Ralph S. Cannon ’31 *35

Ralph died Dec. 2, 2006, at Hearthstone Manor in Woodstock, Ill. Joyce, his wife of 41 years, was by his side.

Ralph graduated from Mercersburg Academy with honors in 1927. At Princeton he majored in geology and graduated with honors prior to earning a master’s from Northwestern in 1933 and a Ph.D. from Princeton in 1935, also in geology. As an undergraduate, he was a member of Elm Club and during his final three years roomed at 40-50 Patton with Glenn Andrews, Mid Rutledge, W.H. Gillespie Jr. and Tex Young ’29.

Ralph spent most of his career with the U.S. Geological Survey in various administrative and research capacities. He was based initially in Washington, D.C., and later in Denver. His primary interest was in lead isotope geochemistry, in which he was a pioneer and internationally acknowledged expert.

In addition to being an avid outdoorsman and naturalist, Ralph was an accomplished horseman and began a second career in the 1950s, raising appaloosa horses in Colorado and Spruce Pine, N.C. He was a co-founder of the Sundance 500 Breeders Association and was still breaking horses in his late 60s.

Ralph is survived by Joyce, daughter Susan Torres, stepdaughter Nancy Drowley, stepson Jeffrey Olson, 11 grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren. To them all, the class extends sincere sympathy.