GEOLOGY NEWSLETTER
IN LOVING MEMORY OF PROFESSOR TOM PRATHER
1937 - 2022
Tom Prather died unexpectedly in a tragic accident on Cottonwood Pass on July 26, 2022. Tom taught Geology courses at Western for over 35 years, starting in 1965. Together, we built a geology program that went from about 10 majors to over one hundred in less than ten years and started to get recognition in the state and especially in the Denver geology community. Tom was born in Kearney, Nebraska in 1937, going to high school there (he playedfootball!),wenttoCarletonCollegeandgothis master’s and PhD at the University of Colorado (where I first met him in the fall of 1961). Both his Master’sandDoctoralthesesinvolvedmappinginthe Gunnison Country. Tom also gave me the idea of working in the Gunnison Country for my thesis. Both our fondest dreams were to teach at Western. Unbelievably, our dreams came true, and we both cametoWesterninthefallof1965.
Among many characteristics, Tom will be remembered for his soft-spoken voice, clever sly wit, and subtle sense of humor. During field trips along Yule Pass road, Tom would humorously announce to the class this was a “silly trip”, just as they passed several small sills injected into the Mancos Shale. Initially puzzled, most students eventually burst out laughing at the clever wordplay. Similarly, during exams while showing slides of moraines, Tom would subtly quip about “more rain” in the area. These moments were simple yet effective in lightening the moodexperiencesthattrulyrequiredbeingtheretofully appreciate!
Tom was legendary for his very strong hiking ability–morethanoneyoungstallion(ormare)was leftpantinginhiswakeonanuphillclimb. (cont.on pg.2)
Photo by F4D Studio
Littledoesanyoneknow,but,inhislateryears,Tom would practice for field camp by running up and downthesteepslopesneartheAlmontCampground foraweek.
Tomwasalsowellknownforhisloveofgamesand entertaining students, whether it would be on field trips,rivertripsorevenintheclassroom.His“Pass the Pigs” tournaments, held in the Geology lab/studentloungeroom,werelegendaryandwould fill Hurst Hall with cheers and laughter. Let’s not forgetTom’s“tugofwar”game.Inthisversion,two people would face each other standing on ammunition cases, (commonly used on river trips to store valuables) holding a rope and trying to pull the opponent off by tugging quickly. Despite his smallstature,Tomwasamazinglygoodatthisgame, beatingmanybigger,strongerstudentsandme.One time at Echo Amphitheater in the House Range, Utah, Tom was winning match after match. Then, a short burley, ex-state wrestling champion got on the case. The match ended after a few minutes of jockeyingwithTombeingpulledoffthecase,flying 20 feet in the air, before landing unceremoniously onhisface.Thatendedthegameforthenight. Most of all Tom was an educator who loved his students. He would go beyond the call of duty for them.
One time a student who had graduated called Tom and asked for advice regarding a professional surveying project that he was awarded. He knew Tomusedtoteachsurveyingwithalidadeandplane table.Insteadofgivingadviceoverthephone,Tom droveouttoCisco,Utah,andspentthedayhelping himwiththeproject.
Tomwillbemissed.
Dr.BruceBartleson
DEPARTMENT UPDATES
DR. ROBERT FILLMORE, PROFESSOR OF GEOLOGY HellofellowWesternalums,
I hope you are all doing well, and are healthy and happy. It’s a great summer in Gunnison and I am preparing (slowly) for my last year of teaching. After ~30 wonderful years of teaching I will retire next spring (2025). It’s crazy that I have been able to do this for that long and I want to sincerely thank every one of you who have been in my classes. While I love geology,it’sallofyouthathavemadethissomuchfun all these years. When I say that, I mean every one of you!IwillcontinuetoliveinGunnison,althoughIhave my eyes on an old mine in Death Valley for a winter home.You’reallinvitedtovisit!
Allen retired a couple years ago, and now that I am leaving I would like to ask/beg you to support our student scholarships. That is one way that I feel that I canleavetheGeologyPrograminabetterplace.
DR. ROBERT FILLMORE (CONT.)
Many of our existing scholarships are in danger of running out of money or no longer are able to cover little more than a text book. The Valerie Mitchell scholarship for outstanding Junior geology student is particularly low. I am asking any of you that can to contributetoascholarshipfundthatIamsettingupat the foundation. ANY amount will help. I mean 10, 20, 100, or 1000 dollars! This is not a named scholarship or anything like that, although it could be eventually. It’safundtohelpourstudentswhoneeditthemost. Please consider sending a check to the Western Foundation, specifying either “geology scholarship” or “Valerie Mitchell Geology Scholarship”. Make checks payable to WCU Foundation with the scholarship noted in the memo. Online donations can bemadeusingthislink.Thankyou!! WesternColoradoUniversityFoundation POBox1264,Gunnison,CO81230
DR. ELIZABETH PETRIE, MONCRIEF CHAIR IN PETROLEUM GEOLOGY AND ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF GEOLOGY
Hello!Ithasbeen9shortyearssincethelastalumniupdateandI’mnotsurewhereallthattimehasgone.ThisFallwill mark the start of my 10th year at Western, I teach Intro Geology and labs, Structural Geology, and Subsurface Geology, Career Pathways in Geology, and Field Camp. During Spring of 2024 I took the GEOL 300 – Geology Field Trip class to spend time in the San Rafael Swell. Field camp this year started cold and the wet but in true Gunnison fashionthestudentspersevered.
Since the last alumni update, I have developed a course called Career Pathways in Geology. The course focuses on preparing a resume and cover letter, researching job and graduate school opportunities as well as studying for the FundamentalsofGeologyexam.Thisclassinvitesguestspeakerstodiscusscareerandeducationalpathwayswiththe students,ifanyofyouareinterestedinbeingaguestspeaker,pleaseletmeknow(epetrie@western.edu).
I am very interested in developing and supporting workforce expansion and education as the energy landscape evolves. Part of this is reflected in the recently approved Graduate Certificate in Energy Geoscience, whose first cohortwillstartFall2025.
My research activities continue to be collaborative and focus on the interactions between fluid flow and rock failure inthebrittlecrust.I’verecentlycompletedtwoprojectsfundedthroughtheNorwegianResearchCouncil,thesegrants provided support for undergraduate research experiences (Matt Tello 2015, Nate Cote 2017, Jacob Bolstad, 2017, MarkMcClernan2017,BrockAversen2022,SerenaButler–UniversityofMontanaexchangestudent).
Students evaluate the deformation and fluid flow features on the east limb of the San Rafael Swell.
Geology Field Camp Students map a fault propagation fold.
DR. ELIZABETH PETRIE (CONT.)
During Fall 2022 I spent my sabbatical at the University of Oslo, funded through a Norwegian CCS Research Center mobilitygrant.Ashortsynopsisoftheresearchcanbefoundhere
During my sabbatical, my colleagues and I were awarded additional funding for continued research on CO2 fluid and fault rock interactions. To date, this research has sponsored undergraduate research projects for 3 students (Lauren Linneman 2024, Eleanor Skinner 2024, Emma Stokes – current student). This work expands upon previous research tobuilddetailedsubsurfacehydrogeologicmodelsandunderstandthegeophysicalresponsewithinreservoirandfault rocksexposedtoCO2+water+hydrocarbon.
DR. M. RYAN KING, LECTURER IN GEOLOGY
I have just recently started at WCU, so much of my year so far has been preparation for geology classes. Although, I have gotten in the field some this spring to look at some Cretaceous iron ooid deposits with the Basin Analysis class, and to do a little bit of additional research. Much of my field research this spring has been focused on a project in conjunction with the Utah Geological Survey to rectify the stratigraphic nomenclature of the Mancos Shale between central Utah and western Colorado utilizing molluscan biostratigraphy. In June, I scouted some locations in southern Utah with researchers from North Carolina, Colorado, and South Africa for part of a larger project that we have been working on regarding biodiversity changes due to the Cretaceous Thermal Maximum. In July, I have several smaller projects planned in western Colorado with the National Park Service involving morphology of Jurassic-Cretaceous dinosaur tracks, which focuses on identifying trackmakers, interpreting repetitive normal motions of the trackmakers, and what taphonomic factors may have played a role in preservation. The rest of the summer, I will start to get material ready for the paleontology class,whichIamexcitedtobeginteachinginthefall.
DR. HOLLY BRUNKAL, LECTURER IN ENGINEERING AND GEOLOGY
Dr. Brunkal continues to teach classes for the Geology department and the Rady Engineering Program. Expanding on her minor area of study during her PhD program at Colorado School of Mines, Holly is integrating geothermal energy collaborations and research into her areas of interest. Dr. Brunkal is working with the Rico, CO geothermal collaborative, Southwest Colorado Geothermal Interest Group (SW CO RIG), and Women in Geothermal (WinG). She has been teaching geology 101 for the honors program, which afforded her a trip to Iceland in Maymester of 2023, where she got to experience many geothermal applications firsthand. A small interdisciplinary research project was started in fall 2024 that engaged geology and engineering students in testing nanobubble technology to reduce mineral scaling in low-temperature geothermal systems. This research will be ongoing and was supported by a SOURCE grant for the students and the Professional Activity Fund for Dr. Brunkal. She continues to do consulting work as a geotechnical engineer in the summer. Field trips, fieldwork, and hands-on problem-solving are top prioritiesforDr.Brunkal’scourses.
DR. DAVID MARCHETTI, PROFESSOR OF GEOLOGY
Hi everyone! As I enter my 18th year here at Western I continue to teach intro geology, geomorphology, hydrogeology, geochemistry and recently, paleoclimatology – sure keeps me busy. It’s been awhile since the last newsletter, and since then we’ve created a new Environmental Geology emphasis that provides training in our geology core classes (strat/sed. structural, earth materials, field geology) as well as required coursework in geomorphology, hydrogeology, engineering geology and aqueous geochemistry. It is a popular emphasis in the Geology program and provides students with the content knowledge and skills for employment in the environmental consulting and Geotech field. In 2022 I developed a new major in Environmental Science. This interdisciplinary major blends geology, biology and chemistry classes, and fits a need for Western as we were losing students to other Universities who have this specific major. Many of you who work in environmental geology have likely hired or worked with environmental science majors and many federal agencies now hire under that specific category. It’s early, but the major is doing well, and many of the ESCI majors are also minoring in geology!
Dave Marchetti, Thure Cerling (U. Utah), Mike Jury (WCU BS 2014), Brennan Young (U. Utah) on a huge volcanic clast within a mid-Pleistocene age mass movement deposit near Torrey, Utah. Jurassic Carmel Formation in background.
Austin Shirley (WCU BS 2024), Chloe Riser (WCU BS 2023) and Zane Wasicko (WCU current) on the east side of Boulder Mtn inspecting two sub units of the 26 Ma Signal Peak trachyte.
On the research front I’m still working to finish up a lot of geologic mapping in central Utah and just had a 30x60’ geologic map come out from the Utah Geologic Survey. Several WCU geology majors have helped with that mapping via USGS EDMAP awards over the years (2008: Sarah Able; Andrew Heger, 2011: Rebekah Parks, Mark Mikos, 2021: Carsen Floyd, Rayni Lewis. In 2013 and 2021 I was a PI on NSF grants developing well laminated soil carbonate rinds (~caliche) from desert soils as paleoclimatic archives. Basically, the rinds act like cave speleothems (the correct term in soils would be pedothems…) and by measuring stable isotopes and other geochemical proxies across rind transects we can reconstruct vegetation, soil temperature and soil water conditions during rind formation over the Quaternary. These two grants funded multiple WCU geology majors who helped with field work, cosmogenic dating, soil gas measurements and stable isotope analysis (Mike Jury, Amy Allbritton, Austin Beason, Joey Thomas, Kimberly Wurth, Austin Beason, Chloe Riser). In 2021 I was a PI on another NSF grant looking at paleoclimatic records from Fish Lake, Utah. This deep tectonic lake has over 200 m of sediment, making it one of the longest continuous lacustrine paleoclimatic archives in the Western US. Right now, our group is working up 60,000 years of core sediments focusing on the paleoclimate of MIS 3, the period before and leading into the LGM or last ice age. Multiple WCU geology majors have helped with coring Fish Lake through the ice over the years (Tom Jeute, Preston McGuire, Brian Schieb, James Mangum, Gabe Iturralde), including four students this past Feb. 2024 (Abby Krueger, Nick Wheeler Jory, Zane Wasicko, Kate Evans).
DR. DAVID MARCHETTI (CONT.)
This May I found out I am slated for NSF funding again, this time to work closer to home looking at the history of the Gunnison River around Gunnison. First, we’ll date the paleo Gunnison River gravel package under Flat Top and Red Mtns using detrital sanidine 40Ar/39Ar dating, then using cosmogenic burial techniques we’ll attempt to date the deposition of the Gunnison River alluvium, the allostratigraphic package that the City of Gunnison is built on and where the City of Gunnsion gets its drinking water from. Finally, we’ll date the fantastic strath terraces near Almont using soils, OSL and cosmogenics, and test hypotheses around the timing of river incision and glaciation in the East and Taylor headwaters. This proposal will fund six WCU geology majors over three years to help with the work and should lead to completion of the Flat Top 7.5’ geologic map in addition to multiple publications. Emeritus Geology Professor Allen Stork is part of this research as well as Adjunct Professor of Geology Amy Ellwein; our resident soils expert. Krystal Brown, a GHS teacher and WCU alum is part of the team as well, and will translate our findings into grade appropriate content and field trips for local K-12 students. If you’re interested in papers from any of the work described above, or from other recent hydrology work around Gunnison with LBNL/RMBL researchers just send me anemailatdmarchetti@western.edu
Abby Krueger (WCU current) and Nick Wheeler Jory (WCU current) holding a 2 m drive of Fish Lake sediments, Feb. 2024.
ALUMNI UPDATES
DR. JAMES P. WELSH (‘64)
59 years ago, I graduated from Western with a degreeinGeology.Western(1960to1964)provided an exceptional range of readily available geology, plusoutstandingteachingandmentoring.Dr.Moyle, Dr. Ferchau, Dr. Lawrence, Dr. Anderson, Mr Dorgan (thank you for the set theory and probability and statistics), Coach Wright, Coach Anderson, and swimming coach Tom Muhic were excellent.
DR. JAMES P. WELSH CONT.
They taught, inspired, encouraged, coached, and helped me learn and grow. Much can be traced to theirgenerousgiftsofknowledgeandtime. Playing football, pole-vaulting, and swimming at Westerngaveperspectivetothevalueofdedicated coaching and the importance of teamwork. The discipline learned for athletic performance has givenyearsofjoy,andoccasionalexcitementasan aviator applying geology and flying skills to field measurementsinthePolarregions.
Memories of Western, the Gunnison country, the mountains, snow and ice, the mind-opening beauty of the Maroon Bells wilderness, the incredible varietyofgeologicalfeatures,thecoldwaterofthe Gunnison River (excellent trout), all coalesced to forminvaluableandtreasuredexperience.Reveled in the cold temperatures, the snow, the climbing, hunting,fishing,andtherangeofavailablegeology; lovedthemall.
Photo by F4D Studio
DR. JAMES P. WELSH CONT.
Followed Western with a National Science Foundation (NSF) Fellowship at Colorado School of Mines in geology and chemistry, MS in Geochemistry at Wichita State University, PhD in Geophysics at Michigan State University, three NSF Fellowships to study mountain glaciers and sea ice in the Polar regions. Conducted Research for the United States Department of Defense (DoD) for 30 years. 22 of those years performing field measurements from camps on sea ice floes and using airborne remote sensing to study the ice, ocean currents, and atmospheric forces that move and deform the sea ice. Last 8 years served as Director of the Smart Weapons Operability Enhancement Program (SWOE). SWOE was a DoD Research Initiative and Joint (Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force) Test Program. Team of 200 scientists and engineers, from 23 DoD Laboratories and 8 Universities. SWOE built an integrated physicsbasednumericalmodelforpredictingandevaluatingtheperformanceofpossiblesmartweapons.
Most important accomplishment was to marry a Western football teammate’s sister, Mary, in November 1967. Matt Gannon was a great teammate (center); he told me that I would love his sister when we were freshmen during the 1960 football season. Did not meet her until August of 1967 at Matt’s wedding; Matt was right. 56 years married, two sons, two daughters-in-law, and five grandchildren. Have lived in: Maryland, Michigan, Virginia, Connecticut, Mississippi,NewHampshire,andSouthCarolina.
HOWARD FISHMAN (‘69)
Howard Fishman (1969) and his wife Lynne continue to reside in Heber City, Utah after retiring from Chevron in 2010. In the winter, Howard spends many days on the ski slopes of Alta, Snowbird, Park City, and Deer Valley. They have traveled to Australia and New Zealand and a 3 week trip to Antarctica where asHowardsaystheyshookhandswiththepenguins.
“MEMORIES OF WESTERN... ALL COALESCED TO FORM INVALUABLE AND TREASURED EXPERIENCE.”
Dr. James Welsh (‘64)
Photo by David Dieckhaus
MARK THOMAS (‘74)
I am trying to retire. From Western State College I went to Colorado School of Mines, and then Sun Oil as a petroleum exploration geologist. When the oil business cratered, I moved to Morgantown West Virginia, where I have worked 33 years for a contractor at the U.S. Department of Energy. Among my many projects are investigating and cleaning up groundwater contaminated by experiments in underground coal gasification and underground oil shale retorting in Wyoming. I enjoy running, bicycling, cross-country skiing, alpine skiing, and fly fishing, and amhopingtodomorewithouthavingtogotowork.
FRED CONRATH (‘75)
I graduated from WSC in 1975 with a bachelor’s degree in geology and worked for private industry for several years doing geothermal exploration in the western US and base metal exploration in Alaska. I spent an additional 35 years working for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in Alaska, Utah, Colorado and Arizona. Most of my work was in oil and gas and coal, with several years working with the industrial minerals industry. I retired in 2018 as the senior geologistfortheArizonaBLM.
DR. FORDON ‘DICK’ JONES (‘76)
I graduated in 1976 as a geology major and in 1977 with a master's in math and a geology minor. I received my doctorate from the University of SouthernCaliforniain1985. IowntheJonesDinosaurGalleryintheDeltaMuseum. When I was at Western I brought Dr.Jim Jenson (Dinosaur Jim) to Gunnison to visit the Snyder discoveryeastofGunnison.
In 1985 - 1987 I was the Director of Academic Computing at Western State. After leaving that post I have traveled the world (visited over 100 countries) asabridgelectureroncruiseships.
I am presently a snowbird living in Austin Texas in the winters and in Cedaredge Colorado during the summers.
Alumni Updates
PETER DEA (‘76)
Peter Dea graduated with a BA degree in Geology from Western Colorado University, in 1976 and earned a MSc degree in Geology at the University of Montana in 1981. He later returned to Western as an adjunct professor of geology for two winter semesters. He attended the Harvard Business School Advanced Management Program in 1999. After ten years at Exxon Company USA, Dea joined Barrett Resources. At Barrett Dea played a direct role in the discovery of Cave Gulch Field (shallow and deep reservoirs) and the merger with Plains Petroleum Corporation; healsoledthecompanyintothePowderRiverandRatonBasinCBMplays.
Peter is Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of Confluence Resources LP, a Denver, Colorado-based oil and gas exploration and production company.Mr. Dea served as Co-Founder, President and CEO of Cirque Resources LP since its inception in May, 2007. He was President, CEO and a Director of Western Gas Resources, Inc., from 2001 through their merger with Anadarko Petroleum Corporation in 2006. He joined Barrett Resources Corporation in 1993 and was CEO from 1999 and Chairman of the Board from 2000 until the sale of Barrett in 2001 to Williams. Prior to joining Barrett, Dea held various geologic positions for Exxon Company USA. Most of his activity has focused on exploration and production in the Rocky Mountain basins in Wyoming, North Dakota, Colorado, Montana andUtah.
Peter co-sponsored and founded geology scholarships at Western Colorado University and University of Montana. He and his wife Cathy established the Dea Family Foundation serving education, science, and conservation efforts. They live in Crested Butte, Colorado and have three sons, Drake, Austin and Cort. In the summer they climb peaks, horseback ride, mountain bike and hike. As a Roundup Rider of the Rockies, Dea enjoys a 100-mile horseback ride in Colorado’s high country each year. Dea has been an active mountaineer, climbing many high-altitude peaks up to 22,205’ and participating in multi-week climbing, skiing and/or whitewater kayaking expeditions in North and South America, Nepal, Bhutan and Africa. These have included the first ski traverse of Canada’s highest peak, Mt. Logan, a 42-day traverse of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, a six-week ski traverse of the Torngat Mountains in Labrador, three-week ski traverse of Yellowstone Park, nine days on ice floe edge witnessing 39 polar bear, narwhals and bowhead whales, nine-day horseback safari across the Masa Mara, Kenya. He has also climbed all 58 ofColorado’shighestpeaksabove14,000’.HeandwifeCathycontinuetopursueadventuresaroundthecountryand theworld.
Photo by F4D Studio
Fort Collins where my family and I has been living the past 22 years. I made a big career change after having my own children and after about 15 years as a geologist to become a high school science teacherteaching Earth Science, Environmental Science, Intro toChemistryandPhysics(Godblessyourpatience,Ted Violett), but more than content knowledge probably the biggest challenge was making subjects interesting enough and engaging enough for high school kids.That is not trivial! This path also took me on another challenge, which was becoming a student all over again even after a M.Ed., but this time in the field of Atmospheric Science. After several climate and meteorology courses, I was given the amazing opportunity of working under atmospheric science professors from CSU to co-develop climate science curricula for high school (concepts like energy balance and heat-trapping properties of CO2) and also work for the State Climatologist for several years developing videos and lesson plans for teachers on basic atmospheric phenomena (like El Nino, etc.). I honestly thought I would never love a subject as much as I loved geology, but I fell in love all over again with thestudyofourclimatebecauseitnotonlyrequiresan understanding of geology, but it also wraps everything else in – land, oceans and atmosphere. My love for our planet became even deeper and more profound. I used my passion also led me to become a mentorwiththeClimateRealityProject. As I grow older, I appreciate my years in Gunnison and ponder how just 4 years (which seems to go by in a blink these days) could impact my whole lifetime. No question, it did. I certainly owe it our professors who led the way, the whole marvelous environment of the Gunnison Valley, and to all the students that “worked hard and played hard” together with me during the mid-70s. The best news is that my husband and I movedtoGunnisoninthesummerof2019tospendour retirement years skiing, hiking and, yes, braving the cold!
PETE DWELLEY (‘80)
After Western, I attended CSU in Fort Collins for my MSC in Economic Geology. I worked in precious metals exploration for FMC Gold/Meridian Gold across the western US, Mexico, Chile and Argentina. Following my mineral exploration work I transitioned into Environmental Affairs and resource permitting. For the last 17 years, I have worked for Granite Construction overseeing their northern California ResourceDevelopmentandEntitlementactivities.
My wife Liz and I are living in Reno, NV, and recently acquired a second home in Crested Butte.. looking forward to more time in the Gunnison Country! We have two “kids”, a daughter in Reno and a son who is finishing his 6th year as a member of the Super Bowlbound San Francisco 49ers football team. I am still an avid skier, off-road motorcycle rider, and general explorer.
I credit Western and my professors (Bruce Bartleson, Tom Prather, and Fred Menzer) for getting me started in a rewarding career and life adventure; thankfully I survived the senior field trip to Dinosaur National Park...that was epic! Those of you that were there remember....I recall a few folks waking up the morning
Photo by Marie Donohue
PHILIP MULHOLLAND (‘82)
Graduationday–1982,metalpricesandoilpriceswerelow,notmuchgoingon.
My first job, was a junior level geologist with Mapco Minerals, Elko, Nevada 1983. We focused our efforts on claim staking the Carlan and Cortez Trends, followed by a year of property evaluation. Mapco was bought out, my first experiencewithoff-seasonlayoffs.
1985 Cyprus Industrial Minerals Corp – I managed talc exploration and mine development drilling projects throughoutsouthwesternMontana.ThiswereImetmywifeCherylandboughtaplaceinWaterloo,Montana.
1987-1998,PegasusGoldCorporation–ExplorationGeologistfor12yearssoonadvancingtoSr.levelgeologist.I worked all over Montana, Idaho, Nevada, South America, and Tanzania. Pegasus Gold was a good company to getstartedinthebusinessandImademanygoodcontacts.
1998-1999 Open pit production Blaster, low gold prices allowed me the opportunity to work as a blaster, I really enjoyedthework.Somewhereinthere,Cherylgavebirthtotwingirls.
2000-2003 Stillwater Mining Company - Ore Control – Production Geologist, I learned a lot about underground mining,PGMmineralsandthemanyhazardsofundergroundmining.
2003-2008 Placer Dome/Barrick Gold Corp - Mine Geologist, underground and Open Pit Gold Mine. Here I learnedalotabouthighwalls,slopestability,precisionblasting,openpitandundergroundmining.
2008-2023 Independent Geologist to Principal Mine Geologist. I teamed up with a savvy mining engineer and together we developed several successful underground mines in Montana, Idaho and the Yukon Territory. I also worked extensively with several Canadian Juniors on several gold skarns and porphyry related precious metalcopperprojects.
2023 I recently accepted a job from an Australian company that owns a local garnet mine. I will be helping them with geology and engineering projects. Its nice to be working with a local project near home. While raising three grandkidsranginginagefrom4to5.
ThegeologyprofessionhasbeengoodtomeandIoftenthinkaboutmy schoolmatesandprofessorsatWesternStateCollege.Dr.BruceBartleson, Dr.TomPrather,Dr.FredMenzerandmathinstructorMr.Calkinsmade learningfunandachievable,theirtimeteachinghelpedprovidea goodlivingformeasaGeologist,manythanks.
“I CREDIT WESTERN AND MY PROFESSORS FOR GETTING ME STARTED IN A REWARDING CAREER AND LIFE ADVENTURE”
Pete Dwelley (‘80)
Photo
DR. KURT S. PANTER (‘86)
I graduated from Western in Geology in 1986. I don’t want to go through my academics in any detail. I am currently a Professor of Geology at Bowling Green State University but over the course of my Ph.D. and following a post-doc, I taught at Western as a sabbatical leave replacement for Allen Stork several times. For the past 15 or so years I have returned to Gunnison with geology students from BGSU for our capstone field course (field camp) and I usually have breakfast or dinner with Bruce, Allen, Rob and Tom.
On that note, it was so sad to hear about Tom’s passing ayearandahalfago.
My time at Western (1981-86) as a student was a quintessential time in my life. What I learned while attending school there has helped define my career and instituted my love of field research that I do in the Western US (Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming), New ZealandandAntarctica.
All of this with the support of my wife, Ann Beck,
REBECCA BIGLOW (‘97)
Immediately following graduation at Western, I began my first job as a Geologist for California State Parks, 1997-1999, where my work was focused on identifying andcharacterizing,mapping,quantifyingandrepairing erosion and mass wasting features associated with abandoned timber harvest roads in the Coast Ranges of California, and landscape restoration including fullbench recontouring of roads and stream channel restoration.Backinthosedays,themappingof60-80year old abandoned timber harvest roads and skid trails and the massive erosion features resulting, under thick canopy of Redwood and Douglas Fir forests predated the use of GPS and LiDAR, and involvedrigorousfieldwork.
REBECCA BIGLOW CONT.
I yearned to return to sunny Colorado after my 2 years living and working in the heavy rain of the Pacific Northwest, and I furthered down the path of surficial processes and worked as a Hydrologist for the U.S. Forest Service in Colorado and California, as well as a Physical Scientist at Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah. In 2007, I obtained a Master of Architecture degree from the University of Oregon, and went on to develop in my work in architectural design while also furthering my career as a Hydrologist and Geomorphologist in my intensive service to the largest wildland fires throughout the nation, serving federal Burned Area Emergency Response efforts, predicting post-fire flooding and debris flows, designing emergency public safety mitigations, and providing public safety informationwork which allowed me to explore and experience landscape and geomorphic processes throughout every western state in the U.S., as well as the nation of Lebanon, serving as a post-fire first-responder for watershed and geologic hazards, 2002-2022. Performing this work of intensive post-fire watershed and geologic hazard assessments, I frequently encountered the opportunity to examine the phenomenon of debris flows and develop a method to determine probability of debris flow occurrence and quantify volume of potential sediment and water transport to aid in design for the built environment and human safety, and this is one of the services I provide in my consulting business. I started my architectural and landscape design, watershed and geologic hazard consulting business, EDAI, ltd. (Earth Design Analysis & Innovation) in 2013, and have operatedthisbusinessinSalida,COsinceitsinception.
Earth Design Analysis & Innovation will also soon be opening a retail store in Salida, CO featuring geologyinspired art, cultural, history, and naturalist books, green building information, products and hub of service providers, geology and ecosystem-inspired architectural design, landscape and urban planning. Earth Design Analysis & Innovation will also be producing a quarterly print and online publication featuring a broad array of topics including energy, earth processes, natural resources and their use, cultural and historic topics, ecosystems, and the built environment, and interested contributing authors and advertisersofallperspectivesareinvited.
KATYE MCCONAGHY (‘98)
Iretiredfromacareerasamininggeologistworkingin copper, gold and molybdenum in 2019. These days, I spendmytimewritingtheFonaMacawMysterySeries under the pen name P.D. Underhill. My debut fiction, a magical cozy mystery rooted in mythical geology set in a small mountain town, was recently published. Luckily, I still get to make maps, just the fantasy kind. I dare say, they're more fun, and a lot easier on the ol' body.Butthiszaginmypathisallarousetojustifymy solotravelsundertheguiseof"bookresearch".
JEFF JACKSON (‘02)
Last year I celebrated my 15-year anniversary with XTO Energy as an Opportunity Evaluation and ProductionGeologist,7-yearanniversarywithmywife Brooke, and celebrated my daughter Aberdeen's 4th birthdaywithatriptoColoradoandOhio.
JAMES HAAG (‘12)
During college I was always intrigued with the mining industry.Ispentmysummersbetweensemestersdoing work for government agencies working on abandoned minelandsdiscoveringthat’swhereIwanttobe.
JAMES HAAG CONT.
I’ve spent most of my career using my scientific background to support the mining industry through environmental compliance. I lived a dream by spending 5 years living and working at the top of the world at the Climax Mine just over the mountains from our beloved Western. Here I sharpened my skillset managing water quality and water treatment. Climax operates one of the largest state-of-the-art water treatment facilities I’ve ever seen. I am proud to have made my mark, but I decided to try something new. I moved to Arizona and worked at the Morenci Copper Mine. Morenci is the largest open pit mine in North America with one of the most impressive processing facilities cranking out about a billion pounds of copper each year I worked there. I’m currently the EnvironmentalManagerat acare&maintenancegold miningandprocessing operationinNorthernNevada. Iroutinelyapplymy learningsfromDr.Marchetti’s Hydrogeologyclassinmy daytodayremediation effortstoslowdownthe spreadofsubsurface
MARCUS HEINRICHER (‘13)
Since graduation at Western in 2013 I have been working as a geologist for Antero Resources. I completed a Masters in Geology at the Colorado School of Mines a few years after leaving Western. My family and I love living in Colorado and try to make it back to the Gunnison Valley as many times a yearaswecan.
Photo by F4D Studio
DR. BRANDON SHUCK (‘15)
After my graduation from the Western Geology program in 2015, I ventured to the University of Texas at Austin Institute for Geophysics (UTIG) to obtain a PhD in Geosciences. At UTIG, I utilized my Geology and Mathematics background, forged by the amazing professors at Western, to become a solid-earth geophysicist. My PhD studies primarily used marine active-source seismic data to tackle several major outstanding questions in plate tectonics: What processes allow continents to break up and form new ocean basins? And how do new subduction zones initiate andbecomeself-sustainingconvergenttectonicboundaries?
I was fortunate to participate in two marine seismic expeditions aboard the R/V Marcus G. Langseth to collect new deep-penetrating, high-quality multichannel seismic reflection and wide-angle seismic refraction datasets in New Zealand. These experiences cultivated my passion for sea-going fieldwork. I love getting to work with diverse scientists from all over the world in remote places and exploring what lies beneath the Earth’s oceans! My research projects were part of the broader National Science Foundation GeoPRISMS community, which is a collection of geoscientists dedicated to studying tectonic processes along rifted margins and subduction zones. This was exciting and gave me the opportunity to collaborate with a wide range of scientists and present my research at various scientificworkshopsandmeetings.
In 2021, I finished my PhD at UTIG and received a Postdoctoral Research Fellowship from the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory (LDEO) at Columbia University in New York City. Over the last few years, I have expanded my research program and applied my geophysical skills towards better understanding geohazards at subduction zones. I worked with a new seismic dataset from the Cascadia margin along the northwest US, and also helped lead a new seismic dataset acquisition with the Langseth offshore Mexico as a Co-Chief Scientist. As I write this note, I am currently sailing on the JOIDES Resolution, a scientific ocean drilling vessel, as a Physical Properties / Borehole Geophysics specialist for International Ocean Discovery Program Expedition 402. We have 30 geoscientists from all over the world, along with 130 total crew on this massive 470 foot-long ship, with the goal of drilling down over 12,000 feet andrecoveringrocksfromtheEarth’smantleintheTyrrhenianSea.
Now in my third year as a postdoc at LDEO, I am hoping to land a full-time tenure-track faculty job soon and continue studyingthetectonicprocessonourplanetandhelpingtrainthenextgenerationofgeoscientists.Comingoutofhighschool,Iwasnotaverygoodstudent,andIcouldhaveneverimaginedIwouldbewhereIamtoday.Itrulygiveallthe credit to the fantastic educational environment at Western, which has such a positive and hands-on teaching culture thatsparkedmycuriosityandgavemetheencouragementIneededtosucceed.
JEFF HOLWAY (‘75)
Jeff Holway graduated with a BA in geology in 1975. He went on to earn an MS in Geology in 1977 and an MBA in 1978, both from Arizona State University. Jeff took a job with the First National Bank of Chicago in 1978 specializing in oil and gas and coal mine financing. He stayed with First National and its successor bank, JPMorgan, for 27 years. During his time at the bank, he moved from specialized finance to private equity where he co-founded One Equity Partners which was the private equity arm of JPMorgan. He left JPMorgan in 2005 to help establish Water Street Healthcare Partners, a private equity firm specializing in healthcare investments where he stillworkstoday.
Jeff and his wife Karen (BA History 1975) live in the Chicago area and are regular visitors to Colorado and the west where they enjoy skiing and other outdoor vacations. They have three boys, two living in Littleton,Colorado andoneinChicago.
by Taylor Cull
Photo
Jeff & Karen Holway hiking in Madera Canyon, AZ March 2024
MEMORY LANE
Photos provided by Ken Miller (‘83)
August, ‘82. Brush Creek field camp
August, ‘82. Field camp
August, ‘82. Messing around
Field Camp ridge behind CB
April, ‘83. Geology spring field trip
After Hasley Pass
August, ‘82, Field camp Rod Graham & Ken Miller
Henry Mtn., Fossil Ridge
Schofield Park volley ball
Spring ‘83. New Mexico. Dr. Bruce Bartelson, Dr. Tom Prather, Dr. Mary Lou Bevier
Graydon Martz organized a picture at the Gunnison Airport for the Geology Club. We got to hang a Banner on the Side of the Aircraft.
North Italian Mountain
Elliot and Dr. Tom Prather
Digging for Lapis on Italian Mountain
August, ‘82. Rock Hacky Sack, Hasley Pass field camp
Ken Miller flew around and in Mount St. Helens in ‘88
HONORING DR. TOM PRATHER AND DR. BRUCE BARTLESON
Thanks to the generosity of Jeff and Karen Holway, both 1975 WCU graduates in Geology and History respectively, part of the transformational Mountaineer Bowl renovation will be named in honor of two cherished Geology faculty members,Dr.BruceBartlesonandDr.TomPrather.
Mountaineer Bowl has significance to both Tom and Bruce as Tom was an avid Mountaineer fan and was seen cheering on the team at every home game and Bruce enjoyed taking his classes and students to the Bowl to see the bestviewinGunnison,pointingoutthegeologicalwonderslookingWest.
Jeff and Karen, along with Geology alumni Carol (Gallatin) Rieger ’88 and Brian Johnson ’80, launched this effort to recognize these beloved faculty members. “Many of us agree that we would not be where we are today without their supportandguidance,”saysCarolRieger.“Jeff,BrianandIfeltlikethetransformationalnatureofthebowlrenovation matchedtheimpactBruceandTomhadonmanyofusstudentsandwantedtomemorializethatwiththishonor.”
To support the Mountaineer Bowl naming, the Holways made a generous lead gift. To raise the remaining $100,000 needed for this inspirational project to name the upper level of the press box, Jeff and Karen have also agreed to match all donations up to $50,000. Funds raised above the $100,000 will be put towards the greatest needs of the Geologydepartment.PleasehelprecognizeandhonorBruceandTomwithadonationtosupportthiseffort. Visitthislinktomakeyourcontributiontoday.
GEOLOGY
Dr. Holly Bunkal
+1.970.943.2180 hbrunkal@western.edu
Dr. Ryan King +1.970.943.3048 mrking@western.edu
Mackenzie Bode
Director of Donor Relations and Outreach
+1.970.943.2226 mbode@western.edu
Pam Johnston
Director of Finance, Foundation +1.970.943.2237 pjohnston@western.edu
Dr. Brad Burton
+1.970.943.2252 bburton@western.edu
Dr. Dave Marchetti +1.970.943.2367 dmarchetti@western.edu
FOUNDATION
Alicia Economos Major Gift Officer +1303.596.0634 aeconomos@western.edu
Joy Kean
Director of Advancement Services
+1.970.943.2237 jkean@western.edu
ALUMNI RELATIONS
Maliah Abeyta Assistant Director of Alumni Relations +1.970.943.3464 mabeyta@western.edu
Dr. Robert Fillmore
+1.970.943.2650 rfillmore@western.edu
Dr. Elizabeth Petrie +1.970.943.2117 epetrie@western.edu
Ella Fahrlander
Assistant Vice President of Development +1.970.943.2090 efahrlander@western.edu
Mike LaPlante
Vice President for Advancement and Executive Director, WCU Foundation +1.970.218.0101 mlaplante@western.edu
Megan West Director of Alumni Relations
+1.970.943.2493 mwest@western.edu
Tomakeagiftbymail: WesternColoradoUniversityFoundation POBox1264 Gunnison,CO81230