Office of Development

December 28, 2006

Geoscience Research and Field Study Fund is Established at MSU

Dr. Peter Whaley, retired professor of geosciences at Murray State University, and Robert Hulse, a 1971 MSU geology alumnus, have together established the Dr. Peter W. Whaley and Robert C. Hulse Fund for Excellence in Research Presentation and Field Trips in Geosciences.

Recipients of the fund must be full-time MSU students majoring in geology who have had a paper accepted for presentation at meetings of the Geological Society and/or the American Association of Petroleum Geologists. The fund will also be used for geoscience student and faculty field trip expenses.

Whaley received his bachelor of arts degree in comprehensive science in 1959 from Ohio Wesleyan University, his master's degree in 1964 in geology from the University of Kentucky and his doctoral degree in 1969 from Louisiana State University.

Throughout his 35 years at MSU, he taught a variety of geology classes and conducted research in depositional environments and stratigraphy of Pennsylvania age rocks, paleontology and geoscience education. Whaley is a registered Kentucky professional geologist and is a member of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, Geological Society of America, Sigma Xi, National Association of Geoscience Teachers and Kentucky Science Teachers Association. He and his wife Beryl Mullen Whaley live in Murray and have three children.

"This fund will provide geoscience students future professional opportunities and broaden their exposure to geology," said Whaley.

Dr. Tom Kind, chair of the MSU geosciences department, says, "Dr. Whaley has been the major advocate of field experiences for our students. He taught the field geology course many times, often traveling with his students throughout the southeastern and western U.S. for weeks at a time. He organized many local trips for classes and club activities, and collected fossil, mineral and rock specimens with students. The department is truly grateful for Peter's dedication to field study over the years and pleased that he and Mr. Hulse have established this fund."
Hulse, who moved to Murray with his family in 1957, valued growing up in a small university town. "Murray State played a large role in my life long before I actually attended because of the culture and interesting folks it brought to town," says Hulse.

As a student at MSU, Hulse was one of Whaley's first geology students. Hulse was also active in the Southwestern Kentucky Student Grotto of the National Speleological Society, a non-profit organization dedicated to the study and conservation of caves.

After graduating from MSU, Hulse received his master's degree from the University of South Carolina and worked for Texas Oil and Gas and Ashland Oil. Today, he is a partner of MAP Production, Co. in Tyler, Texas.

Hulse is proud to have been able to make a living in geology. He and his wife Deb have enjoyed traveling with his work. They have lived in Africa, Libya, Nigeria, California, Colorado, and currently live in Texas. In 2008, they plan on traveling to the North Pole in a Russian nuclear powered ice-breaker to view the total eclipse on Aug. 1 at the Artic Circle.

For more information on the Dr. Peter W. Whaley and Robert C. Hulse Fund for Excellence in Research Presentation and Field Trips in Geosciences, contact Linda Moore, MSU Development Office, at (270) 809-4286 or linda.moore@murraystate.edu.

.

Back to Donor Archive