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The Bureau of Economic Geology and the world of geosciences lost a great friend October 17, 2006, when Marcus E. Milling died at his home in Reston, Virginia, after his fight against cancer. The first recipient of the Bureau’s alumnus of the year award to receive the honor posthumously, Milling was honored for his service not only to the Bureau but also to the larger geoscience community. A native Texan, Milling was born October 8, 1938, in Galveston. |
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Milling’s stay at the Bureau was relatively brief—from 1987 to 1992—but only because he was needed elsewhere. He was a likely candidate for Bureau director when Bill Fisher was planning to focus his attention on teaching, but an opportunity emerged at AGI, which had undergone financial strain and needed a strong leader to rebuild the society. Milling took on the challenge to serve as the executive director of AGI in 1992 and spent the remaining years of his career at AGI. Milling joined the Bureau in 1987 to manage its high-level radioactive waste isolation program. He was previously the manager of the geological staff and chief geologist at ARCO in Dallas. He began his career as a research geologist and district manager at Exxon, where he worked from 1968 until he joined ARCO in 1980. In 1988 Milling was promoted to associate director at the Bureau and was in charge of research programs in land, environmental, and mineral resources. He was also named the director of the Geoscience Institute for Oil and Gas Recovery Research, an effort to develop a national research plan for oil and gas recovery. Milling earned his master’s degree and doctorate in geology at the University of Iowa in 1964 and 1968, respectively. He received a bachelor’s degree from Lamar University in 1961. He was honored as an Alumni Fellow in 2000 by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Iowa. He also served as chair of the Geological Alumni Advisory Board at Iowa. Under Milling’s leadership, AGI expanded from 19 member societies to 44. Milling was an advocate for earth science education and led AGI’s efforts to broaden its reach to the public. During his tenure Earth Science Week began in 1998 as AGI’s first national outreach program. Milling also helped to establish the William L. Fisher Congressional Geoscience Fellowship—named for his good friend from his Bureau days—a program supported by the AGI Foundation, in cooperation with AGI, which gives geoscientists the opportunity to work as congressional fellows and influence public policy. Before serving as executive director of AGI, Milling supported the institute as an AGI Foundation Trustee and also as a member of AGI advisory committees. Milling received a special award posthumously in 2007 from the American Association of Petroleum Geologists “for leading the American Geological Institute to national prominence in earth science education, public geoscience outreach and government relations.” Milling was awarded the Ben H. Parker Memorial Medal from the American Institute of Professional Geologists in 1997 for his distinguished service to the profession throughout his career. He also received the Pick and Gavel Award from the Association of American State Geologists (AASG) in 2005. This award recognizes individuals who have helped advance the role of geoscience in public policy and supported the mission of AASG in government affairs. In recognition of his service and achievements, the American Geological Institute and the AGI Foundation renamed its Legendary Geoscientist Award in honor of Milling after his death, making it the Marcus Milling Legendary Geoscientist Medal. The annual award recognizes significant scientific achievement and contributions to the geosciences throughout a career. Milling’s close friend and colleague Bill Fisher was the first recipient of the newly named award in 2007. |
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