News Release, Kansas Geological Survey, July 6, 1998
Gerhard, who will remain at the Survey in a research capacity, has been director since January 1987. He served as the eighth director in the Survey's 109-year history, succeeding William W. Hambleton, director from 1970 to 1986.
Before joining the Kansas Survey, Gerhard was Getty Professor of Geological Engineering at the Colorado School of Mines. From 1977 to 1981 he was state geologist and director of the North Dakota Geological Survey and head of the University of North Dakota geology department.
In addition, Gerhard has been an exploration manager for the Rocky Mountain Division of Supron Energy Corporation, acting director of the West Indies Laboratory of Farleigh Dickinson University, associate professor of geology at the University of Southern Colorado, and a geologist at Sinclair Oil and Gas Company and at Amerada Petroleum Corp.
Gerhard is a native of New York with an undergraduate degree in geology from Syracuse University, and an M.S. and Ph.D. in geology from the University of Kansas. He has served as president of the Division of Environmental Geosciences of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists and as managing editor of the division's technical journal, Environmental Geosciences. In 1997, he was made an honorary member of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists.
The Kansas Geological Survey is a research and service division of the University of Kansas. The Survey studies the state's geologic resources and hazards, focusing particularly on issues related to petroleum and water.
During Gerhard's time at the Survey, external grant and contract activity increased, including funding to study water production from the Dakota aquifer, the development of petroleum information in electronic forms (funded by the U.S. Department of Energy), and a recently begun study of the Hugoton Natural Gas area in southwestern Kansas. Gerhard also emphasized public outreach programs, developing an annual field conference on natural resource issues in Kansas for legislators, state agency officials, and other policy makers.
"Bringing unbiased science to natural-resource issues is the major part of our mission," said Gerhard. "We have conducted geologic research in every county of Kansas. I appreciate the support we have received from the legislature, the university, Governor Graves, and the people of Kansas."
Gerhard plans to continue geologic research, writing, and other activities.
"Lee Gerhard has provided strong leadership that has enabled the Geological Survey to be of immense service to Kansans," said University of Kansas Provost David Shulenburger. "He also raised the research profile of the Survey. Projects like the study of pressures in Hugoton Field will yield dividends to the State for decades. The University and the State will miss his leadership."