Ticker for October 21, 2004

                
MESONET TICKER ... MESONET TICKER ... MESONET TICKER ... MESONET TICKER ...
October 21, 2004   October 21, 2004   October 21, 2004   October 21, 2004



Remembering a Friend

Ten years ago this month, OCS meteorologist David Shellberg died
in the crash of American Eagle Flight 4184 in northwestern Indiana.

David came to OCS as a graduate student after graduating from
Purdue University.  His Master's Thesis was among the first research
to use Oklahoma Mesonet data.  It highlighted preciously-undocumented
local climate features such as a moisture plume related to Lake Texoma
and a surface wind anomaly associated with the Arkansas River Valley
in eastern Oklahoma.

I remember Dave as enthusiastic, dedicated and a team player.  His
attitude set the tone for many OCS graduate students that followed.
An integral player in making the Oklahoma Mesonet a reality, Dave's
ideas and attitudes toward maintaining quality data helped lay a
foundation for the Mesonet's highly successful quality assurance
program.

Most of all, David Shellberg was kind and generous.  He gave his
time and talent selflessly, and made OCS a better place.  We are
thankful for the time we knew Dave, and we miss him.

Each year, one OU Geosciences student receives the David James
Shellberg Memorial Award.  The scholarship recognizes exemplary
work in the realm of geophysical data analysis.