Spring 2007 - Yosemite Online

N. KING HUBERJanuary 14, 1926–February 24, 2007By Greg Stock, NPS Geologist, and Pete Devine, YA Education CoordinatorRAY SANTOSDR. N. KING HUBER passed away on February 24, 2007, at age eighty-one. Dr. Huber, who often introducedhimself with the words “I’m King,” was a career geologist with the U.S. Geological Survey. AlthoughKing’s research over the years covered many field areas, his first love was always Yosemite, demonstrated byhis numerous achievements during a long and distinguished career.King mapped and studied the geology of the Sierra Nevada for more than fifty years, authoring orco-authoring some twenty peer-reviewed publications and geologic maps. Though his technical worksare well known and highly respected among geologists, King undoubtedly influenced many more peoplewith his eloquent explanations intended for the lay reader. Foremost among these is The Geologic Story ofYosemite National Park published by the Yosemite Association. The book summarizes over one hundredyears of geologic research, as well as King’s own studies. The first comprehensive treatment of Yosemitegeology written without technical jargon, the book was an instant classic. It was soon followed by the“Geologic Map of Yosemite National Park and Vicinity,” which synthesizes the geologic mapping of morethan 2,000 square miles of the central Sierra Nevada. King joined his USGS colleagues in publishing“Oblique map showing maximum extent of 20,000-year-old (Tioga) glaciers, Yosemite National Park, centralSierra Nevada, California.”In addition to these comprehensive works, King also wrote many short papersfor the Yosemite Natural History Association’s Yosemite Nature Notes, and, later, theAssociation’s members’ journal, on topics including the origin of Yosemite Falls,westward glacier flow over Tioga Pass, and the rockslide of Slide Mountain. Thesepapers, as well as several unpublished essays, have been assembled into the forthcomingbook Geologic Ramblings in Yosemite, to be published this year by YA. Kingrecently updated the text that goes on the back of the classic “Map of YosemiteValley” which will also be available later this year.Most importantly, King always offered his geologic expertise to the Yosemite community.Keenly aware of the longstanding educational role of the USGS, and alwayswilling to help, King served for many years as a consultant to the National ParkService, YA, and Yosemite Institute, and trained hundreds of interpreters, resourcemanagers, and teachers. He was involved in numerous park symposia and planningmeetings, and helped guide future geologic research in the park. As a result, King’s ideas and enthusiasmwill ultimately reach millions of park visitors.King had many friends here in the Yosemite community, and his knowledge, enthusiasm, accessibility,and friendly manner will be greatly missed.“I gloried in the magnificent setting in which I found myself, with crystal-clear lakes set in glacial basins adjacentto massive Mounts Ritter and Banner and the jagged Minarets of the Ritter Range—all of this and absolutelyfascinating geology…sitting around the campfire…or lying on an outcrop watching shooting stars, were newand enjoyable experiences for me. My eyes opened to a whole new world.”—KING HUBER, from the forthcoming Geologic Ramblings in Yosemite16 YOSEMITE ASSOCIATION, SPRING 2007