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CCGO CALIFORNIA GEOLOGISTS HALL OF FAME "LIVING LEGENDS"
CCGO reserves this award for California geologists who have done extraordinary lifetime work towards improving the profession of geology. The larger part of our Mission, to advocate the use of sound geologic knowledge and practice, requires first that sound geologic knowledge be acquired through dedication to excellence in gathering and interpreting data. The CCGO Living Legends meet this task through lifelong dedication to their profession and the excellence of their success.
1999 - DR. TANYA ATWATER, PIONEER IN PLATE TECTONIC THEORY
Dr. Atwater graduated from Scripps Institution of Oceanography in 1972, in an era when women were not as welcome on geoscience expeditions. She nevertheless participated in the very first research trip to study a seafloor spreading center, which resulted in her first publication, the lead article in Science, a well-regarded journal.
Dr. Atwater went on to lead the first all-woman cruise, Aphrodite, in 1968, and was one of the first female scientists to contribute to the theory of plate tectonics.
She is currently a Professor of Geophysics and Geology, University of California, Santa Barbara. Her mission as an educator is to help her students know, understand, and respect our fragile planet. To this end, she has been developing visual and electronic media to present her findings in a way to spark the learning of her students.
In her own words: "I think I spend half my time just talking and listening to people from many fields, searching for how it might all fit together. When something does fall into place, there is that mental explosion and the wondrous excitement. I think the human brain must love order."
Information for this article from Scripps web site.
2003 - THOMAS DIBBLEE, JR, GEOLOGIC MAPPER
The unprecedented number of geologic maps and reports produced by Thomas Wilson Dibblee, Jr.stands alone not only among California geologists, but in the profession worldwide. In over 70 years of active mapping (yes, seventy - that is not a typo!), he has provided a treasure of information on California's regional stratigraphy, structure, and paleontology which has been fundamental to understanding much of California's geology. The magnitude, integrity, and permanence of Dibblee's geologic mapping of one fourth of the state of California is unprecedented and legendary.
Mr. Dibblee was born in 1911, and grew up on a large ranch west of Santa Barbara, which was part of the 1837 Mexican land grant to his ancestor, Captain de la Guerra. He learned geologic mapping in the field from a consulting geologist hired by his father to map the ranch for oil potential, and went on to graduate from Stanford in 1936, in geology. While there, he established his legendary reputation for roaming harsh country with the greatest of ease on his own two feet.
After many years of geological collaboration while working for Richfield, Mason L. Hill and Tom wrote a paper entitled "San Andreas, Garlock and Big Pine faults, California: A Study of the Character, History and Tectonic Significance of Their Displacement." This paper, proposing a lateral displacement along the San Andreas fault of more than 350 miles, is considered fundamental to the plate tectonics theory.
The complete list of Mr. Dibblee's achievements and awards in geology is beyond the scope of this description. He has remained continuously active in field work, is a research associate in geology with the University California, Santa Barbara and a consultant and volunteer for various government and civic agencies. He still goes out to map new areas one day each week in the cooler months!
A testimonial to the high regard in which he is held by his colleagues was the formaton of the Thomas Wilson Dibblee Jr. Geological Foundation, a nonprofit corporation. This group realized that his many unpublished geologic maps should be preserved for their scientific and educational value and that as many as possible should be made published. So far the Foundation has published a mosaic of 60 full color maps encompassing 78 1:24:000-scale quadrangles. With Tom's philosophy of creating maps that provide basic field data to the geologic community, these maps are used by engineering geologists, oil companies, planning agencies, US Forest Service, researchers, educators and students, environmental consultants, archaeologists, and realtors and developers.
Information for this article from Thomas Dibblee, Jr.'s web site.
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