2006
Gilbert H. Cady Award

James C. Hower
University of Kentucky

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Presented to James C. Hower

 Citation by Leslie F. Ruppert

The recipient of the 2006 Geological Society of America’s Coal Geology Division Gilbert H. Cady Award is Dr. James C. Hower in recognition of his significant and lasting contributions to the field of coal geology through research, service, and teaching. With expertise in coal petrography and his current position as Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Coal Geology, Jim is regarded as one of coal geology’s most forceful advocates.

Jim Hower has worked in almost every aspect of coal geology, including inorganic petrology, coal quality, coal combustion by-products, and environmental aspects of coal utilization. His work in applied coal and coal combustion by-product petrology is the benchmark in the U.S. coal research community. He is recognized as the expert in Kentucky coal quality variation and has broad field experience.

Jim and his co-workers have published extensively on just about every aspect of coal geology. Jim’s bibliography lists 180 peer-reviewed technical articles out of a total of over 600 publications.

Jim Hower is a dedicated teacher. He is an Adjunct Professor at the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Kentucky and serves on M.S. and PhD theses committees in geology departments at universities in the U.S., Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. He also served as a mentor in the Center for Applied Energy Research's state-wide high school summer internship program.

Jim serves the coal geology community with distinction. He is the tireless Editor-in Chief of the International Journal of Coal Geology, and has successfully broadened the scope of the journal. He is a member of the Advisory Scientific Board of Geologica Acta and served as an Associate Editor of Organic Geochemistry.

Jim Hower’s community service and research have been recognized by many organizations. He was Chair, Coal Geology Division (1995-1996), and received the Division’s 1997 Distinguished Service Award. He was awarded the Reinhardt Thiessen Medal (ICCP), the Gordon H. Wood, Jr. Memorial Award (AAPG), and the Outstanding Kentucky Geologist Award (AMPG).

It is time for us to honor Dr. James C. Hower’s numerous, significant, and ongoing contributions to the field of coal geology with our highest honor, the Gilbert H. Cady Award.

  2006 Gilbert H. Cady Award - Response by James C. Hower

I am deeply honored to be receiving the Gilbert H. Cady Award. I never knew Gilbert Cady, but feel connected to him and to the award. My first supervisor in Kentucky was Gilbert Smith, who had been a graduate student working with Aureal Cross at West Virginia University and later was trained in thin-section coal petrography by Gilbert Cady at the Ohio Geological Survey. Of course, at Penn State, I was a student of Alan Davis and William Spackman served on my committee. Both gentlemen were previous recipients of this award. I was also influenced by Eugene Williams and Peter Given while at Penn State and Peter continued to give constructive advice at GSA meetings through the early 1980's.

I have been fortunate to have worked in a dynamic environment at the Center for Applied Energy Research. There are a few geologists at the CAER, but it is mostly populated by chemists and engineers. As the name implies, it is an applied laboratory, meaning that much of my work was in support of broader projects aimed at the proper utilization of Kentucky coals. In this context, I have been able to conduct continuing studies such as the relationship of coal petrology and grindability and the petrology and geochemistry of fly ashes with respect to the feed coals.

I have also been extremely fortunate to have worked with a number of talented scientists, not only at my institute and university, but throughout the world. The number of my refereed papers was noted; what was not mentioned was that the number of co-authors is almost as large as the number of papers. I would not be here without their collaboration. Time does not permit me to name every one of my collaborators, but I must mention Garry Wild, who worked with me at the CAER for 16 years until his retirement. Among the many others, I have been fortunate to collaborate with geochemists such as Jingle Ruppert and Bob Finkelman; palynologists such as Cortland Eble and Charles Helfrich; and petrographers such as Alan Davis, Maria Mastalerz, and Adrian Hutton. I also want to thank all of my students: graduate, undergraduate, and high school. Special thanks must go to my wife, Judy, for supporting my career.

Thanks again to the Coal Geology Division for recognizing my contributions to the profession with this, their highest honor.