AASP Primary Records Program

AASP Newsletter 29(2): p. 4, 1996.

OBITUARY
(TED) TERAH L. SMILEY (1914-1996)
1917-1996

Quaternary Science lost a stalwart friend on February 29, 1996, when (Ted) Terah L. Smiley passed away at 82 years of age. Few have done more to promote Quaternary studies in such a selfless way. The Tree Ring Laboratory and the Department of Geosciences at the University of Arizona exist in their present forms through Ted's tireless efforts. From 1958 - 1960 Ted served as the Director of the Tree Ring Laboratory, and he was director of the Geochronology Laboratories from 1956 - 1967, when it combined with Geology to form the Department of Geosciences. Ted Smiley welcomed Ernst Antevs to the program and wooed Gerhart Kremp from Pennsylvania State University. During his 1970 sabbatical in Cambridge, England, Ted established lasting relationships with Richard West, Harry Godwin, and other European Quaternarists. His efforts in the area of Arid Land Studies were recognized in 1973 with the "Award for Outstanding Contributions in Arid Zones Research," by CODAZR (The National Committee on Desert and Arid Zone Research). Without Ted Smiley, The First International Palynology Congress (April 23 - 27, 1962) could not have taken place. Ted Smiley initiated the planning for this meeting, and he provided its institutional and logistical support. For over two decades students, faculty, and visitors to Tucson benefited from Ted's kind ministrations. We all will miss him.