PHOTOGRAMMETRIC ENGINEERING & REMOTE SENSING
August 2015
607
Honoree’s
1970’s
1971
Reinhard Hugershoff
1972
Claude H. Birdseye
1973
Martin Hotine
1975
Earl Church
1976
Brock Brothers
Arthur Brock, Jr.
Norman H. Brock
1978
Kenneth E. Reynolds
1980’s
1980
Sherman Mills Fairchild
1981
Harry T. Kelsh
1983
Gerald FitzGerald
George D. Whitmore
1984
Mark Hurd
Gilard Kargl
1985
Oliver Scott Reading
Russell Kerr Bean
1986
Virgil Kauffman
William C. Cude
1987
Leon Theodore Eliel
Thomas P. Pendelton
1988
Robert Henry Randall
Robert Hitchings Kingsley
1989
Wallace Sidney Park
Marshall S. Wright, Sr.
But the word “society” also refers to “those with whom one has
companionship” as in the expression “to enjoy the society of good
friends.” This usage of the word, immediately prompts me to imagine
the founding members of the American Society of Photogrammetry
coming together in 1934; a small group of individuals with unique
and somewhat unusual talents and interests, who probably felt that
they were the “nerds” or “geeks” of their time. Perhaps they were
meeting in someone’s living room or garage, showing each other
their inventions or discussing ways to perform photogrammetric
calculations without the help of computers. I look back at the time in
which they were establishing the fundamental concepts and methods
we all take for granted today, and I wonder what inspired them and
what motivated them and I marvel at their persistence and creativity.
I have to admit that when I think of these individuals, I imagine a
group of “old white guys in suits with grey hair,” but in fact they
were as youthful and probably as idealistic and rebellious as I was
when I started out in this profession. They were young men with
families, with hopes and dreams, trying to create a career path in
an “industry” that didn’t exist, or at least was completely unlike the
industry we are experiencing today. It seems completely appropriate
to me that they chose the word “society” to express what must have
been a strong feeling of comradery, and let’s face it, probably some
competitiveness, that was a crucial part of their professional lives.
They were probably trying to prove themselves and the value of their
vision and their work to their employers, their families, and their
friends. And they must have found that “sweet spot” where healthy
debate and competitionwithin a groupwith a larger shared goal spurs
progress and change. And that began the legacy and the “stream of
guidance” that is available to us today as members of ASPRS.
In many spiritual communities, the “stream of guidance” is traced
through a chain of masters and disciples, a spiritual “geneology” if
you will, that maintains and transmits a body of knowledge, across
generations and geographic boundaries. Scriptures are written,
distributed, and read by many, but the essence of the core teachings,
the “light, “the Baraka”, the force of creativity and inspiration is
imparted through personal contact. That is why membership in
a society such as ASPRS is important. Hopefully the fact that I am
drawing an analogy between spirituality and a profession does not
offend anyone; I’m only making this personal observation about it,
because that is what is real for me, and it defines my commitment
to the Memorial Address, and my vision for how it continues to be a
relevant part of our conference program.
