamation Service on the Shoshone project, including work on the Shoshone dam surveys. When he resigned in 1910 to move to Portland, he was in charge of survey party on canal location and construction on the Ralston Unit of the Shoshone Project.

From November 1910 to January 1916 he worked for the City of Portland; from February 1916 to October 1916 he was employed as surveyor draftsman, field mapping a timber cruiser for the U.S. Forest Service. From November 1916 to October 1920 he worked at shipbuilding, starting with the Columbia Engineering Works on engineering for launching ways, and ending with the Coast Shipbuilding. He started with the latter firm as chief draftsman in June 1917 and when he completed his ship­building experience in 1920 he was Superintendent of Construction.

After a year each with the Portland Dock Commission and the Port of Portland, Mr. Vance returned to city service in 1923,  working through the positions of draftsman, senior engineer, assistant to City Engineer (1929 to 1939).  In June 1939 he was appointed Assistant to Commissioner of Public Works William A. Bowes, which position he still holds (1950).

On January 19, 1911, Mr. Vance was married to Florence Juliet Oviatt of Missouri Valley, Iowa, and Powell, Wyoming. They have two children - a daughter, now Mrs. William M. Hiney, Jr., of Los Angeles, Calif., and Albert D. Vance, Jr., of Portland, Oregon.

Mr. Vance is a member of the Presbyterian Church and a lifelong Republican in national politics.

1938 President Ray C. Treasher

Ray C. Treasher was born in Chicago, Illinois, on July 28, 1898. At the age of five he moved to Sterling, Illinois, and to Sunnyside, Washington, at fourteen. In 1916 he started to Washington State College, but took time out during World War I, returning to college in 1919. He was again out for two years, and in 1922 completed the rest of his collegiate work.

RAY C. TREASHER (Charter Member)

After three and a half years of mining engineering, Mr. Treasher switched to geology and was graduated with a B.S. degree in geology in 1925. A teaching fellowship in 1925 allowed an M.S. degree in geology. He was instructor in geology at Washington State College in 1925-1926 on a one-year contract.

In 1926 he went to University of Oregon on a teaching fellowship with work toward a PhD. Lack of finances terminated that work and he taught geology and science in Livingston, Montana, and Longview, Washington. The depression "froze" him in that work until 1936,when the Oregon State Planning Board employed him to write a bibliography of Oregon geology. Following that assignment he worked for slightly over a year with the Corps of Engineers, Portland Division, on a mineral survey of the Pacific Northwest.

In 1937 Mr. Treasher went from there to the Department of Geology and Mineral Industries of the State of Oregon, where he served in Portland until 1940. During that time he joined the Geological Society of the Oregon Country and served a very enjoyable year (1938-1938) as president of that remarkable group.

In 1940 he went to Grants Pass for the Oregon Department and was in charge of the field office until late in 1943, when he accepted a position as engineering geologist for the Corps of Engineers at Sacramento, California. There he worked under the direction of another ex-member of the G.S.O.C., Mr. Claire Holdredge, where he still remains at this date (1950).

Early in 1950 Mr. Treasher assisted in organizing the Sacramento Geological Society, a group of about fifty professional geologists in the Sacramento area, and served as chairman for several months during the organization period.

Ray Treasher was married in Livingston, Montana, on Christmas Eve, 1927, to a schoolgirl chum, Miss Jessie Landon. They have no children. His hobbies include color photography, fishing and geology.

1939 President Arthur Maine Piper

Arthur Maine Piper was born September 20, 1898, in Thomaston, Maine. He was graduated from Tufts College in l919, M.S. (metal); Idaho in 1920, M.S. (Geol.)1925.

ARTHUR MAINE PIPER

He was employed as topographer by the Idaho Bureau of Mines and Geology, 1920-21; assistant geologist, 1921-22, and geologist 1922-26.  In 1926 he was staff scientist with the Economist Survey Expedition, ex-Japanese mandated Islands, West Pacific. Civilian with U.S.A.; U.S.N., 1918.

Mr. Piper is a fellow of the Geological Society, a member of the Geophysics Union, the Society of Economic Geologists. He is a specialist in ground-water geology, stratigraphy, geomorphology, and Pleistocene deposits.

Mr. Piper was married in 1923 and has two children.

1940 President John Cyprian Stevens

John Cyprian Stevens, civil engineer, was born in Moline, Kansas, January 9, 1876, the son of Charles Freeman and Esther Meek (Kilgore) Stevens. His first paternal American ancestor was Cyprian Stevens, who came from England in 1660 and settled in Sudbury, Mass. His father was a minister of the Seventh Day Adventist Church. He received his preparatory education at grade and high schools in Knoxville, Iowa, and Union College, Lincoln, Nebraska, and was graduated B.S. in civil engineering at the University of Nebraska in 1905. He taught at Iowa country schools for several years and served in the Philippines during the Spanish-American war.  In 1902 he was appointed assistant state engineer of Nebraska, and in the spring of 1904 was appointed assistant engineer in the U.S. Reclamation Service. He was able to complete his college work without severing his connection with the bureau, and following graduation he went to Denver, Colorado, in the interests of the bureau; then, after a year in Washington, D.C., he was transferred to Portland, Oregon, as district engineer in charge of water supply investigations In the Pacific Northwest.

1940 - JOHN CYPRIAN STEVENS    (Charter Member)

In 1910 he resigned from government service to engage in the practice of engineering in Portland.  In 1912 he went to Spain for the Pearson Engineering Corp. In 1915-16 he was engineer in charge of the West Okanogan Valley irrigation project In the state of Washington. He then resumed private practice in Portland, In 1920 he joined with Ray B. Koon in establishing the firm of Stevens & Koon.

In 1911 Mr. Stevens made a contract with Leupold & Volpel of Portland to manufacture a water level recorder of his design. He became a partner in the firm in 1915 under the name of Leupold, Volpel & Co. This was succeeded in 1940 by Leupold & Stevens Instruments, which now manufactures a great number of engineering instruments. All surveying instruments carry the name of Stevens.

His published writings include papers published by the U.S. Geological Survey and numerous articles in the Transactions of the International Engineering Congress, the Engineering News-Record, Journal of the Associated Engineering Societies, Transactions of the American Society of Civil Engineers, and others.  He has been a member of the Oregon State Conservation Commission, member of the committee that drafted the water code of the state, vice-chairman of the super­power survey committee of the Pacific Northwest, and consulting engineer for the Portland sea wall and intercepting sewer development project.

In 1944 he was elected president of the American Society of Civil Engineers. He is also a member of the Professional Engineers of Oregon (first president in 1929), American Institute of Consulting Engineers, American Institute of Electrical Engineers, American Association of Engineers, Newcomen Society, Portland Chamber of Commerce, the Kappa Sigma, Sigma Xi, and Theta Nu Epsilon fraternities, and the Rotary and Irvington clubs of Portland.

He was founder and co-author of the first ritual of Sigma Tau, honorary engineering fraternity, and endowed the J. C. Stevens Award of the American Society of Civil Engineers for the best discussion of a paper on hydraulics published in the Transactions of the Society.

A C.E. degree was conferred on him by the University of Nebraska in 1928, and a Doctor of Engineering (honorary) degree by the Oregon System in 1938; also a Doctor of Engineering (honorary) degree by the University of Nebraska in 1947. For the past five years (since March 1945) Dr. Stevens has been president of the Oregon Museum Foundation. In politics he is a Republican. He was married in Lincoln, Nebraska, June 15, 1905, to Nancy, daughter of William and Margaret Ann Canning of Beatrice, Neb. They have three children: Jane Canning, who married A. Kimbrough Hackman; Martha Elizabeth, who married Donald Hay; Robert John Stevens, and an adopted grand­daughter, Nancy Lou Stevens, who married Audiss Smith of Pontiac, Michigan.

After serving OMSI as president for thirteen years to Nov. 15, 1951, he was named by the Board as President Emeritus. The J. C. Stevens Hall of Hydrodynamics was officially dedicated during the week of June 21-27, 1958.

On July 1st 1953, he was hospitalized by a stroke which resulted in the loss of his ability to speak, Mrs. Stevens was also brought to the hospital, but was later released to a nursing home. She was finally brought home but died there on Nov. 5, 1953.  After regaining a certain ability to speak, he remarried Ruth Newton on Feb. 12, 1954. They built a home at 6639 S. E. Yamhill Court. Their world trip is picturesquely written in The Autobiography of a Civil Engineer by John Cyprian Stevens.

1941 President Kenneth Phillips

Kenneth Phillips was born at Fairgrove, Kansas, on September 28, 1897.  In 1915 he moved with his parents to Albany, Oregon. With one year's interruption by the First World War, he was graduated from Oregon State College in 1921 in the School of Engineering.

KENNETH PHILLIPS (Charter Member)

Upon graduation he began working with the United States Geological Survey, with offices in Portland, and he has continued with that branch of the service until the present time (1950). Most of his work has been within the State of Oregon, with the exception of five years during which he was stationed in Southern Oregon. He had one brief assignment in Washington for three months and one assignment of six weeks in Alaska. Since 1948, upon the retirement of George H. Canfield, Mr. Phillips has been District Engineer for the Geological Survey.

Kenneth Phillips is a charter member of the Geological Society of the Oregon Country and served one year as its president, as well as serving on various committees at different times.

In 1921 he was married to Miss Florence Hunter of Albany, Oregon.  They have two daughters - Mrs. Merritt Cootes of Karachi, Pakistan, and Mrs. Peter Ford of Portland, Oregon - two granddaughters, Anne Carol and Bronwyn Ford, and one grandson, Marcus Ford.

Mr. Phillips is a member of the Mount Tabor Presbyterian Church, the Mazama Club, the American Society of Civil Engineers, and the Geological Society of the Oregon Country. 

1942 President Harold Bruce Schminky

Harold Bruce Schminky was born in Woodbury, New Jersey, February 18, 1897, the son of Harry Newton and Alice Sidney Schminky, both of whom were born in Gratz, Pennsylvania, His parents moved to Reading, Pennsylvania, and from there came to Portland in 1905 to see the Lewis and Clark Fair.  In 1909 they visited Seattle for the Alaska, Yukon and Pacific Exposition. By this time the lure of the West had become too strong to resist, and after looking around in both Seattle and Tacoma for a suitable business location, they came to Portland, and remained in Oregon from then on.

H. BRUCE SCHMINKY (Charter Member)

Bruce attended grammar school in Pennsylvania, California, Colorado, Washington and Oregon, graduating at Sandy, Oregon, in June 1912. He spent his first year of high school at Sandy and completed the last three years at Washington High school in Portland, from which he was graduated with the class of June 1916.  He entered Oregon State College, where he majored in Highway Engineering, and received his degree of Bachelor of Science in June 1920.

The summer after graduation he began work with the late John H. Lewis, consulting engineer, and former State Engineer, on a proposed irrigation project on the John Day River.  This work took him over much of the northeastern corner of Oregon, besides most of the John Day canyon.  It was then that he came to love the rugged beauty of the eastern part of our state, but at that time he was not aware of the fossils and minerals to be found there.

In February 1922 he entered the employ of the Department of Public Works of the City of Portland, where he still works.

On December 23, 1922, he married Ruth Adelia Brown, a graduate of the Oregon College of Education at Monmouth. They have two daughters, Carol Ann and Alice May.

The Schminkys are charter members of the Oregon Agate and Mineral Society, and became charter members of the Geological Society of the Oregon Country at the organization meeting held in Lincoln High School on April 18, 1935.  They are Republicans and Presbyterians.

Mr. Schminky has held the following positions in the Society:

• 1935 Member of the Exploration (trip) Committee; on August 8, 1935, was appointed trip chairman by the Executive Board, following the resignation of Harry Clark, the first chairman.

• 1937Curator of Maps; member of Exploration Committee.

• 1938Chairman of Publicity Committee; Chairman of Wallowa Summer Camp Committee; member of Research Committee; Associate Editor of News Letter.

• 1939Vice-president; Chairman of Coos Bay Summer Camp Committee; Associate Editor of News Letter.

• 1940 Chairman of Trip Committee; Associate Editor of News Letter.

• 1941 Member of Annual Banquet Committee; Associate Editor of News Letter.

• 1942President;  Associate Editor of News Letter.

• 1943 Director: Chairman of Publicity Committee; Associate Editor of News Letter.

• 1944 Director; Chairman of Trip Committee; Chairman of Annual Banquet Committee; Associate Editor of News Letter.

• 1945 Associate Editor of News Letter; Chairman of Trip Committee.

• 1946 Elected to Fellow in the Society; member of Annual Banquet Committee.

• 1947 Chairman annual Banquet Committee; Associate Editor of News Letter.

• 1948 Associate Editor of News-Letter; member of Annual Banquet Committee.

• 1949 Chairman Nominating Committee; Associate Editor of News Letter; member of Annual Banquet Committee.

1943 President Lloyd L. Ruff

Lloyd L. Ruff was born August 6, 1905, on a farm in Ness County, Kansas. He attended rural school through nine grades and in 1925 was graduated from Ness City High School, where he participated in one year of debate, two years of football and two years of track. Until coming to Oregon in September 1928 he worked on farm and as helper-clerk for the Santa Fe Railroad.

LLOYD L. RUFF

From 1928 until 1932 he attended the University of Oregon at Eugene, from which he was graduated with a B.S. degree in geology, and to which he returned as graduate student in geography and anthropology, and later as instructor in geology. He left the University in 1938 to accept a position as geologist with the U.S. Corps of Engineers and is now (1951) head of the Geology Section in the Engineering Division of that agency in Portland.

Mr. Ruff is past chairman of the American Institute of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers; a member of the Geological Society of America and the Oregon Academy of Science; past president of the Oregon Agate and Mineral Society and the Oregon Numismatic Society; also a member of the Condon Club and Sigma XI. He is Curator of Geology of the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry and a member of its Board of Trustees. He also holds membership in the Oregon Stamp Society and the Oregon Archaeological Society.

Mr. Ruff was married on January 13, 1940, to Margaret Shaw of Portland, Oregon. They have two children, Judith Ann and David Alan.

1944 President E. Newton Bates

E. Newton Bates, the tenth President of the Geological Society of the Oregon Country, was born on a farm In Dorr Township, Allegan County, Michigan, in 1879. He lived on the farm until his father, after whom he was named, went into the general country store business in the neighboring small town of Moline, which is located fifteen miles south of Grand Rapids on the Pennsylvania Railroad. While working in his father's store he developed a small bicycle repair business and he was the "trouble shooter" for the Citizens Telephone Company, which maintained a country telephone exchange in his father's store.

E. NEWTON BATES

He spent two years in the college preparatory department of Olivet College, Olivet, Michigan, and completed one year in the scientific course of the college. He then changed to the Michigan State College at East Lansing, from which he was graduated in Mechanical Engineering in 1906. In 1913 he was granted an M.S. degree from Michigan State College. After graduation he accepted a position as instructor in physics at the college, and three years later a position in Boston, Mass., with the engineering firm of D.C. and William B. Jackson. While employed in Boston he married Miss Cora L. Brown, a girl from his Michigan home town.

The Bates's next moved to New York City, where E.N. was employed as draftsman in the construction department of the Standard Oil Company at 26 Broadway. In 1912 they moved to State College, Pennsylvania, where Mr. Bates was assistant professor in mechanical engineering.

In 1918 Mr. Bates resigned his teaching position to accept a position as scientific assistant with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.  This proved to be his last change of employers, but by no means his last change of address. In 1920 he was transferred to Portland, Oregon, to take charge of the office of Grain Investigations for the Pacific Coast.  One of the duties he assumed was to encourage the handling of grain in bulk instead of in sacks. Raymond L. Baldwin was one of his able assistants in this work while the office was located in Portland.

In 1927 the office was moved to San Francisco with Bates in charge and its name changed to Office of Rice and Grain Investigations.  Problems of efficient production, storing and marketing of rice were added to the other duties.

After nine years in San Francisco, the office was discontinued and the Bates's were transferred to Portland in 1936 to be attached to the Pacific Coast Headquarters Office of Federal Grain Supervision to have charge of developments, maintenance and standardization of the mechanical equipment used in the Pacific Coast Grain Supervision Offices.

Upon returning to Portland one year after the birth of the Geological Society of the Oregon Country his good friend Raymond L. Baldwin introduced him to that enthusiastic group of professional and amateur geologists.  Mr. Bates says that his interest in the Society has centered more in the geologists than in geology. The great variety of beautiful rock formations attracts him more than their industrial use and the classification phase of the science.

The Bates's have a daughter, Eleanor B., who is married and lives in San Francisco. Bates claims that Franklin Davis bamboozled him into accepting the nomination as president for the Society by telling him that every so often the Society was expected to elect a rank amateur to its highest office.

Mr. Bates retired from Government service in March 1949 and in May of that year was awarded a medal for superior service, and was called to Washington, D.C., at government expense to accept the award.

1945 President Lon Hancock

I was born March 17, 1884, in the small village of St. Joe, Searcy County, Arkansas. The birthplace of my father was Springfield, Illinois, and that of my mother Marietta, Georgia. At the age of seven symptoms of a weakness for the earth sciences began to manifest themselves. Armloads of limestone slabs filled with crinoid stems were carried into the house for inspection, and when I asked why these rocks were filled with worms, was emphatically ordered to return them to the hillside and to refrain from further foolish questions, as these were just rocks and nothing more.

1945 - ALONZO WESLEY HANCOCK (Charter Member)

When I was nine years of age, my parents migrated to Indian Territory. There I found the geological picture greatly changed and much more interesting. Along the eroded banks of the Arkansas river were innumerable veins of coal outcroppings. Between these and beds of concretions filled with pastel shades of clay I spent many happy days. When my father found a lot of these multicolored clays smeared all over the side of the barn another of my geological endeavors was quickly and decisively squelched.

Educational advantages in the Indian Territory at that time were practically nil. During the six years of residence there, only a few intermittent months of “Subscription School” were available, and principally for that reason my parents decided to follow the course of empire westward. Acquiring two covered wagons or "prairie schooners", we loaded in and for three long months listened to the song of wagon wheels across the states of Kansas, Colorado, Wyoming and Idaho, reaching the green and fertile valley of the Snake river just at the opening of the harvest season. This so resembled Paradise in comparison to anything we had ever seen before that Oregon of course became our home.

Among the many advantages to be found in this land of promise was one in particular which caught my interest. Just across the river in Idaho was a boarding school known as the Idaho Intermountain Institute. At this place one without means could secure enough employment on the campus to pay for both board and tuition. I contacted the school authorities at the earliest possible date, all arrangements were easily made, and I became an immovable fixture for four years.

My arrival at this school should have created quite a sensation because I had with me all my worldly goods and these consisted of two sacks, one filled with clothing and the other with rocks. My second sack was to bring me deep disappointment. No one seemed to know very much about rocks, and cared less.

One professor, however, was somewhat sympathetic and directed me to the Weiser Academy, located about half a mile away, where he thought I might probably get the desired information. The instructor was found and for a full hour he delved into the mysteries of mineralogy - all of which failed to register with me. This I know because when I returned to my school the teacher insisted that I explain fully to the class all I had learned about my specimens. To the best of my memory, those small yellowish-pink crystals were called "mizpahs". Later I learned that what the teacher had really said was that they were feldspars. Still the class marveled exceedingly - it was their first lesson in geology.

After spending four years at this school, it became increasingly apparent that the seventy-five dollars which I could save during the three summer months would hardly support me in the lavish manner in which I craved to live through the nine-month school year, so I decided to spend a year or so in Alaska for the purpose of bolstering my modest fortune, and possibly locating a few of those elephants frozen in the ice which I had been reading about.

The explorations of course proved fruitless, and the long, workless winter months exhausted my summer earnings to such an extent that when I arrived back in Seattle my fortune had dwindled to two dollars and fifty cents. It was then and there I made up my mind that what I most needed was a guardian, so I became an employee of the Post Office Department and remained in this position thirty-five years. It was during my employment in this position that I met and married Miss Berrie Horton, who has always shared my interest and enthusiasm in my lifelong avocation.

During these many years as a government employee my interest in the earth sciences never lessened, but on the other hand grew and a very large portion of my spare time, such as vacations and holidays, were spent roaming the semi-deserts of the Northwest and exploring the fossil-bearing cliffs of the John Day country.

In 1933 a semi-technical club was organized, known as the Oregon Agate and Mineral Society. This I joined as a charter member, having already spent fourteen years with the Mazamas.

Beginning in 1934 and extending through several years, the University of Oregon conducted extension courses at the Lincoln High School in the following sciences: Geology, Dr. Edwin T. Hodge; Rocks and Minerals, Dr. W. D. Wilkinson; Paleontology, Dr. Earl Packard; Anthropology, Dr. Goldenweiser. From these sources I received all of my classroom geology.

1946 President John Eliot Allen

John Eliot Allen was born in Seattle, Wash., on August 12, 1908, the son of Eric W. (ex-dean of journalism at University of Oregon) and Sally Elliott Allen (writer and playwright). He was educated in the Eugene public schools, was graduated from the University of Oregon, where he received his B.A. degree in 1931, M.A. in 1932. In 1944 he received his Ph.D degree from the University of California. All degrees were conferred in his major field - Geology. In 1933 he was married to Margaret Moss of Portland; they have one daughter, Sallie Ann. She is married to Scott McNall and they have two children, Miles and Amy.

Dr. Allen's professional experience includes being: field geologist for the Rustless Iron and Steel Corporation, 1935 to 1938; chief geologist for the Oregon State Department of Geology and Mineral Industries 1938 to 1947; and senior Economic Geologist with the New Mexico Bureau of Mines for four years.

1946 - DR. JOHN ELIOT ALLEN

His teaching experience includes: Teaching Fellow at Oregon one year, at Berkeley three years. Taught geology for the Oregon Extension Division in Portland for two years, and for Statewide in eastern Oregon for two years. Was Associate Professor of Geology and Director of the Summer Camp at Pennsylvania State University, 1948-49; Professor and Head of the Department of Geology at the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology for two years. He came to Portland State in 1956 and has at one time or another taught all of the courses required for graduation. Was SEATO Professor at the University of Peshawar, Pakistan, in 1963-64. He is Professor of Geology and Head of the Earth Science department at Portland State University and has had 19 years of teaching experience.(1970)

Dr. Allen has been or is a member of the following organizations: Phi Beta Kappa, Sigma Xi, Theta Tau, Geological Society of the Oregon Country (President 1946), Geological Society of America, American Geological Institute, Society of Economic Geologists, American Institute of Mining & Metallurgical Engineers, American Association of Petroleum Geologists, American Geophysical Union, American Institute of Professional Geologists, American Scientific Gem Association (regional vice president), Oregon Academy of Science, National Association of Geology Teachers (president 1967), and Northwest Scientific Association.

His bibliography of publications includes some forty listings, ranging from the highly technical to the very descriptive. Many have been used by GSOC members for source and trip background material.

1947 President Arthur Carhart Jones

Arthur Carhart Jones was born in Oberlin, Ohio, on September 11, 1896, the son of Rev. Burton and Angie (Tallmon) Jones. He was educated in the public schools of Kansas, California, and Oregon. His B.A. degree he received at Pacific University, Forest Grove, Oregon, in 1921. From the University of Oregon Medical School he obtained his M.A. degree in 1925, and in 1926 his M.D. Dr. Jones is a member of Sigma Xi, Alpha Omega Alpha, Nu Sigma Nu, and Gamma Sigma.

1947 - DR. ARTHUR CARHART JONES (Charter Member)

As a physician and Surgeon Dr. Jones was associated with the Else-Dudman-Nelson Clinic from 1927 until 1931, and since that date has been in private practice, except for the time spent in military service. He was associate in Anatomy at the University of Oregon Medical School from 1934 to 1940, and has been director of Physical Medicine there since 1929.  During World War II he was commissioned as major and stationed at Letterman General Hospital in San Francisco, and at Mitchell Convalescent Hospital at Campo, California. Doctor Jones is an authority and pioneer in work on physical medicine and rehabilitation, and is one of the founders and medical director of the Portland Rehabilitation Center.

Dr. Jones was married on September 18, 1924, to Doris W. Wolcott of Portland, Oregon.  They have two children - a daughter, Ardis Carolyn, now Mrs. Donald R. McKay, and a son, Irving Wolcott Jones.

The Doctor is a member of the American Medical Association, the Portland Academy of Medicine, the American Congress of Physical Medicine, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the Geological Society of the Oregon Country. He is a Mason and a Republican.  Dr. and Mrs. Jones are members of the Unitarian Church. Their home is at 3300 S.W. Heather Lane, Portland. (1950)

After the tragic mountaineering death of Donald -R. McKay, Ardis was married to David G. Hitchcock.

At a most beautiful wedding service at the First Presbyterian Church attended by 1200 of their friends, Dr. Freeda 0. Hartzfeld, Dean of Women at Lewis and Clark College, and Dr. Arthur C. Jones were married on October 1, 1965. Besides continuing their life-time individual interests, they have joined together in the state and national promotion of the Laubach Literacy program. Dr. Arthur is a member of the Board of Directors of the Laubach Literacy of Oregon, Inc., of which Dr. Freeda is president.

Dr. Arthur has been known to say that he considers this volunteer program that is carried out in the disadvantaged areas of the world as well as in the United States to be one of the most Christian action programs possible. -Doris Wolcott Jones, 1964.

1948 President Fay Wilmott Libbey

Fay Wilmott Libbey was born in Macawhoc, Maine, on October 11, 1882, the son of Charles Otis and Josephine (Chadbourne) Libbey. He was educated in the public schools and at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he received his B.S. degree in 1906.  In December 1913 he was married to Rose C. Kaiser of Portland, Oregon.  They have one daughter, now Mrs. John Swanson.

1948 - FAY W. LIBBEY

Mr. Libbey began his engineering work as assayer of the Nipissing Mining Co. in Cobalt, Ontario; later was superintendent of the Vulture Mining Co. in Wlckenburg, Arizona; engaged in mine leasing in Arizona, and oil exploration in California. He was superintendent of the Pinto Valley Co. of Miami, Arizona; consulting engineer for the U.S. Engineers of Portland, Oregon; mining engineer for the State Department of Geology and Mining Industries, Portland, of which he has been director for the past six years (since July 1944). He was a first lieutenant with the U.S. Army Engineers in 1917.

Mr. Libbey is the author of the following: Dredging of Farmland in Oregon;  Progress Report on Coos Bay Coal Field; Mineral Deposits in Region of Imnaha and Snake Rivers, Oregon, and co-author of Manganese in Oregon; Preliminary Report on High-Alumina Iron Ore in Washington County, Oregon; and Ferruginous Bauxite Deposits in Northwestern Oregon.

He is a member of the American Institute of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers; the Professional Engineers of Oregon; American Association of State Geologists.

In politics he is a Republican; in religion, an Episcopalian.