Henry Wise, President of the AIPG Texas Chapter, released this special note on the passing of four great Texas geologists due to Covid-19:

James Word Sansom Jr.

Jim Sansom died of Covid-19 on February 27, 2021 at the age of 82. He graduated from University of Texas (Austin), majoring in Geology. His professional career began in 1962 with the Texas Highway Department. In 1965, he joined the Texas Department of Water Resources (now the Texas Water Development Board). In 1980 he joined the Texas Railroad Commission’s Surface Mining and Reclamation Division, where he worked until retirement in 1989. Jim worked afterward as an independent consulting geologist providing professional geological services to Austin engineers, City and State agencies, and private individuals. He was also an active member of the American Institute of Professional Geologists, and the Association of Engineering Geologists. Jim was involved in the long, but ultimately successful campaign for licensure of Texas Professional Geoscientists, for which he was honored by both AIPG and AEG (more).

Robert William Rodgers

Bob Rodgers, retired University of Texas Pan American geology professor passed away Thursday due to Covid-19, January 28, 2021 at the age of 85. Born April 28, 1935 in Huntsville, Texas. A graduate of Baylor University, he taught geology at Pan American for 30 years where he influenced many future geologists and as well as many students who passed through his classroom. Following his retirement from teaching, he began a new career in consulting. A lifelong member of the Geological Society of America (GSA)  and of the American Institute of Professional Geologists (AIPG), he was involved in promoting and researching geothermal energy and alternative fuel sources (more).

Dennis Trombatore

Dennis Trombatore was born on Aug. 26, 1952 in Killeen, Texas and died peacefully Sat., July 18th, 2020 after a long illness. Dennis grew up in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where he attended St. Aloysius School and soon-to-be-renamed Lee High, graduating in 1970.  He went to LSU, graduating with a BA in Philosophy in 1975 and an MLS in 1977.  He lived in New Orleans and worked at Loyola Library from 1977 to 1980. In 1980 he married Kathryn Dinstuhl; they divorced in 1994. He moved to Athens, GA in 1980 to work in the Science Library of the University of Georgia. In 1985 he accepted the position of Head of the Walter Geology Library at the University of Texas Libraries in Austin, where he was honored to receive several staff excellence awards through the years.  He made Austin his happy home and worked tirelessly for his second family in the Jackson School of Geosciences until his death on June 18th, 2020 from complications of recurrent prostate cancer.

Throughout his life, Dennis had a great love for geology and for handcrafts, particularly pottery, which he discovered in college.  He was never happier than when in the studio or on a field trip.  He belonged to the Austin Geological Society, the Geoscience Information Society, and the National Council of Educators in the Ceramic Arts for many years.  He was a stalwart contributor to the Austin Empty Bowl Project (well over two thousand of his bowls are in use around the city), and a life-long supporter of arts education and higher education (more).

Edmund Gerald (Jerry) Wermund

Edmund Gerald Wermund Jr. Ph.D, “Jerry” was born on April 15, 1926 and passed away on July 15, 2020 at age 94 in Austin, Texas after a short illness from complications of Covid-19. After graduating from Port Chester High School – during World War II – he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. As part of his Naval training, and after his tour of duty, he was enrolled at Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, Pa., receiving his Bachelor’s degree in geology in 1948. Jerry was attending Graduate School at Washington University in St. Louis, Mo. when he was called to another tour of duty during the Korean War. He served in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Fort Belvoir, Va. where he helped develop training manuals for Army engineers in principles of geology. After being discharged from the Army, Jerry enrolled in the graduate geology program at L.S.U in Baton Rouge, La. where he began his chief professional focus on the geology of the Gulf Coast Region. He obtained his Ph.D in geology in 1961.

Dr. Wermund was employed from 1957-1970 by Mobil Research and Development Corp. in Dallas, Tx., where he researched petroleum and mineral exploration in the Gulf. From 1970-1971 he worked as technical manager at Remote Sensing Incorporated in Houston, Tx., where he was the consultant to the United Nations Transport Saharan Highway Project. In 1971, Jerry accepted a position at the Bureau of Economic Geology at The University of Texas at Austin where he worked for 27 years. He became the Bureau’s Associate Director and Director of the Bureau’s Land Resource Laboratory. He specialized in remote sensing and surface/ subsurface geological mapping to assess petroleum resources both onshore and offshore. Jerry served on many geological panels and commissions for The University of Texas, as well as Texas State agencies and several programs for the U.S. Department of Interior. Jerry received several lifetime achievement awards for dedication and service including a resolution from the Texas Mapping Advisory Committee. For two decades Jerry served the Gulf Coast professional community through his work with Austin Geological Society, where he served as President and Vice President and received a distinguished service award (more).

The Texas geological profession has lost four of it’s best in 2020
Our condolences go out to their families.

Henry Wise
President
March 21, 20121