COLLEGE NEWS

OGS LOOKS FOR NEW LEADERSHIP
By Jessica Jackson/The OU Daily

One day in 1949, a young Charles Mankin wandered into the oldest building on the University of Texas campus — the geology building — and began to look at the displays.

A professor walked up to him and asked, "What are you doing here?" Mankin, at the time considering a major in engineering, explained he was thinking about taking a geology course the following semester.

The professor sat Mankin down for a 30-minute lecture on geology. That short lecture changed his life.

Currently Oklahoma Geological Survey director, Mankin, after 48 years of service, will retire Oct. 31.

"I've gotten to thinking that I've been around a long time, and there are some things I'd like to do that I haven't been able to do because of the job," Mankin said. "And I'm not getting any younger."

Randy Keller, professor of geophysics, will take over for him as interim director until a permanent replacement is found.

"He's a real icon in Oklahoma in the geological community," Keller said. "It's a big pair of shoes to step into."
Dr. Charles Mankin, Director Oklahoma Geological Survey 1967-2007
MEET THE DIRECTOR

Not only has Mankin been with the survey for nearly half a decade, he has been the director for 40 years.

"We're going to miss him," said Connie Smith, information specialist. "A lot of us have sort of grown up here [with him]."

Mankin graduated from the University of Texas with a bachelor's in geology in 1954, he said.

After graduate school at UT and a post-doctorate at the California Institute of Technology, he came to OU in 1959 to work for the OGS as a geologist and a professor at the college, he said. He was appointed director in 1967.

Although he attended UT, Mankin was tied to Oklahoma. He said his great-grandmother, a Cherokee, came to Oklahoma along the Trail of Tears, and she was the only one in his family to survive the move.

As director, he has been in charge of petitioning Congress to pass legislation, Smith said.

He was instrumental in passing a program through Congress to get federal money to accomplish geologic mapping in all 50 states, said Neil Suneson, assistant director of geological programs.

Suneson said he felt it was a huge success for states, and it is still an active program.

He also considers his work for the public and Oklahomans as another large part of his job.

"He's very service-oriented," Smith said. "He is adamant that our role is public service."

Smith said he acted the same toward large groups as he did toward individuals, coming to the survey just to find out what kind of rock they were holding.

Growing up on a ranch in Texas, Mankin said anything that kept him outside was perfect for him.

"It didn't feel right if I was cooped up in a house too long," he said.

The survey still goes out and maps by foot, Smith said.

Smith said Mankin has a vast knowledge of all aspects of geology.

"His knowledge will be a great loss," she said. "His scope of understanding is very broad."

THE OKLAHOMA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

The survey has been around since before Oklahoma was a state, Smith said. It originally was a territorial survey until 1907.

According to the mission statement found on the survey's Web site, "the survey is chartered in the Oklahoma Constitution and is charged with investigating the state's land, water, mineral and energy resources and disseminating the results of those investigations to promote the wise use of Oklahoma's natural resources consistent with sound environmental practices."

Since the beginning of the survey, it has been housed on OU's campus.

"We are in an academic environment, so we are involved in academics and students, but we are also very much geared toward public service," Smith said.

In 2006, the survey officially became part of OU when it combined with the College of Geology and Geophysics to form the new College of Earth and Energy, Smith said.
Mankin gives state librarians a tour of Oklahoma Petroleum Information Center

Suneson said even though Mankin has been such a significant part of the survey for half of its existence, he has hopes for the future.

"I think the future for us and the new college is very, very bright," he said.

He said he thinks people will probably continue to go to Mankin for questions because of his expertise in the field.

Mankin said he doesn't have any long-term regrets about his time focusing on geology.

"I've thoroughly enjoyed the time I've been here," he said. "I've enjoyed all of the things that I've been asked to do. I think I'm extraordinarily lucky to have had the career I've had."


OU REGENTS HONOR CHARLES MANKIN

The University of Oklahoma Board of Regents approved a resolution honoring Charles Mankin at their December 12, 2007 meeting. In recognition of his longtime service to the University, state, nation and the energy industry, the Regents renamed the Oklahoma Geological Survey Conference Room in Sarkeys Energy Center as the Charles Mankin Conference Room.

Tom Clark, OU Board of Regents Chair, Charles Mankin, David L. Boren
Charles Mankin with OU friends and colleagues