LEXINGTON, Ky. (Jan. 31, 2005) -- The prolific life of the youngest man ever appointed Kentucky State Geologist will be the topic of the Donald Haney Distinguished Lecture, sponsored by the Kentucky Geological Survey. The lecture is scheduled at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 16, in the Mining and Mineral Resources Building on Rose Street at the University of Kentucky.
Parking will be available at campus Parking Structure No. 2, next to the Mining and Mineral Resources Building. Both the lecture and parking are free of charge.
Kentucky historian and author Ron Bryant will discuss the productive geologic career of Willard Rouse Jillson and Jillson’s passion for Kentucky history. Bryant is writing a biography of Jillson.
“There’s no lack of information about the man,” said Bryant. “His biography is going to be huge. His life was so full from his youth literally until the time of his death.”
Jillson, originally of Syracuse, N.Y., came to Kentucky in 1917 and was appointed State Geologist in 1919, at the age of 29.
His 12 years as state geologist resulted in a complete geological mapping of the state, and his personal interest in the state’s history eventually brought him to the presidency of the Kentucky Historical Society.
“He has the largest number of articles and monographs on Kentucky history of anyone who ever wrote about the subject,” added Bryant.
Bryant’s own publications include “Kentucky History: An Annotated Bibliography,” more than 80 articles in “The Kentucky Encyclopedia,” and many articles on Kentucky history, genealogy and politics.
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