William L. Stokes *41

William Lee Stokes, "the father of Utah geology," who opened one of the world's best-known dinosaur beds, died Dec. 12, 1994. He was 79. Born in central Utah, he became interested in paleontology, when he discovered dinosaur fossils as he herded the family cattle. He earned bachelor’s and master's degrees from B.Y.U. and got his Ph.D. at Princeton in geology.

Deferred during WWII, he worked with the U.S. Geological Survey, seeking deposits of vanadium and uranium for defense purposes. In 1947, he joined the faculty of the Univ. of Utah and advanced there, in 1955, to a 13-year chairmanship of the geology department. He retired in 1980.

His teaching and research have won great acclaim, He is credited with establishing the museum that later evolved into the Utah Museum of Natural History. His publications and honors arc numerous. He concentrated his research and excavations on sites in Utah.

He is survived by his widow, Betty; two daughters; and a son. The family lost two other daughters some years ago. We join the Stokes family and their friends in sympathy for their loss.