Louis Otto Quam (1906-2001)

Abstract

Louis O. Quam, highly respected geologist/geographer, academician, and government science administrator, died on 25 July 2001 at age 95. He was best known in the United States and Canada, but widely recognized in several other countries for his many contributions to the advancement of the field of geography, for his influence on expenditure of significant government resources to fund geographic and other research, and for his broad administrative support of research in both the Arctic and the Antarctic. ... He attended public schools in Boulder, Colorado, graduating from high school in 1925, and later attended the University of Colorado there, earning Bachelor of Arts (1931) and Master of Science (1932) degrees in geology. Numerous recognitions acclaimed his achievements in earth sciences and science administration .... he decided to complete his formal education at Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts. There, holding the Libby Fellowship, he completed requirements for his doctorate in Physical Geography (1938). Next, he returned to the University of Colorado as Assistant Professor of Geography (1938-42). At this point, his promising career was interrupted by a period of service in the United States Navy (1943-46). Honorably discharged from the Navy with the rank of Lieutenant Commander, Quam quickly returned to university life as Associate Professor of Geography at the University of Virginia at Charlottesville (1947-50). ... Several events in the immediate post-war years would dominate Louis' career. These included the founding of the Office of Naval Research (ONR) (1946) and the establishment of its Arctic Research Laboratory (later renamed Naval Arctic Research Laboratory (NARL) at Barrow, Alaska (1947) and then, the most dominating of all, the founding of the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) (1950). ... Quam accepted appointment to the ONR as Head, Geography Branch, Earth Sciences Division in 1950 .... In the ONR, Quam was drawn into membership of many committees and panels of other organizations that were related in diverse ways to his fields of responsibility. ... Shortly after his arrival at ONR, the Environmental Sciences Branch, Biological Sciences Division, elected to give up support of its Arctic research program, including NARL in Alaska. ONR management had to determine quickly whether to let the program lapse or to find another administrative entity within the organization willing to take it over. ... The Chief of Naval Research agreed to transfer the program, along with the pertinent budget, and Louis took over (1951). For four years, he was the sole manager of the Arctic Program .... These functions were, of course, additional to his other duties as Head of the Branch. ... Dr. Quam would have been pleased to know that some specific instances of his distinguished accomplishments are recorded here, not to be forgotten. ... In the opinion of the author, Quam's greatest single policy decision on behalf of Arctic research was his action to operate NARL as a Navy-funded laboratory, and also to recognize it as a national asset that should be made available for the use of others besides the ONR contractors or subcontractors (e.g., AINA [Arctic Institute of North America] under the terms of the ONR contract) for whom it existed. ... By 1967, Quam had enjoyed major successes in the field of Arctic research. At age 61, he was capable of further challenges, and a notable challenge was at hand: the NSF offered him the prestigious position of Chief Scientist of its Office of Antarctic Programs. ... Louis accepted the offer and served two years in the Chief Scientist position (1967-69). At this point, the office was renamed in recognition of its total responsibilities, becoming the Office of Polar Programs. Louis was designated Acting Head of the office, a position he held for two years (1969-71); he then served as Chief Scientist for two more years, until his retirement in 1972. ... He was a good and decent man, whether at home or in the office, and he will be affectionately remembered and missed by all who knew him.