[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 78 (Thursday, May 27, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S6438]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 ON BEHALF OF THE LATE JIM BETHEL, DEAN EMERITUS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF 
                WASHINGTON'S COLLEGE OF FOREST RESOURCES

 Mr. GORTON. Mr. President, I rise to acknowledge the passing 
of an eminent teacher, scientist and academic administrator in my 
state. On Tuesday, May 18, Jim Bethel, Dean Emeritus of the University 
of Washington's College of Forest Resources, died in a Seattle 
hospital.
  Dean Bethel was one of the Nation's most prominent and influential 
forestry leaders and was recognized both nationally and 
internationally. During his 17-year tenure as Dean from 1964 to 1981, 
he was a principal architect of creative educational innovations and 
related research programs that have endured in one way or another to 
this day. Furthermore, his extensive experience and leadership in 
international forestry affairs has contributed greatly to the College's 
involvement in international academic and research activities.
  As an administrator, Dean Bethel set an undeniably high standard for 
his successors, faculty and administrators to emulate. Dean Bethel was 
responsible for initiating the College's pulp and paper program and the 
Center for Quantitative Science. Under his leadership, the College was 
repeatedly ranked among the top five forestry institutions in the U.S. 
Incidentally, while Dean, Bethel never gave up teaching two 
undergraduate courses, conducting personal research and advising 
graduate students.
  Bethel received a BS degree from the University of Washington and 
advanced degrees at Duke University. In fact, he was one of the first 
individuals to be granted a Doctor of Forestry. Bethel held faculty 
appointments at Pennsylvania State University and Virginia Polytechnic 
University. During a 10-year stint at North Carolina State University, 
he was Professor and the Director of the Wood Products Laboratory and 
acting Dean of the Graduate School. He worked at the National Science 
Foundation for three years prior to becoming the Associate Dean of the 
Graduate School at the University of Washington. He also served as 
Professor and subsequently the Dean of the College of Forest Resources.
  Several organizations recognized Bethel's scientific contribution: he 
was elected fellow of the Society of American Foresters, the American 
Association for the Advancement of Science and the International 
Academy of Wood Sciences. He served on various boards and was a 
consultant to the National Academy of Sciences. Bethel also served on 
the President's Council on Environmental Quality. He was one of the 
founders of the Forest Products Research Society.
  Bethel has significantly influenced the lives of many professional 
foresters. Perhaps his greatest and most enduring professional legacy 
are his graduate students who went on to responsible and successful 
positions, and the impressive list of professional journal articles and 
books.
  Dean Bethel will be missed by those concerned about the scientific 
stewardship of forest resources in my State and the world.

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