T.R. West, 47 Years of Teaching Geology at

Purdue University

Terry Ronald West Biography, What's Important Professionally, Relationship to Rotary

University teacher and mentor. Interest in international students.

Birthplace, St. Louis MissouriFirst generation college graduate.Excellent student, grade school and high school. Active in YMCA, swimming and basketball. Played varsity basketball in high school. Team was Missouri State Champions, 1953.

Attended Washington University in St. Louis, played intramural basketball. Took first geology course as a Freshman, soon became a geology major. Married Shirley Mueller after graduating with AB degree, to Graduate school at Washington Univ. Shirley went to work. Switched to geological engineering-petroleum geology boom or bust situation.

TERRY and SHIRLEY

St. Louis, MO – 1957 Recently Married.

Realized in senior year ability to explain concepts to other students. Received MA degree with minor in civil engineering. Worked as teaching assistant in geology & as lab technician in soil mechanics. Applied at various schools for Ph.D. program, accepted at Cornell but received late offer of Graduate Instructorship at Purdue, full time faculty. Daughter Jill born, 1961.

Took 5 years to obtain Ph.D., also received M.S. in Civil Engr. Promoted to Assistant Professor. Passed P.E. exam in Missouri. Son Matthew born, 1964.Geology program transferred from Civil Engineering to School of Science, Geosciences Department formed by adding Atmospheric Sciences.Faculty grew quickly from 6 to 28 in ten years or so. Today about 45 faculty in Dept.

1962 – Engr. Geology Area/ School of Civil Engineering

Matt’s Baptism – Summer, 1965

Jill and Matt with Tabby, 1966

San Francisco, CA AEG Trip, 1969

Baraboo, WI Field Trip, 1973

In 1983 offered a position at Texas A&M. Decided to remain at Purdue. Progressed through academic ranks to Full Professor, international reputation required. In the process, directed 80 graduate students as major professor, 18 Ph. D., 62 MS Author of college textbook "Geology Applied to Engineering" Prentice Hall, 560 pages.

Two grandchildren – Nicholas and Caroline West.

Celebrated 40 years of teaching geology at Purdue in 2002, received several awards including Sagamore of the Wabash signed by Governor Frank O'Bannon.

Established scholarships for students in Applied Geology, two scholarships endowed, one undergrad, one graduate.

Active in professional organizations, Indiana Academy of Science, Association of Environmental and Engineering Geologists, Geological Society of America, International Association of Engineering Geology, International Geology Congress. Travel to international meetings in Europe, South America, Korea.

Cliffs of Mohr, Ireland with Tom and Ruth Moran

Joined Rotary in 1977, sponsored by Ken McCullen, Pastor of Central Presbyterian Church. Previously served three year term on Rotary Board of Directors, now on the Board again 2009-2012. Chair of Ambassadorial Scholars Program for number of years. Inbound and Outbound Scholars.

Chicago, TARP, Thorton Quarry, 2002

Enjoy traveling, national and international. Enjoy photography, enjoy explaining geology of natural settings. Geologists are known to be travelers and that's been part of the allure of the profession.

BOTTOM LINE- Teaching applied geology to students has been my passion.

Mentoring students during college and thereafter a big interest. In Rotary, International Service major avenue of activity.

Yinghui SuiPh.D.,

December 2007