Joe B. Dixon

Abstract

It is an honor and a thrill for me to introduce Dr. Joe B. Dixon as the recipient of The Clay Minerals Society 1991 Distinguished Member Award. He has made many significant contributions in soil and clay mineralogy. Joe began his journey in academic excellence at the University of Kentucky where, in 1952, he obtained a B.S. with high distinction in agriculture. Service to his country called him away to the army for two years; however, Joe quickly returned to the University of Kentucky and graduated in 1956 with a M.S. in agronomy (soil science) where he focused on the clay mineralogy of Kentucky soils. His next academic adventure took him to the University of Wisconsin where he worked under the watchful eye of Professor Marion L. Jackson and graduated in 1958 with a Ph.D. in soil science. Joe continued his work with Professor Jackson for an additional year as a National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow where he refined techniques to characterize clay mineralogy in soils. He accepted a faculty position at Auburn University in Alabama in 1959 where he taught courses in soil mineralogy, soil taxonomy, and geology. Joe moved to College Station, Texas, in 1968 to become a Professor of Soil Science in the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences at Texas AM however, Joe continues to conduct research today as an Emeritus Professor. Joe has had a stellar research career in developing techniques to characterize clay minerals in …