THE DOC HANEY EXPERIENCE

Little did I know, when I applied in the Spring of 1971 to attend Eastern Kentucky University, that I would become Dr. Donald Haney's first grad student. Being a rather typical beginning MS student, I knew I loved geology but did not have a thesis topic in mind. One day, Doc called me into his office and asked if I liked doing X-ray diffraction analyses. I did so he suggested a thesis topic to me – the clay mineralogy of the Silurian Crab Orchard Formation. I started researching the topic and kept Doc informed as to my progress. In the meantime, I “discovered” a fascination with the quartz geodes found in the Mississippian section of eastern Kentucky. Several of us grad students began going into the Knobs Region to collect geodes. We started cutting them and making bookends, pen sets and other items. Doc told us he would purchase saw blades for us as long as we gave him selected pieces which he used as gifts to “important” people. I decided that a thesis on the geodes would be more fun and approached Doc. He said, flat out, no, stick with the clay project. Doc further stated that I needed to spend more time on the thesis project and less in the field collecting geodes. This led to Doc finding me hanging on an outcrop, collecting geodes when I was supposed to be in the lab. This and other Doc Haney and EKU Geology stories will be discussed. Because of Doc Haney, the other professors and the collection of grad students that were in the Geology Department during the first years of the grad program, I obtained excellent geological education. This also brought about membership in a unique group within the geological community, the Eastern Kentucky Mafia. Donald Haney has been an important influence in my geological career and for that, Thanks Doc!