Robert A. Matthews
Ph.D., UC Davis (1996)
Professor Emeritus
Environmental geology; engineering and economic geology; hydrogeologic studies in alpine areas; mine reclamation studies in the western U.S. Recent projects include environmental geologic and land use study of the Lake Tahoe Basin and the application of geology to solving the liquid and solid waste problem of the north Lake Tahoe area, hydrogeologic studies in the rift zone of East Africa, fog drip in groundwater recharge and hydrogeologic characterization of waste disposal sites.
Bob Matthews, our collegue and friend, passed away on June 10, 2006. Bob will be greatly missed by all who knew him as a teacher, mentor, scientist, and friend. He was known far and wide for his warmth, generosity, and positive spirit.
Bob was the first environmental geologist hired in the Geology Department, and for many years, he was the sole faculty member in the department's environmental geology program. His research and teaching interests included hydrogeology, engineering geology, mine reclamation, and the geology and hydrology of Lake Tahoe Basin. In Lake Tahoe, he was the principal originator of the idea of using of a cinder cone as a medium for sewage treatment, a process that was used for several years in Tahoe City and the Truckee River. In recent years, he studied the hydrogeology of the East African rift, and he developed a method to measure the role that fog drip plays in recharging groundwater in Kenya and in Northern California.
Bob received his B.A. degree from U.C. Berkeley. For many years (1956-1972) he was district geologist for the California Division of Mines and Geology (now the California Geological Survey). In 1972 Bob joined the Geology Department as a Lecturer. For several years he also served as the Associate Dean of Environmental Studies in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. From 1977-1979 Bob was a Deputy Hazard Information Coordinator for the U.S. Geological Survey.
When Bob joined the faculty at UC Davis, he set aside his own pursuit of a doctoral degree to devote his efforts to the program and to teaching. After retiring in 1996, Bob completed his doctoral requirements and was awarded the Ph.D. that he began in 1968.
Bob was a member of the Tuskegee Airmen, and he was active in the Tuskegee Airmen organization, which works to preserve the history and educate people about the important role of this famous group of America's first black military airmen.
In 2000, the university recognized Bob's many contributions to education by naming one of the Colleges at La Rue in his honor.
Bob is survived by his wife, Vel, his four children, Karen of Oakland, David of Woodland, Susan of Atlanta, GA, and Robin of Davis, and by many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
