David Blackstock and the Acoustical Society of America: Sixty-five years of commitment

Abstract

David Blackstock and the Acoustical Society of America (ASA) have had a long history together. David attended his first ASA meeting in 1955 and became a member in 1959. Throughout his career, the ASA provided David with a place to publish and form collaborations. David more than repaid the ASA with service as the chair of meetings, technical and administrative committee service and as the Society’s vice president and president. In 1993, he was awarded the Gold Medal, the ASA’s highest honor. However, David’s true service to the ASA is to the student and early career members of the Society. David coordinated the Students Meet Members for Lunch (SMMfL) initiative from 2002 to 2019. This program has paired numerous students with members of the Society. David’s students from the University of Texas at Austin, the University of Rochester and Pennsylvania State University have been recognized by the Society with numerous awards and medals. In 2004, David was also recognized with the first ASA student council award for mentorship. In 2019, the ASA student council officially recognized David’s commitment to students by renaming the mentorship award after him. Because of David’s commitment to the Society and its future, his ASA legacy will never be forgotten.