William C. Peters

(1920-2019)

1999 Medal of Merit Recipient

Bill Peters was born in Oxford, Ohio, in 1920, and received a degree in Geology from Miami University. After service in World War II, he finished his education at the University of Colorado with an M.S. in Geology in 1948 and his Ph.D. in 1957.

His professional career began in 1948 as a mining geologist for the New Jersey Zinc Company at Gilman, Colorado. During 1951 to 1960, he worked in mineral and mine development with FMC Corporation. In 1960, he became Chief Geologist for Kennecott Copper Corporation's Utah Copper Division, where he continued until he joined the newly formed Department of Mining and Geological Engineering at the University of Arizona's College of Mines in 1964.

As Professor of Geological Engineering, he taught courses in mining geology, mineral exploration, exploration programs and mine evaluation. During the summer months, he supported topical courses and field experience in modern exploration projects in the Americas, Africa, and Europe. In addition to some 50 contributions to technical literature, he is the author of Exploration and Mining Geology, editions in 1978 and 1987, which has become a standard university text worldwide.

Upon retirement from the University of Arizona in 1982, Bill became a senior associate with Behre Dolbear & Company, and continues working on exploration, mine evaluation and mine development worldwide. He recently served as consulting editor and a contributing author in mining engineering for McGraw-Hill Encyclopedias and Yearbooks of Science and Technology.

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Dr. Peters was born July 12, 1920 in Oxford, Ohio, and passed away on February 5, 2019 in Tucson, Arizona.

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