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Geography, Geology and Planning 

A History of the Department of Geography, Geology, & Planning

(SOUTHWEST) MISSOURI STATE UNIVERSITY
Compiled by: Dr. Milton Rafferty
 
This account of the department is derived largely from university catalogs supplemented by departmental records and recollections of the faculty. A letter of December 16, 1974 from Dr. Clarence Koeppe, former Professor of Geography and Geology, was most helpful in filling in gaps on the past history of geography and geology courses and programs. Dr. Dalias A. Price's May 27, 1995 letter helped to fill in additional details on geography and geology in the 1940's.
 
The Department of Geography and Geology was formed by action of the Board of Regents in August, 1972. Dr. Milton Rafferty was appointed head of the Department. Dr. Vincent Kurtz served as Coordinator for Geology, a position subsequently held by Dr. Erwin Mantei. Dr. Stanley Fagerlin is the current geology coordinator and Dr. Dimitri Ioannides is the Coordinator for Community and Regional Planning. Previously, geography and geology, along with chemistry and physics, were part of the Physical Science Department, headed by Dr. Larry Banks. Prior to 1969, the physical and biological sciences were in the Science Department headed by Dr. Robert Stevenson. The science disciplines were housed in the Science Building (Siceluff Hall) until the summer of 1971 when construction of Temple Hall was completed. The department occupied three offices, a lecture room, and a combination lecture and laboratory room in the Science Building.
 
The first record of geography in the curriculum appeared in the 1919-1920 catalog. The course, Science 26-Elements of Geography, was "humanized physical geography," designed to "help the student interpret new environment and to teach well elementary geography." Thus, a long tradition of serving general education and Preparation of Teachers was established. The 1919-1920 catalog also included courses in economic geography, physiography, and regional geography. These fundamental topics are included in the present requirements for the major and minor in geography.
 
Geology was introduced sometime during the 1930s. Apparently nothing was offered except an introductory course in geology until about 1940 when a course in historical geology was introduced.
 
During the 1920's geography and geology courses were taught by P. E. Andrew and Moina Prater. Dr. Clarence Koeppe, a graduate of Clark University and a physical geographer with strong interests and training in climatology, was employed in 1930. In his letter of 1974, Koeppe stated that he was the only faculty member teaching in geography and geology during the 1930's. By 1942 the curriculum was greatly expanded, probably in large part due to the efforts of science department heads, Allen Porter Temple and Clarence Eugene Koeppe. Koeppe later authored a widely adopted book entitled Weather and Climate and became a distinguished figure in the discipline. Temple was apparently an exceptional teacher who had strong interest in geography and geology. The present science building is his namesake.
 
Dr. Koeppe served as an officer in the military from 1941 until 1945. In the absence of Dr. Koeppe the geography courses were taught by Mr. Dalias A. Price. Price wrote that he was employed for the summer term in 1940 to teach "Geography for Teachers," "Conservation," and "Geography of Europe." President Ellis invited him to stay on as the "department" for the following year. Physical Geography, Weather and Climate, and Anglo America and World Geography were popular courses. In the summer of 1941 (before WWII gas rationing), Price taught a 3,000 mile field course for 30 students in Eastern North America. Times were hard and Price "hired a cook to prepare meals...and brought along a chaperone...." The cook was attached to the department as part of a federal program. Price recalled that "Pappy" Temple was head of the science departments, which included Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Geology, but he never once called a staff meeting and let each of us manage our own affairs and our budgets. Dr. Price resigned from Southwest Missouri State Teachers College in 1945 to work on his doctorate in Wisconsin. He is now professor emeritus at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston.
 
During the 1940's the geography curriculum was heavily weighted toward physical geography topics in keeping with the disciplinary emphasis during that era and the training of Professors Koeppe, Price and Temple. Geography courses included: Geography for Elementary Teachers, Fundamentals of Geography, Regional Geography (regions varied from semester to semester), Earth Science (two courses), Meteorology, Climatology, Advanced Meteorology, Geography of Anglo America, Geography of Latin America, Field Geography, and Geography in Education. Geology courses included Physical Geology and Historical Geology. Dr. Koeppe was known especially for developing field trips that were very popular and were considered to be exceptionally good learning experiences. This curriculum continued through 1948 when Dr. Koeppe moved to San Francisco State University.
 
The period 1948 through 1951 was a time of shortage of trained geologists and geographers for college teaching. R.W. Martin instructed geography and geology during the 1947-48 academic year and R. Mack Carpentour taught during 1948-49. Carpentour later entered the tour service business and founded a tourism school and several tour offices in Kansas City.
 
During the 1950's, courses in geography and geology were taught by Dr. Harold J. RetaIlick who came to Southwest Missouri State College in 1949. Several curriculum changes appeared in the 1950 catalog. The geography curriculum included courses in Physical Geography, Economic Geography, Geomorphology, Geography of Missouri, Conservation of Natural Resources, Human Geography, World Geography, Geography of U.S.S.R., and Conservation Education Workshop. There were no new courses in geology, although the course descriptions for Physical Geology and Historical Geology were changed. Courses in Physiography, Field Geography and Geology in Education no longer were offered. The 1950's saw relatively few changes in the geosciences curriculum, but in 1958 a field geography course was introduced. This course was designed primarily for elementary and secondary teachers.
 
The 1960's witnessed several curriculum and faculty changes. Courses in petrology and mineralogy were introduced in 1961. The weather and climate courses were combined into a five hour course in the same year. In 1962 Dr. Larry Fellows joined the staff as a geologist. Dr. Fellows and Dr. Retallick constituted the geology and geography faculty from 1963 through 1965. In the spring of 1965 both Fellows and Retallick resigned. Dr. Fellows was employed by the Missouri Geological Survey and Dr. Retallick joined the faculty of the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
 
A period of very rapid growth in geography and geology began in 1965. Dr. Vincent Kurtz, Dr. Erwin Mantei, Mr. Damon Day, and Mr. Larry Brandt taught the geology and geography courses that year. In 1966 Dr. Milton Rafferty was employed and a second geographer, Dr. David Daniels, was hired the following year. Dr. Russel Gerlach and Dr. Kenneth Thomson joined the faculty in 1968. Growth of programs, courses, and student enrollment continued through the 1970's. In 1972, the year that the department was founded, there were twelve faculty members. Currently there are twenty-one faculty members on the Springfield campus and one faculty member (Dr. Julius Kovats) at the West Plains Residence Center.
 
Separate majors in geography and geology were introduced in 1969. In the same year the department developed areas of emphasis in earth science and social studies--geography for the B.S. in Secondary Education. A comprehensive major in geology introduced in 1971 offered options in stratigraphy, mineral exploration, and environmental geology. A general option for students preparing for graduate school was added in 1977. An interdisciplinary major in Geography-Urban and Regional Planning was inaugurated in 1972. This degree involves the departments of Geography and Geology, Sociology, Economics, and Political Science. In 1973 the geography curriculum was revised after a self-study and evaluation by the Association of American Geographer's Consulting Service. The revision procedures and self-study used at Missouri State subsequently have been used as models by the AAG Consulting Service. In 1974 a comprehensive major in Cartography and Map Technology was added.
 
Curriculum and instructional development during the 1960's and 1970's demonstrated the department’s three guiding foundations: 1) emphasis on excellence in teaching, 2) stressing applied geography and geology and marketable degrees, 3) providing strong laboratory and field experiences and 4) assisting students in finding employment through senior seminars and internships.
The department began offering courses and areas of emphasis on the Masters of Science in Secondary Education in the fall of 1973. Graduate students in education may take departmental courses for the emphasis in social science and natural science and for two options in the department: earth science and geography.
 
Preliminary planning for a Master's degree program in planning began in 1974 when a committee of representatives from the Department of Political Science, Economics, Sociology, and Geography and Geology was formed. Dr. Burl Self and Dr. Milton Rafferty served as the department's representatives. Subsequent planning led to a departmental committee to draft a proposal for a Masters in Resource Planning. The proposal received approval by the Graduate Council and university administration and was finally endorsed by the Missouri Coordinating Board for Higher Education in April 1978. Graduate planning courses were offered for the first time in the fall semester, 1979; and the first graduate of the program, Bruce Bush, received his degree in December, 1980. Approximately twenty five students are currently enrolled for courses leading to the Masters in Resource Planning.
 
Facilities and Equipment
Prior to the completion of Temple Hall in 1971, geography and geology courses were taught in the Science Building, now Siceluff Hall. In 1971 the department moved to Temple Hall where it occupies thirteen lecture and laboratory rooms. In August, 1981 the photogrammetry and cartography equipment and classes were moved to the renovated library building, Cheek Hall. The space in Cheek Hall amounted to 4,850 square feet including a cartography laboratory, a photogrammetry laboratory, a large dark room, a laboratory for advanced cartography, a forty-seat classroom, and three faculty offices. In 1996 the cartographic sciences program moved to Kemper Hall. The improved facilities and close proximity to Temple Hall will enhance the future operations of the department.
An important resource for all department disciplines is the Map Library in Duane Meyer Library. It provided a home for the large collection of maps Dr. Rafferty had obtained from Drury College. The large collection of more than 100,000 maps had been cataloged by student workers under the direction of John Hardin. Dr. Rafferty wrote the proposal to add a map library in the university library.
While there are a number of items of equipment that are badly needed, the department has been fortunate in acquiring a substantial inventory of equipment. Major items include the scanning electron microscope, XRD-7 x-ray diffraction unit, atomic absorption unique a research microscope, petrographic microscopes, a Zeiss C-8 plotter, six Kelsh plotters, two ER-55 Ballplex plotters, a scale changer, vacuum frame, varityper, stream table, gravity meter, core drill, and a well-equipped rough rock and thin section laboratory. The department operates a geology summer field camp in Utah and a geography field camp in the St. Francis Mountains in Missouri. A thirty- two passenger bus, motor pool vans, four equipment trailers, and field equipment enables the department to sustain 40 students in the field during the summer term.
 
Significant Events of Achievements of the Department
 
Academic Year
1971-72
Geography and geology were separated from the Physical Science Department and organized as the Department of Geography and Geology.
The comprehensive interdisciplinary major, Geography--Urban and Regional Planning was introduced.
The interdisciplinary major in Atmospheric Science was introduced.
The Environmental Option was added to the comprehensive geology major.
 
1972-73
Options in Earth Science and Geography for the M.S. in Secondary Education were introduced. Several new courses were added to support these programs.
Consultants from the Commission on College Geography of the Association of American Geographers visited the campus and made recommendations for curriculum revisions.
 
1973-74
The Comprehensive Major in Cartography and Map Technology was introduced.
The geography major was revised to provide for three options: Plan A - General, Plan B - Environmental and Natural Resources, Plan C - Commercial and Economic.
 
1974-75
The computer generated Economic and Social Atlas of Missouri was completed. Drs. Rafferty, Cheek, and Castillon worked on the project. The atlas was the first major output of computer generated maps. The crude maps were produced on a line printer.
The cooperative Missouri State-Springfield R-12 Schools grant was funded by the National Science Foundation to introduce the High School Geography Project to area teachers. Dr. Gerlach was project director.
The first off campus course in the Department of Geography and Geology was taught at the West Plains Residence Center. Dr. Castillon taught GRY 102, Earth Science for Elementary Teachers.
GeoNews, a departmental alumni newsletter was distributed for the first time. Charles Collins coordinated the effort.
 
1975-76
Preliminary investigations into the feasibility of a Master's program in Resource Planning was inaugurated.
The SYMAP Program for computer mapping was made operational.
Two television courses were developed. "Land and Life in the Ozarks," a two hour course developed by Dr. Rafferty, was broadcast over KOZK Channel 21 for the first time during the spring semester. GRY 139, Climatology was developed as a television course by Dr. McInnis and presented for the first time in the fall of 1976.
The NSF - HSGP project was completed and additional HSGP materials were purchased for the department and for the Springfield R-12 Schools under the terms of the grant.
Geoscience Series, professional publication of the department was started with an issue by James Porter (student) and Dr. Thomson of the Geology, Geomorphology and Karst Development in the Nixa Karst Area, Southwestern Missouri.
A geography-geology position was authorized for the West Plains Residence Center and Julius Kovats was employed to fill the position. The proposal for the M.S. in Resource Planning and Management was completed. Drs. Castillon, Cheek, Kurtz, Mantei, Rafferty, Self and Thomson worked on the project. Dr. Self coordinated, developed, and presented the final report. An IMGRID Seminar was conducted and the IMGRID package was made operational on the university computer. Dr. Self coordinated the effort.
 
1977-78
A Speleology Conference, coordinated by Dr. Thomson, was held with over 200 in attendance. This was the first of a series of successful speleology conferences sponsored by the department. The Environmental Studies Area (near Marshfield) was acquired by the University, and Dr. Castillon initiated an inventory of the natural resources of the site. The Center for Resource Planning and Management was established by the Board of Regents. Dr. Self drafted the proposal and was appointed director of the Center. A comprehensive departmental curriculum study was carried out in an effort to eliminate overlap and to better structure course content. This study lead to the annual review of curriculum. BIO 108, Ecology and Society, was redesignated GRY 108.
 
1978-79
The Masters of Science, Resource Planning was approved by the Missouri Coordinating Board for Higher Education on April 28, 1979. The CRPM, under the direction of Dr. Self and Ms. Terry Mason, established several ongoing contracts area planning agencies and eight Indian tribes in Oklahoma and Kansas. A proposal for a map room in the new Missouri State library was drafted by Dr. Rafferty. The proposal was accepted and plans for the map library were prepared by John Hardin and Dr. Rafferty. Minors in Cartography and Map Technology and in Urban and Regional Planning were introduced. Two successful workshops were sponsored by the department. The Speleology Conference attracted more than 200 participants while a like number attended the Tornado Workshop. Drs. Thomson and McInnis coordinated the workshops.
 
1979-80
Through the efforts of Dr. Thomas Moeglin, Thomas Plymate and administrative financial support, the XRD-7 x-ray unit was put into operating order.
The department acquired two additional Kelsh plotters and several additional items of equipment to support the Cartography and Map Technology program through the efforts of Dr. Kurtz. Photogrammetry was added to the curriculum.
After four years of cataloging, the Missouri State - Drury College map collection was completely cataloged. The collection of more than 100,000 maps is now housed in the map room in the new Missouri State library. The collection is maintained by a full- time map librarian, James Coombs.
 
1981-82
The department graduated the first masters students with degrees in Resource Planning. Bruce Bush was the first recipient of the degree, Fall Semester, 1980.
The cartography and remote sensing equipment was moved into renovated classrooms and laboratories in Cheek Hall (the old library building). The space in Cheek Hall provides approximately 4,850 square feet including a large cartography laboratory, dark room, laboratory for advanced cartography and graphic support of research projects, a classroom, a photogrammetry laboratory, and three faculty offices. New drafting tables, light tables, map storage cabinets, and other furnishings amounted to $25,000, a particularly welcome addition in a year when additions funds were frozen. Two additional Kelsh plotters were acquired from U.S.G.S. through the efforts of Dr. Kurtz.
Geography Option C - Economic and Commercial was changed to "Travel Planning," and three new courses in Tourism and Travel were added to the curriculum. Marvin McDaniel of the Springfield Travel Service taught two of the new courses. Dr. Rafferty taught the first tourism course, GRY 310 - Tourism and Travel Planning.
1982-2008 (IN PROCESS - ADDITIONAL HIGHLIGHTS TO BE ADDED LATER)

Faculty, Present Rank, and Year Employed

  • Mantei, Erwin
    • Professor of Geology 1965
  • Miller, James
    • Professor of Geology 1974
  • Catau, John
    • Professor of Geography 1978
  • Plymate, Thomas
    • Professor of Geology 1978 and Department Head
  • Corcoran, William
    • Professor of Geography 1979
  • May, Diane 
    • Assistant Professor of Planning 1983
  • Rollinson, Paul
    • Professor of Geography 1987 and Director of Planning
  • Mickus, Kevin
    • Professor of Geology 1989
  • Rovey, Charles
    • Professor of Geology 1991
  • Ioannides, Dimitri
    • Professor of Planning 1993
  • Gutierrez, Melida
    • Associate Professor of Geology 1994
  • Jutla, Rajinder
    • Professor of Planning 1996
  • Pavlowsky, Bob 
    • Professor of Geography 1997 
  • Meyer, Judy
    • Associate Professor of Geography 1997
  • Black, Jill 
    • Assistant Professor of Geography 1998
  • Daoust, Mario 
    • Assistant Professor of Geography 2002
  • Evans, Kevin 
    • Assistant Professor of Geology 2003
  • Gouzie, Douglas 
    • Assistant Professor of Geology 2005
  • Miao, Xin 
    • Assistant Professor of Geography 2006
  • Luo, Jun 
    • Assistant Professor of Geography 2006
  • Qiu, Xiaomin 
    • Assistant Professor of Geography 2006

Emertis Faculty

  • McInnus, Donald
    • Professor of Atmospheric Science 1962 (Retired 1997)
  • Kurtz, Vincent
    • Professor of Geology 1965 (Retired 1995)
  • Rafferty, Milton
    • Professor or Geography 1966 (Retired 1997)
  • Gerlach, Russel
    • Professor of Geography 1969 (Retired 1997)
  • Collins, Charles
    • Professor of Geography 1971 (Retired 1998)
  • Castillon, David
    • Professor of Geography 1973 (Retired 1998)
  • Cheek, William
    • Professor of Geography 1973 (Retired 2007)
  • Fagerlin, Stanley
    • Professor of Geology 1977 (Retired 2002)
  • Johnson, Elias
    • Professor of Geography 1977 (Retired 2002)
  • Moeglin, Thomas
    • Professor of Geology 1978 (Retired 2002)

Former Faculty

  • Branli, Larry (deceased)
    • 1965-1966 - Geography
  • Thomson, Kenneth (deceased)
    • 1968-2004 - Geology
  • Day, Damon
    • 1966-1969 - Geology
  • Daniels, David
    • 1967-1969 - Geography
  • Steiger, Donald
    • 1969-1971 - Geography
  • King, Harry
    • 1968-1974 - Geology
  • Markwell, Kenneth
    • 1971-1974 - Geology
  • Self, Burl
    • 1972 - 2005 - Geography
  • Higgins, Jerry
    • 1974-1976 - Geology
  • Hardin, John
    • 1973-1978 - Geography
  • Simms, John
    • 1974-1978 - Geology
  • Chrisinger, Dan
    • 1974-1978 - Geology
  • Jackson, Phillip
    • 1974-1976 - Geography
  • Kovats, Julius
    • 1975-1996 - Geography and Geology
  • Chaiet, Steven
    • 1976-1977 - Geography
  • Pellow, Gerald
    • 1976-1977 - Geography
  • Bown, John
    • 1977-1978 - Geology
  • Baker, Cathy
    • 1978-1980 - Geology
  • Crausaz, Winston
    • 1976-1987 - Geology
  • Mason, Terry
    • 1978-1979 - Center for Resource Planning and Management
  • Westgate, Jim
    • 1978-1982 - Geology
  • Clevidence, Susan
    • 1979-1980 - Geography
  • Dohne, Randy
    • 1979-1980 - Geography
  • Stewart, John
    • 1983-1986 - Geology
  • Birchfield, Margaret
    • 1986-1987 - Geology
  • Miller, Patricia
    • 1988-1990 - Geology
  • Bradbury, Susan
    • 1988-1992 - Geography
  • Morris, Kent
    • 1981-1988 - Geology
  • Williams, Mona
    • 1989-1990 - Geology
  • Klee, Thomas
    • 1989-1991 - Geology
  • Williams, Mona
    • 1989-1990 - Geology
  • Becker, Barbara
    • 1988-1996 - Planning
  • Zhang, Yongwei
    • 1993-2007 - Geography
  • Lawhon, Larry
    • 1996-1996 - Planning
  • Emerson, Jay
    • 1996-2000 - Geography
  • Cline, Eric 
    • 1996-1998 - Geography
  • Cammack, Rex
    • 1996-2006 - Geography
  • Coomansingh, Johnny
    • 2003-2005 - Geography

Per Course/Instructors

  • Corcoran, Debbie - Geography  
  • Moeglin, Tom - Geology
  • Bassett, Damon - Geology
  • Guion, Neil - Planning
  • Neill, Holly - Geography
  • Bockman, Gary - Geography
  • Keller, Ted -  Geography
  • Dill, Jack - Geography
  • Snyder, Rick - Geography
  • Williams, Nancy - Geology
  • Miller, Frank - Planning
  • Viele, Brian -  Geography
  • Coulter, Adam -  Geography
  • Hardin, John -  Geography
  • Crouch, Deana - Geography
  • Lindberg, John - Geography 
  • Hosmer, Bob - Planning
  • Puhalla, Janet - Geography

Support Personnel

Secretaries

  • Paula Pratt 1972-73
  • Nancy Schanda 1973-78
  • Debbie (Bums) Dohne 1978-81
  • Dorelen Crocker 1981-82
  • Lora (Moomaw) Krizanich 1982-85
  • Kathi Snead 1985-86
  • Janis Peterson 1986-1989
  • Teresa Rhea 1989-1993
  • Patricia Medlock 1993-1996
  • Bianca Netzer 1996-1998
  • Sheila Schembri 1998-2002
  • Joanne Keller 2002-2004
  • Gale Lininger 2005-Present

Typists

  • Carol Brannock 1980-81
  • JoAnn Sheanir 1981-83
  • Robin Powell 1983-85

Senior Word/Processing Information Systems Specialists

  •  Deana Gibson 1985-Present