STEPHEN GEORGE CONRAD -- STATE GEOLOGIST OF NORTH CAROLINA 1964 - 1990: CAREER SUMMARY

This symposium honors Mr. Stephen G. Conrad, State Geologist of North Carolina from 1964 to 1990. During his 34-year N.C. Geological Survey career, Steve demonstrated on numerous occasions the skills and abilities – vision, political savvy, drive, cooperation and tenacity -- necessary to lead a successful geological survey. Other symposium speakers will address his leadership of the State's efforts in (1) geologic mapping, (2) mineral resource evaluation, (3) topographic map production, (4) the beginnings of GIS, (5) the professional licensure of geologists, (6) the initiation of mining reclamation in the State and (7) the launch of the Interstate Mining Compact Commission. This is but a summary.

Steve joined the Survey in March of 1956. He obtaining a B.S. degree in geologic engineering in 1952 from North Carolina State College (NCSC), where his mentor, Dr. Jasper L. Stuckey, held three joint appointments -- State Geologist, head of the Department of Geological Engineering and Director of the Mineral Research Laboratory in Asheville. In 1958, Stuckey and Conrad co-authored the explanatory text accompanying the “Geologic Map of North Carolina.” Steve oversaw the updating and publication of a new map 28 years later, in 1985.

One example of his commitment to detailed geologic mapping is seen when he secured cooperative funding from TVA in 1968. In 1979 when that funding ended, he got a USGS agreement to complete the work with over $300,000 in state match. This example of successful matched cooperative geologic mapping helped pass the National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Act in 1992 with its STATEMAP program. His hard work as a member, officer [vice-president, president-elect, president, past-president (1978-1982)] and honorary of the American Association of State Geologists (AASG) accomplished the goals he set.

Steve was also a prime mover at start of GIS, as a Section in his Division and later applying that technology in the Survey. He was also the force behind the drafting and passage of the “Mining Act of 1971,” the professional licensure of geologists and the establishment of the Interstate Mining Compact when North Carolina was the third state to sign. Finally, he saw the completion of the NCGS/USGS cooperative 1:24,000-scale topographic maps for the entire state in 1985.