#LegendsOfGeology
Dr. William Purdom, who founded the Geology Department at Southern Oregon State College (now SOU) was a mineralogist extraordinaire (still is) and a keen laboratory geologist.
Infamous for his “dozen white minerals” final exam and “yes, the axes of rotation displayed in the pear blocks is accurate” and espresso during the 8 hours of optical mineralogy labs a week…he was the prof who determined whether you stated in geology or plunked out and went for geography.
He taught some of the most critical make/break classes, and through his hard efforts, humor, and flawless teaching style, made you fall in love with the sport of geology.
His Rocks for Jocks/Shake and Bake course was a university favorite.
At its heyday, the department graduated about 10 very well instructed students per year…and that attention (especially in labs and fieldwork) well prepared us for careers in the discipline…with or without higher degrees.
#GeologyHumor #Geology #Rocks #Minerals