Southeastern Section–55th Annual Meeting (23–24 March 2006)

Paper No. 10
Presentation Time: 11:40 AM

DONALD C. HANEY: INSTRUCTOR, DEPARTMENT CHAIR, FIELD MAPPER, STATE GEOLOGIST, BENEVOLENT DICTATOR, POLITICAL OPERATIVE, COMPUTER GURU, AND RETIRED OLD GEEZER


SERGEANT, Richard E., Kentucky Geological Survey, University of Kentucky, 228 Mining & Mineral Resources Bldg, Lexington, KY 40356-0107, rsergeant@uky.edu

Having known D.C. Haney for more than 35 years, I have observed his progression from lowly geology instructor to retired geezer. Having been his student, gun bearer, pack mule, employee, computer consultant, and friend, I can bear witness to many of his accomplishments and, more importantly, a significant number of his foibles. Two of his major accomplishments were building a first-rate geology department at Eastern Kentucky University and overseeing extensive facility and technological improvements at the Kentucky Geological Survey. While others will speak to these and many additional accomplishments, I will confine my comments to a more personal level. Recounted will be such things as 8-hour structural geology labs, heated Nixon/Humphrey debates, multitudinous east Tennessee field trips, endless hours in Rogersville, Tenn., heated Nixon/McGovern debates, annual GSA bull sessions, heated Ford/Carter debates, cabin building, heated Carter/Reagan debates, building a new house, the KGS “blue jean wars,” heated Mondale/Reagan debates, furniture moving, heated Dukakis/Bush debates, piano-moving activities, heated Clinton/Bush debates, legislative committee testimony, heated Clinton/Dole debates, KGS computer purchases, heated Gore/Bush debates, USGS bashing, heated Kerry/Bush debates, a short-lived run for state elective office, politicking in Frankfort, countless late-night computer-related phone calls, and one unforgettable fishing trip. I have been there to witness these and many more Haney phenomena, and this is a chance to tell my side of the story.