Edwin C. Galbreath (1913-1989)

Professor Edwin Carter Galbreath, known as Gab or Gabby to his family and friends, died in January 1989, ending more than 50 years of contributions to vertebrate paleontology and geology. He was born in Ashmore, Illinois, in 1913. His higher education began at Eastern Illinois State College (now Eastern Illinois University), but after three years he left to join the U.S.Navy in 1936. In 1940, he returned to Eastern and completed his B.Ed. degree in Zoology then began studies at the University of Oklahoma. He re-entered the Navy in March of 1942, served on the heavy cruiser Louisville, and was in the principal naval engagements of the Central Pacific during World War II. Once discharged in 1945, he continued his studies at the University of Kansas and to pursue his childhood interest in paleontology. His PhD dissertation was titled "A Contribution to the Tertiary Geology and Paleontology of Northeastern Colorado" -- it remains a definitive work.

From 1953 to 1957, Galbreath was Assistant Professor of the Department of Anatomy at the University of Kansas. In 1955, he married Janet Bute; together, they raised a son (Walter). In 1957, Gabby joined Southern Illinois University as Associate Professor in Zoology and developed instruction in vertebrate paleontology and osteology. He was Acting Chair in 1968-69 and Director of the Biological Sciences Program for the Master's degree from 1964-83. He was a charter member of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology, a Fellow of the Geological Society of America, and member of Sigma Xi and the Illinois Academy of Science, serving as editor of the latter's publication from 1963-67. His first professional paper was issued in 1938 and the last in 1987. His research especially was centered on the Tertiary of northeastern Colorado. He made annual field trips to that region for nearly forty years, usually accompanied by his wife Janet (PhD, University of Kansas, 1969) -- his able companion and co-worker.

Further infomation on Professor Galbreath can be found in the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology News Bulletin No. 146(1989):80-82 and in the Geological Society of America Memorials 23(1993):99-102.

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Last updated: 18-Aug-05 / ghw