Every once in a while, an individual’s career makes such an impact on a field that it warrants being honored with a lasting memorial. Dr. Marcus Milling’s was just such a career.
The American Geosciences Institute has launched the Marcus Milling Legacy Campaign to celebrate the life and accomplishments of Milling, who served as an ardent, tireless champion of geoscience education, policy and information services during the time he served as AGI’s executive director from 1992 to 2006 and beyond.
“Marcus was one of the longest-serving executive directors in AGI’s more than 70-year history,” said AGI Executive Director Allyson Anderson Book. “And he truly shaped AGI through its major program areas and services into the federation that geoscientists and their professional associations rely upon for collaborative leadership, information, and representation today.”
Under Milling’s leadership, AGI improved geoscience education through initiatives ranging from research projects to Earth Science Week, increased the role of the geosciences in political processes with the creation of the Government Affairs Program, and expanded the GeoRef bibliographic database and other key information services. Milling was an exceptional leader who made great strides in raising geoscientific awareness for education, government, and the public throughout his career. And he channeled his greatest aspirations for the geoscience community into AGI.
To his endeavors with AGI, Milling brought more than 20 years of experience in the upstream oil and gas industry, including roles as senior manager at Exxon’s Production Research Company for domestic exploration and production line operation groups in Texas and New Orleans, general manager at ARCO’s Geological Research Group at its central R&D facility in Plano, Texas, and associate director at the University of Texas at Austin’s Bureau of Economic Geology, where he coordinated oil and gas industry consortia programs and environmental and water resource investigations.
Through the Marcus Milling Legacy Campaign, AGI is raising awareness and funds to permanently recognize Milling’s contributions to the geosciences with a curated, named art collection to be held by AGI in his honor.
“Our goal is to raise a minimum of $50,000 to provide and curate a collection of geoscience-focused art in Marcus’ memory,” said Anderson Book. “I can hardly imagine a better way to commemorate the beauty of a life that has meant so much to the geosciences.”
The memorial represents the capstone of a career of achievements and recognition. In addition to his role as a leader at AGI, Milling also served as vice chair of the Offshore Technology Conference’s Board of Directors, a member of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Research Advisory Board on Solid Earth Sciences, and a councilor with the Geological Society of America.
Milling received numerous honors during his career, including the American Institute of Professional Geologists’ Ben H. Parker Memorial Medal in 1997, the Association of American State Geologists’ Pick & Gavel Award in 2005, and the AAPG’s Special Award in 2007. He earned his doctorate and master’s in geology from the University of Iowa.
Milling was also an AAPG Foundation Trustee Associate member, an Honorary Member of AAPG, and he served on various committees since joining the Association in 1966.
“There are many of us still associated with AGI who worked with Marcus, remember him, and miss him dearly,” said Paul Weimer, AAPG past president and member at large on the AGI Executive Committee. “With this memorial, however, we ensure his legacy and provide a real, tangible reminder that can serve as an inspiration to future generations of geoscientists.”
Donors are invited to join in contributing to this initiative by directing a donation to the AGI Marcus Milling Legacy Campaign on the AGI homepage online (click “Donate”) or by contacting AGI Associate Director of Development Alexandra Lowe or via phone at 202-321-3789.