THE 1987
MICHIGAN TECH
FORESTER
MICHIGAN TECHNOLOGICAL
UNIVERSITY
HOUGHTON, MICHIGAN 49931
3
CONTENTS
Dedication ................. .. .
6-7
Message from the Dean ... , . . .... .... . . ......... . .. , , ...... . 8-9
Administration . .................. .
___ •. _ .. _.• . _.... 10-11
Feature: Isle Royale Moose and Wolves ......•.................. 12·14
Our Faculty ...........................•.........•....... . 15·22
Two poems .. _. _........... . • . . . . . .... . .. . .•... .. .... _ .. _23
The Ford Forestry Center ........................ • ....•... . _24-25
Fall Camp and A Letter Home . _. _ .... . _. . .. _. . .. _. .. __ . . __ .. _26·29
The Institute of Wood Research ........... .. ... . ..... . ........ 30·35
Forest Biotechnology _..... . . ............ .. ... . . . . . . ..... _ .. 36·37
Graduates ............... .. . .. . ... .. •.. ....... •.. ... ..... 38·41
Employment Notes .......•..•.... • .... ... • .... • .... • ....... 42·43
Honors and Awards . ...... .... . . ... , . .................. ... . 44-45
The Tree Planter (poem) . ..... . ... . ..... .. ..... . .. . .•....... 46
Student Organizations and Activities .................•. ... ..... 47
SAF -
Forestry Club. Big Screw Contest ..... .. .. ...... ........ 48·49
Wildlife Society. Mooselift II _ .. . .. . .... _.
_ .......•......... 50
Xi Sigma Pi. Forestry Day ............... . ....... . ........... 51
Forest Products Research SOciety ... ,.,., .... . .... . ....... .... 52
J & J Logging .................. .. . .. .. ... . •. .. ......•.... 53
Forest Technician Program ..... . ... ....... . ..... . . . .... ..... 54-55
Advertisements . . . . . . . . . ... .. . ...... . . . ... . . .. . .. . . . .. . ... 56·58
Quotes from the Past ........ • ..•.. .. . . ......... .. •.... . .... 60
5
MTU Forester Salutes
Dr. Gary Lyon
We at the School of Forestry and Wood Products consider
ourselves fortunate to work with faculty and staff who provide
genuine interest, support and encouragement to blooming. and
sometimes bewildered, students. This year the Forester salutes
a faculty member whom we've all run to for help and never
been disappointed - Dr. Gary Lyon.
Gary's wide range of knowledge and abilities as an instructor
come, for a large part, from his broad and varied background.
Born in Guam to a Navy family. Gary grew up with his own
unique sense of mischief and adventure, industriously ridding
every door in the house of its knob and screws and provoking a
mass attack of ants by stuffing keyholes full of raiSins. His
parents were terrified; what would he be capable of when he
turned three?
After his father's retirement and the family's move to
Seattie, Washington, Gary began school and focused his
ambitions on more worthwhile projects. An excellent student
throughout high school. he mastered the flute, performed in the
marching band and was awarded scouting's highest honor, the
tank of Eagle Scout.
Gary began his college career at the University of
Washington, gradually branching into economics and computer
programming. While in school, he became involved in logging
shows throughout the Northwest, competing in events such as
speed sawing and tree climbing; later, our unruly SAF conclave
team would benefit from his coaching.
His love of adventure took him to Idaho where he was a
smokejumper for the Forest Service and accumulated many
stories to keep students entranced for hours. Fortunately, for
us, he gave up the thrill of high adventure long enough to finish
his Ph.D. and travel to Michigan Tech to continue his research
and begin teaching.
During his career at MTU, Gary has on countless occasions
given his time and knowledge to students, patiently teaching
and reteaching the finer pOints of computer use, making sense
of schedules made unrecognizable by the administration's red
tape and setting our perspectives right with a subtle joke.
Besides acting as faculty advisor for Xi Sigma Pi, chairman of
the School's Graduate Admissions committee, and teaching
undergraduate and graduate classes, he is currently involved in
developing a graduate level program combining Forestry with
classes in the Business School. Despite these demands on his
time, he's never too busy to answer a question, get someone
out of a big snag in their computer program, or just pass a few
minutes of the day.
We've just been a few who have reaped the benefits of
Gary's knowledge and experience. There are many more,
we're sure, who would join us in saluting Dr. Gary Lyon for his
many contributions to students and fellow faculty members.
6
Gary and his Dad - discussing the initial value of a perpetual
series of equal annual payments, no doubt.
Gary at four - he's really into "buttering up" his mom. We
hope she really wanted those roses picked.
One of his many accomplishments -
becoming an Eagle Scout.
7
A Message FroID
The Dean
Greetings from Tech!
Recent changes that have affected the School include the incorporation of the Institute of Wood Research into the
School and the filling of Norm Sloan's position by Rolf Peterson - formerly of the Department of Biological Sciences.
The Institute of Wood Research - the subject of an article later in this issue - is now a part of the School. Some
IWR research scientists are taking part in the academic program . All faculty members with expertise in wood products
are now a part of rWR. We look forward to a strengthening of the academic program in wood and fiber utilization as well
as increased opportunities for IWR.
Rolf Peterson comes to us with a background in wildlife management, research and education. His most recent
activities are centered on predator·prey relationships of wolves and moose in Isle Royale National Park. This, also, is a
subject of an article in this issue ,
We recently received approva! to offer the Ph.D. in Forest Science. Our first group of candidates will number about six
with an eventual increase expected to about 15.
Visit us when you can. Send news for the alumni newsletter. Support us, advise us and be proud of your alma mater.
W. E. Frayer, Dean
School of Forestry and Wood Products
8
-
-
~
Dr. E. E. (Ed) Frayer, Dean
School of Forestry and
Wood Products
9
Administration
WARREN E. (Ed) FRAYER, D.F.
Dean, School of Forestry and Wood Products
We'd just thought you'd like to see a photo of him relaxed
and smiling. In the background is one of the new routed maple
murals which adorn the walls of our School. We get to meet the
Dean on a fairly steady basis in Fall Camp where he teaches
the Forest Measurement and Forest Inventory classes.
MARY L. (THE FINN) FRANTTI
This is the lady who runs this School.
10
ANDREA E. LONGHINI
Executive Secretary
ThiS is the lady who keeps the Dean busy on things that keep
her busy.
MARY ELLEN STEVENS
Executive Secretary. I.W.R.
MARY BETH MAURER
Word Processing Operator
It's fun to watch her operate!
•
11
Wolves on Isle Royale
by Rolf Peterson
for the past 29 years. wildlife biologists have been Involved
in a long-term study of wolves and their prey - moose - in
Isle Royale National Park . The long-term objective of this
research program is to clarify the role of wolf predation in the
regulation of an unhunted population of large hoofed prey the moose - and to determine mechanisms of population
regulation for both wolf and moose. Rolf Peterson has been
involved in these studies for 17 years, first as a graduate
student and , since coming to Michigan Tech in 1975, as
director of the project .
The long,term record of wolf and moose numbers now clearly
shows how dynamic these populations are, even where isolated
from human influences. It did not always seem 50, especially
during the first decade of the study when wolf numbers
fluctuated between 20 and 28, The balance of nature seemed
to be real after all. But the 1970's brought dramatic changes in
both wolves and moose which helped reveal important aspects
of large mammal predator-prey relationships. Studying the
population dynamics of wolves on Isle Royale in the 1960's was
a bit like Newton studying gravity by watching an apple lying
still on the ground instead of having one hit him on the head.
While the early 1970's brought clear evidence of change in
the form of a major moose decline, the stage had been set
during a long and slow population increase in the previous
decade, This moose increase ca used a marked deterioration in
forage abundance which grew worse over the years. The winter
of 1968·69 was a notably severe one throughout the Great
Lakes area, and the reduced mobility for moose led to a
marked decline in moose condition in the winter when females
are pregnant. The pattern continued for three additional
winters. and the nutritionally-deprived calves born after these
severe winters were small at birth, grew at a retarded rate , and
survived poorly. Of those surviving to six months of age. only
one-third would live to the prime reproducing age of about five
years. Moose that survived to middle or old age exhibited a
very high incidence of degenerative arthritis which has been
tentatively liked to early malnutrition.
An alpha (dominant) male in one of the Isle Royale wolf packs.
identified since 1982 by eyes of a different color . (photo by
Peterson)
...
Two wolf pups play in the foreground while their mother, in the
rear, rests and keeps a watchful eye, Each year wolves at Isle
Royale are closely observed from aircraft. Pups are identified
by small size and behavior. (photo by Peterson)
12
Figure 1. Wolf and moose population fluctuations, Isle Royale National Park, 1959-1987_
60
1500
/
1300
/
/
/
1100
/
/
/
900
/
I
~
ifJ
o
/
/
700
§§
20
500
10
300
0~'-~r-r,~~~~.-~r-~ro~-r~~.-~r-~~~-r-r~4-100
1958
1963
1968
1973
1978
1983
1988
YEAR
This meant u easy pickings" for the wolves, and for several
years there was food aplenty. This eventually translated into
the establishment of additional packs and growth of the wolf
population . In 1972, for the first time, a second major pack was
evident and finally a third, fourth, and fifth pack were added on
_
pack (the East Pack) made a credible showing, and the third
pack (the Harvey Lake Pack) barely hung on. In the years that
followed, even up to 1987, the East and West Packs hounded
the Harvey Lake Pack that was sandwiched between them.
Isle Royale. Wolf kill rates reached a peak in the mid·1970's,
and by 1977 the moose population had been cut to less than
Repeatedly the Harvey Lake Pack was chased, and
occasionally a wolf was killed from this pack by the neighboring
wolves. Only once in eight years did the Harvey Lake Pack
half of its former level. Moose calf survival was very low at that
bring surviving pups through to the winter, and that was only a
time because of intensive wolf predation, and annual calf
production barely kept pace with mortality.
During the late 1970's, however, the tide began to slowly
turn against the wolves. After 1975 their kill rates declined
fleeting triumph. In 1987, Peterson and his bush pilot watched
the East Pack again attack the Harvey Lake Pack and kill the
alpha male, the first lime such a killing had actually been
observed on Isle Royale. Perhaps this will prove to be the final
steadily as the moose population was culled of vulnerable
demise of the third pack.
individuals. Wolf numbers stayed high, however, as they simply
The 1980's were as good for moose as they were bad for
got along on less food . Wolves actually reached a peak In 1980
wolves . After the wolf population crash, moose calf survival
doubled, and the moose population began an impressive
recovery which is expected to continue through the decade.
Vegetation has recovered during the years when moose
when 50 wolves were counted, setting a record for wolf density
in the wild . It was obvious that food stress was high as more
than 20% of the wolves were living alone or in small, transient
groups after dispersing from their home pack.
The years 1980-1982 were tumultuous ones for the wolves
as packs began to trespass onto the territories of neighboring
packs . There were direct conflicts whenever packs caught
foreign wolves on their territory. Some wolves were killed in
these territorial skirmishes. Other wolves, especially the old
ones, simply died of starvation. In two years, over 50 wolves
numbers were held low by wolf predation, and moose born in
the 1980's were remarkably large and almost completely
invulnerable to wolves. Calves were born large, grew to adult
size quickly and about 80% of the 5 ·month·old recruits survived
to the age of five years.
perished. Only 14 remained in 1982. Nuclei of three packs
survived but not all succeeded in the natural competition to
reproduce. One pack (the West Pack) did quite well. Another
13
Field assistant Kirn Trostel and pilot Don Glaser examine a dead moose on Isle Royale which had been radiocollared three years preViously _The moose died of malnutrition and was consumed by wolves. (photo by
Peterson)
The pattern of the 1980's is clearly set. As the moose
population steadily increases, land wolves barely hang on.
According to current research hypotheses, this pattern should
persist into the early 1990's. Then wolves are expected to
recover somewhat as the average age of the moose increases
and more become vulnerable to wolf predation. More predation
and lower calf production should bring a halt to the moose
increase in the 1990's when 1500 to 2000 moose are
predicted. Progressive deterioration of moose food supply will
once aga in place the dense moose population in a precarious
position, and barring major habitat change from fire and / or
other disturbances, another major moose decline is predicted
early in the 21st century!
14
Faculty and Staff
Pictured in this section of OUT yearbook are the people who
have most affected
OUT
lives in the past few years . Instead of
listing the universities form which they received their various
degrees, we have listed the titles of the actual courses they
teach . Some of them were caught
by
OUT
photographer in their
field clothes while others were caught in their offices or in the
hallways of the School, the microcomputer lab or the
classroom . This is the way we'll remember them -
relaxed,
comfortable in their university setting and, above all, human.
PAUL BERRANG, Ph.D.
Research SCientist, Forest Biotechnology
Municipal Forestry
Ornamental Ttees and Shrubs
JOHANN (JO) N. BRUHN, Ph.D.
Research Scientist
Forest Science Applications
Forest Pathology
Advanced Forest Pathology
Biological Deterioration of Wood
Municipal Forestry
VINCENT L. CHIANG, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Wood Chemistry
Pulping Processes
15
MARGARET R. GALE. Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Timber Management
Advanced Computer Applications
Research Methods
Ecology of Forest Production
MARTIN F. JURGENSEN. Ph.D.
Professor
Soils
Soil Biology
Soil Chemical Properties and Plant Growth
Soil Physical Properties and Plant Growth
Advanced Soil Biology
DAVID F. KARNOSKY. Ph.D.
Professor
Forest Tree Improvement
Current Topics in Tissue Culture
Tree Physiology
Biological Deterioration of Wood
16
KENNETH J. KRAFT, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Ornithology
Forest Entomology
Microscopy Techniques
GARY w. LYON, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Microcomputer Applications in Forestry
Forest Finance
Forest Economics
Wood Industries and Economics
Advisor to Xi Sigma Pi and the MTU Skydiving Club
-
ANN L. MACLEAN, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Remote Sensing of the Environment
Digital Image Processing
Geographic Information Systems
Aerial Photograph Interpretation
17
ROSWELL K. MILLER. Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Fall Camp Coordinator
Land Measurements
Timber Harvesting
Forest Fire Behavior Management
Natural Resource Administration and Policy
Recreational Land Management
W oodlot Management
Resource Access and Development
GLENN D. MROZ. Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Practice of Silviculture
Forest Soils
Watershed Management
Forest Hydrology
Soil Chemical Properties and Plant Growth
ROLF O. PETERSON. Ph.D.
Professor
Wildlife Management
Wildlife Investiga tional T echniques
Animal Population Dynamics
" The Wolfman of Isle Royale"
18
JAMES B. PICKENS. Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Forest Resource Management
Forest Resource Management Case Studies
Advanced Forest Resource Management
Research Methods
DAVID D. REED, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Forest Measurements
Forest Inventory
Microcomputer Applications in Forestry & Wood Products
Forest Biometrics
Seminar on Quantitative Forest Science
Advanced Forest Inventory
Adv isor to Student Chapter, Society of Am erican Foresters
ROBERT L. SAJDAK
Ad junct Associate Professor
Introduction to Forestry and Wood Products
North American Trees
"Retired and tired, but we haven't let him quit yet,"
19
STEPHEN M. SHALER, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Wood Mechanics
Advanced W ood Mechanics
Wood Physics
Wood Machining
Advisor to Forest Products Research Society
TERRY L. SHARIK, Ph .D.
Associate Professor
Forest Ecology
Forest Community Ecology
Advisor to Student Chapter of the Wildlife Society
STEPHEN G. SHETRON, Ph.D.
Professor
Soils Labs
Reclamation of Mine Wastes and Disturbed Soils
Soil Geography and Classification
Environmental Soil Science
Soil Mapping
Soil Taxonomy
20
DOUGLAS D. STOKKE, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Elements of Wood Technology
Wood Identification
Wood Structure
Wood Physics
Wood Seasoning and Preservation
Wood Ultrastructure
BERNARD C. H . SUN, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Composite Materials I and 11
Advanced Wood Composite Materials
DENNIS A. BARIL
Teaching Assistant
This guy is run ragged, taking care of everything that someone
else doesn't take care of. We find him at Fall Camp , driving the
bus for many of OUT laboratory trips, keeping the chain saws
funning, and teaching such esoteric things as how to climb a
tree safely Or how to preserve a wood "cookie" so that it
doesn't split when it dries.
21
PETER J . CA TTELINO
Assistant Research Scientist, Forestry
Chief Field ELF on the ELF Research Project
HAL O. LIECHTY
Assistant Research Scientist, Forestry
"I don't know what the Computer Center did with your file -
they probably ate it!"
JANET B. PACES
Research Associate. Forest Soils Lab
"It's a dirty job, but someone has to do it.'·
TERR Y CLOUTH IER
Custodian. Forestry·IWR Building
"1 wish you guys and gals would stop spilling your coffee!"
22
"I have read many definitions of what is a
conservationist, and written not a few myself,
but I suspect that the best one is written not
with a pen, but with an axe ... A
conservationist is one who is humbly aware
that with each stroke he is writing his
signature on the face of his land ."
-
Aldo Leopold
Philosophy by an unknown author.
Good timber does not grow in
ease
The stronger the wind, the
stronger the trees;
The farther the sky, the greater
the length;
The more the storms, the more
the strength.
By sun and cold, by rains and
snows,
In tree or man, good timber
grows.
23
Ford Forestry Center
The Ford Forestry Center at Alberta, Michigan, is the home
of OUT fall Camp - the scene of our travail. During the ten
weeks we stay there as sophomores - inmates - we get to
know the staff there fairly well. for we meet them on a daily
basis - in the cafeteria, on the log deck. when picking up the
mail, or as we walk about town. banging our knuckles (and
heads) against the trees. The Ford Forestry Center is also used
as a Conference Center by various groups and the land and
buildings are used for education and research purposes. The
people shown here also touch our lives.
JAMES DOUGOVITO
Manager, Ford Forestry Center
" Me? I scale logs, sign out keys , and try to keep this place
running within budget."
SHARLENE KANNI AINEN
Senior Secretary. Ford Forestry Center
"If she doesn 't know where it is, nobody does."
NAOMI COLLINS
Food Service Supervisor, Ford Forestry Center
"There'll be hot soup for lunch today!"
24
JANNET JACOBSON
Cook, Ford Forestry Center
•
THEODORE (TED) FONTAINE
Ford Forestry Center Aide
DA VID STIMAC
Maintenance Aide. Ford Forestry Center
25
Fall CalDp
Our home away from the main campus. When we started the
Forest Ecology dass with Terry Sharik, we thought that maybe
the " No Passing" sign might be a little prophetic,
-"
Make the wrong turn off US 41 and you might get to the wrong
"CAMP," The folks here made the wrong turn BEFORE and
were then sent to "CAMP."
By the end of the quarter I we were beginning to believe that
maybe the Ford Forestry Center sign was just an old one that
they hadn 't taken down yet. Depending on how we looked at
things, Alberta was halfway between everything, or as far away
as possible from everything.
That building in the background is our classroom (notice the
"bars" on the windows?). The vehicle (?) on the right is what
they transport inmates (students?) in when they head for work
projects (Lab exercises?) in the field·bush-outback-woodsJackpine plains-or various other torture chambers-places.
26
Dear Mom and Dad.
We played a lot of volleyball, touch football and basketball
too - couldn't spend all of our time trekking through the
The fall quarter is almost over now and thoughts of home
abound in the hearts and minds of everyone here at Alberta .
No, not Alberta, Canada , though sometimes it seems like we're
that far away , but Alberta, Michigan, just a few miles south of
woods . We even had a steak dinner once - appreciated by
many of us. We organized some of our own parties and
watched a lot of " fuzzy" TV game shows too - no need
changing the channel. we only got one . I guess a technological
L' Anse at the Ford Forestry Center .
university doesn't believe in satellite dishes for TV reception.
One night three of the guys took their trucks out to " run"
Even from the start, things went wrong. When I transferred
up here the counselor put me in some classes on the main
campus and I got a room in the dormitory. I was just getting
settled in and the next thing I knew I was dropping all of my
classes , signing up for fall camp, packing all of my things,
checking out of the dorm, driving home to unpack my good
jeans and shirts. and getting together my work pants and the
rest of the things I needed for camp. The next day I packed it
all again , drove up here and have been here since.
My classmates who were freshmen at Tech had it a little
easier because they knew that they were going to be at camp in
the back roads and got them stuck in the mud. We finally got
them out with jacks, branches. rocks and lots of pushing . It was
after dark when we got back to camp. mud covered and tired.
Another time a few of my classmates decided to go rappeling
down the side of the Sturgeon River Gorge. It looked like fun,
but I chickened out and went wading the river to explore it.
The Gorge walls are really spectacular in some places.
There were some funny times too, like the time Terry Sharik
kept calling Roger, Ralph. And then, we often had Blackie, a
Labrador retriever who lives here in Alberta, making a lovable
the fall . They only packed once and brought most of the right
pest of himself in the classroom or trying to go on bus trips with
stuff . Of course, some of them showed up without a compass,
hard hat or axe but soon purchased them and were dressed
us.
properly.
While imprisoned in this town -
did I say town? -
if you
blink your eyes while driving past on US 41, you miss it! I 've come to know my classmates a heck of a lot better. I find
that I most remember some of the little things that have
happened .
Did I tell you about the baseball games with the prison
inmates from Camp Baraga? Oh, I forgot? Well, it seems that
we 've been incarcerated just a mile Or two from one of
Michigan's finest prison camps . And guess what? All of their
games are Hhome games." Why do I feel like we've been
Someone got the idea of tying some marking ribbon around a
light pole in front of the dorm - one ribbon for every day we
were held hostage here -
by the end of the quarter, there
were too many ribbons to count.
The food here is pretty good most of the time. Bologna
sandwiches, oatmeal cookies and apples do get a little boring
after a while though. I wish I had written home sooner and
asked for a care package . The cook got a weird recipe for
something called "Chuck Wagon " made out of a whole bunch
of different kinds of beans mixed together with pork and gravy.
It probably should have been used to grease the axles of the
chuck wagon - only 2 out of 23 people ate it.
imprisoned too?
27
Together we've completed assignments, studied for exams
and, of course, made the ever-popular B.K. run to Burger King
in Houghton or the pizza run to Little Caesars in Ishpeming 40 miles for a midnight snack?
We've tramped through the woods in rain and snow as well
as sunshine. Field notes stuck together from the rain never
quite seemed to satisfy the professor as to their legibility.
Watching everyone trying to pace in the woods is funny they're so intent on counting their paces that they fall into
brush piles or trip over logs or uneven ground.
By the end of our type mapping project, I sure wouldn't
swea r to the accuracy of our map. We were all a bit slaphappy, bouncing off the trees and rolling down hills, laughing at
the dumbest things. We got to like Burns Lake so much that we
even went back and camped there one Saturday night .
Terry Sharik, our Ecology prof., seems to like to dig soil pits.
He sure knows a whole host of small plants - ferns , mosses
and stuff - as well as his trees. I wish I had learned them
better before the frost killed them or the leaves fell off.
Shawn Hagan, our GT A (Graduate Teaching Assistantl,
needs mOre practice "aiming" the bus down some of the twotrack roads between the Jack pine, but he 's been real helpful to
us.
Denny Baril and Jim Dougovito tried their best to teach us
how to scale and grade logs - it's really funny how the logs
look so different in a millyard . Maybe having been skidded
through the mud and having had most of the bark knocked off
of them had something to do with that.
Dave Reed, our measurements and timber cruising
instructor? He has more darn formulas and statistics committed
to memory. And Johann Bruhn, the plant pathologist? How can
anyone get so excited about conks and tree rots and fungi?
Sometimes I wonder if any of this will all come together in my
mind.
The most vivid thing I remember was Ros Miller getting a
bonfire started out of dead Jack pine slash in six inches of wet ,
sloppy snow, and with more of the white stuff coming down at
the time. Wouldn 't you know it was just our luck that the snow
started early this year? There was six inches of it on the ground
after yesterday. It did feel good to get warm by the fire after
we had just finished our line running assignment with a staff
compass and chain (That's what foresters call a tape), Maybe
it's so vivid because it was just yesterday that it happened, on
our very last field exercise. Now, the only thing running is my
nose,
Throughout the entire term we've all learned many new
skills, have become much closer friends by working and living
together, and have pretty much enjoyed a spectacular fall at
the Ford Forestry Center. I don't think I'd exchange the past
ten weeks of camp for anything.
Of course, I'll be home in a couple of days - probably even
before you get this letter. I should have been working on my
map and studying for the final surveying exam, but thought
maybe I should write at least once,
Love you both.
Your forester
28
(L. to R,l Cynthia Schilke, Jeff Andrews,
Angela Brandon, Scott Swank and Todd
Wieringa. " Terry must be nuts to think
there's any sphagnum moss here. That
skidder must have dragged all that sandy
A2 horizon and covered it. Unless we're in
the wrong Section. Did Shawn get lost?"
•
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"I don't know where we are, but this Is
too much ecology for me!"
29
Institute of
Wood Research
Change has been continual in the past year at the Institute of
Wood Research. In October, Alan Preston and Paul Walcheski
left to share their expertise in wood preservatives with CSI, Inc.
in Charlotte, North Carolina. Their professional insight and
personal friendship will be missed by all who knew them . Peter
Laks has led us in the inte rim, assuming responsibility for the
preservatives group, as well as carrying ou t his own research.
Over the summer the IWR was merged with the School of
Forestry and Wood Products to formalize the working
relationships that have evolved between these academic and
product development arms of the University. A permanent
director of IWR is currently being recruited.
A steady stream of product development ideas has emerged
from the IWR in the last year. Bob Palardy has completed an
initial study of the feasibility of pressing high moisture content
flake mats. This process has the potential of increasing the use
of dense Michigan hardwoods in the composite board industry,
lower capital costs, improve dimensional stability and decrease
energy expenses. Bruce Haataja and Bogue Sandberg (C.E.
Dept.) have received a grant from the USDA to pursue studies
that will improve our ability to mold wood flakes into three·
dimensional products.
Vincent Chiang's pulping group has received financial
support from the state and industrial sources to continue
development of an organic solvent-based wood pulping process.
This work may lead to the growth of " clean" mini-pulp mills in
northern Michigan, Dr. Chiang is also working with Bill
Campbell (Biological Sciences) and Alex Diner to investigate
changing the economics of kraft pulping through genetic
manipulation of softwood lignin.
30
Peter Laks is working on the chemical modification of wood
fiber to produce superior wood fiber for plastic composites. A
superior fiber medium can be developed from Michigan's
hardwoods which is ideal for the reinforcement of plastics. A
composite made from these superior wood fibers and a
thermoplastic could be used in automobile body panels, house
siding and other exterior applications.
The wood preservative group has seen several years of
research come to fruition as a commercial wood preservative
system developed at the IWR comes up for AWPA approval
this year. In addition to proprietary preservative tests, Peter
Laks had led work to develop environmentally.safe wood
preservatives from biocides extracted from bark .
Feasibility studies that target the hardwood dimension
industry and a medium density fiberboard produced for
industrial recruitment in Michigan have been the major product
of the marketing group at IWR. John Diebel has also been
involved with conducting financial analysis for various projects.
Momentum has been gaining to license the molded wood
pallet technology since the first Navy pallets rolled out of the
IWR's new 58"xl08" press. The press is located in a building
on the Isle Royale Sands. Other ind ustrial sponsors have also
taken advantage of this unique facility that can produce full·
sized products without tying up production lines.
The IWR's primary goal will continue to be to increase the
utilization and marketing of Michigan's forest resource. We look
forward to even closer cooperation as a part of the School of
Forestry and Wood Products.
A variety of molded wood products are possible.
Molded wood pallets are nestable for storage and
shipping. A stack of regular pallets this high
would only contain 12 units instead of the 33
shown. This is a fine way to increase the
utilization of the large volume of low-grade
hardwoods, grown as a by-product of high quality
hardwood production in Michigan's forests .
31
We see the IWR people on a more informal basis than our
professors -
in the building we share with them, in the
laboratories where some of us work as student assistants or
graduate students, and in seminars where they share their
knowledge with us. Our lives are richer for having known them
- our education, more complete.
JANET BAINBRIDGE
Secretary,I.W .R.
JOHN DIEBEL
Marketing/ Financial Analyst, I.W.R.
" I don't trust the market any more than I trust the belt loops
on these pants!"
BRUCE HAATAJA
Senior Research SCientist, I.W.R.
32
PETER LAKS. Ph.D.
Research Scientist, I. W .R.
PEGGY McKAIG
Assistant Research Scientist, I. W .R.
LESLEY PUTMAN, Ph.D.
Assistant Research Scientist, I. W .R.
,
-
ANDREW WILLIAMS
Assistant Research Scientist, I. W .R.
33
GLEN BELKO LA
Research Associate , I.W,R.
ROBERT PALARDY
Assistant Research SCientist, LW.R.
MARCIA PRUNER
Research Associate
34
DOUGLAS JURMU
Laboratory Associate, I. W .R .
FRANK STORY
Laboratory Associate, I.W.R.
WILLIAM YRJANA
Laboratory Associate, I.W.R.
35
Forest Biotechnology
Genetic evolution, propagation via tissue culture and genetic engineering
with larch species continue to be the foci for our forest biotechnology
program at the SchooL Small scale test plantations designed to compare
growth and form between larch tissue culture plants and larch seedings
have been established on Mead Paper Company lands in the Upper
Peninsula and on Scott Paper lands in Maine,
The Mead Paper Company has established an endowed graduate
fellowship in Forestry and Forest Biotechnology as a part of Michigan
Tech's Century II Campaign.
Currently there aTe seven graduate students pursuing degrees in forest
genetiCS and biotechnology, Nik Abrahman from Malaysia is finishing her
Ph.D. on in vitro screening for disease resistance in larch . Yinghua Huang.
from mainland China, is conducting his Ph.D. research on genetic
engineering in larch.
Finishing up their master's work are Pascale Rassat , from France,
working on leaf morphology tests related to air pollution tolerance of trees;
and Jim McLaughlin, an Upper Peninsula native, working on vitrification
and growth of tissue culture plants. Other M.S . students include Sue Hart,
working on environmental factors affecting the growth of tissue culture
plantlets; Nadine Thor from the Detroit area, studying the rooting of larch
tissue culture plants; and Xiaozhao Wang, from mainland China, studying
secondary product production in tissue culture systems.
36
The Forest Biotechnology people also share our building. Paul
Berrang teaches some of our classes and is shown with OUT
facuity (see p.
''=». The two who appear here are also folks
that
we ~e regularly in the halls and laboratories,
ALEX M. DINER, Ph .D.
Research SCientist, Forest Biotechnology
ELIZABETH (BETTY) GAFF
Clerk, Forest Biotechnology
37
Graduates
Graduates of the 1986-1987 Academic Year
B.S. in Forestry
Kenneth Alan Anderson: Cum laude, XI Sigma Pi,
Currently in graduate school at MTU
Lee Mitchell Andrews: SAF
Currently working at the University of ldaho
Theresa Louise Burger: Co-op with the Corps of Engineers
Currently in graduate school at MTU
38
" o55ell Clark : SAF
Currently with the U .S. Forest Service at Moscow, Idaho
Joanne Mar;e David: SAF. W;ld/;re Club Offke"
Currently with Plum Creek Lumber Co .. in Idaho
Jon E. Drukenbrod : SAF
Current ly with ACRT in Pennsylvania
39
Graduates not
pictured. B.S. in
Forestry
Graduates not
pictured. B.S. in
Wood and Fiber
Utilization
Marianne Marie Emmendorfer: Cum Laude. SAF, Xi Sigma Pi
Michael Dale Anderson
Currently with Georgia·Pacific Corp. at Gaylord. MI
Officer
Currently in graduate school at the University of Idaho
Kurt Alex Hennig
Currently employed in Colorado
Robe rt Pa trick Hoffman : Magna Cum Laude
Heather Kaylee Fry: Cum Laud e, FPRS
Currently with Weyerhaeuser Corp. at Marshfield. WI
Sven Eric Axel Girschner: FPRS Office
Currently in graduate school at MTU
Double major in Computer Science
Scott Stephen Marsh: SAF. Wildlife Club
Rodney Arnold Maki: FPRS Officer
Currently at Engineer School with MI National Guard
Kimberly Anne McCrary
Lorenza N. Mueller
linda Elaine Pitts
Currently employed in Academic Computer Services, MTU
Thomas Francis Prehoda : Double major in Civil Engineering
Currently in graduate school at MTU
Gerald E. Szymaniak : Cu m Laude . SAF. Xi Sigma Pi
Currently with the U.S. Forest Service in Idaho
T imothy J . Trombley
Graduate not
pictured. M.S. in
Forestry
Kathleen A. Lederle
Currently a research scientist at MSU in Lansing. MI
41
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43
TIMBER PRODUCERS ASSOCIATION OF MICHIGAN
AND WISCONSIN - given by the Association for a Michigan
or Wisconsin r~sident with family ties to a forest industry. The
1987-88 recipient was Kenneth R. Brummel. In the photo at
the right, Timber Products Association Board Member Bernard
Kallio. Silver Forest Products, Lake linden, presents the check
to Ken.
MTU LEADERSHIP SCHOLARSHIP - given to student
leaders by MTU. The 1987-88 Forestry recipient of this award
was also Steven R. Hoffer.
HARRY R. COHODAS MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP available to pay the tuition of any U .P . student with great need .
The recipient for a second year was Theresa A. Reilly,
KATHERINE M. BOSCH MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP for U.P. students with financial need. One of the 1987-88
recipients was David M . Hoheisel.
CLASS OF 1987 SCHOLARSHIP - for any MTU student
with financial need . One of the 1987-88 recipients was Erik D.
Keranen .
OUTSTANDING FORESTRY SENIORS - Chosen by a vote of the faculty of the
School of Forestry and Wood Products, these students are chosen on the basis of both
scholarship and citizenship in the University and the School. Their names are
permanently mounted on a plaque, originally presented by former Dean of Forestry,
Eric A. Bourdo, Jr., displayed in the School. The outstanding seniors for the 1986-87
year I shown together in the photo at the top of page 40, were:
JOSEPH A. FOSTER
Joe was active in Xi Sigma Pi, a member of Phi Sigma Beta (Nat'l Biological Honor
Society), and active in the SAF Student Chapter fForestry Club, serving as its Program
Chairman. He was also active in the MTU Jazz Combo and in the MTU Jazz Band for
three years. Graduating with a grade point average better than 3.4, Joe Is working for
the Mead Corporation in Escanaba, Michigan.
JAMES L . POST
Jim was active in Xi Sigma Pi , and active in the SAF Student Chapter/ Forestry
Club, serving as Sec-/Treas. in 1985-6 and as President in 1986-7. He co-oped with
the biomass harvesting program of Central Michigan University in 1986 and has
worked with members of the faculty on various research projects. Graduating with
better than a 3.4 grade point average, Jim has entered the graduate program in the
School of Forestry and Wood Products and will work with Dr. Dave Reed on an acid
precipitation project for his Master 's.
45
The Tree Planter
by L. H. Hill
Still as he grew older every spring
He worked at planting trees - white spruce
and red.
Along the contours of the slopes they cling
in lovely curving rows. The neighbors said
He must be crazy at his age to set
Plantations, he a forester. His wife
And he could surely never hope to get
A harvest back at their late time of life.
He also lined out seedlings - ash and fir.
On fields too poor for crops his red pine
thrives.
His honey locust blooms, and a stir
Of wind spills magic smell around it
To bless a man who dreamed and worked to
leave
The earth a little better than he found it.
46
STUDENT
ORGANIZATIONS
-
AND
ACTIVITIES
47
SAF
Forestry Club
The Society of American Foresters Student Chapter -
Forestry Club had a busy year under the leadership of:
Jim Post , President
Jay Clark. Vice President
Jeanmarie M ilitello, Secretary / Treasurer
we placed the highest that any team had when they came to
Jim Sholly. Program Coordinator
Conclave for the first time . We also ended up having fun even
though we were " kicked out of town" and had to find another
place for our party .
After the fall quarter, things began to quiet down and we
geared up towards winter and hockey. SAF sponsored a C lass
C intramural hockey team and named it the Pathogens.
Through fan participation and the players having fun , we
eventually posted a 9·4 record. W inter Carnival rolled around
and we participated in the various events . We got no prizes this
year . There's always next year.
In the spring quarter, the annual faculty / grad student vs.
undergraduate snowshoe softball game was held . The snow
conditions were hard packed, crusty and icy, while the weather
was warm and sunny. The result was a win by the facuity/grad
team - I'll never admit to the score, but the undergrads will
win - someday!
We did have some speakers and programs during the year to
The annual fall wood cut went off as usual, without too many
glitches. We did end up committing ourselves to producing
more wood to customers than we had M ead deliver to us and
weren't able to fill some orders because the weather turned
bad. but we had fun .
Several members spent long days and nights on the
telephone . placing calls to potential freshmen who were
interested in Forestry or Wood Technology, either at Michigan
Tech or elsewhere. to help answer any questions they might
have. The calls were made for Dean Frayer and Prof, Mroz, but
the labor wasn't done for free - it has a price . The Dean
graCiously provided two MTU vans for our efforts. which we
drove to Conclave.
We sent 19 people down to the 35th Annual Midwestern
Foresters Conclave , held near Purdue University, at West
Lafayette. Indiana. This was the first time since 1982 that Tech
had a team participate in Conclave . W e ended up placing sixth
among eleven universities and took first place among the
Michigan schools , beating both Michigan State and the
University of Michigan.
Schools from Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin , Illinois,
Missouri. Indiana and Ohio partiCipated in such events as one·
and two· man crosscut sawing, Jack and Jill crosscutting. twO·
man and Jack and Jill log rolling. pulp tossing. bolt throwing.
match splitting, two·chain tape throwing, speed chopping.
dendrology and tobacco spitting. Randy Brooks and Jim Post
took second and third places, respectively, in the speed
chopping.
Some of the questions asked of the judges were : " What IS
the objective of this contest?" or, "How do you do this? " We
learned by trial and error, and with little practice, how to
perform in the different events . At the end we were told that
gain a little professional identity. Sponsored with the Wildlife
Club was a debate. with speakers from both sides of the
Mead / Harvest / Clearcut / Deer Yard controversy, which was
also open to the public . In another meeting we heard Rolf
Peterson talk about the Isle Royale moose and wolf
populations. There were others too, but somehow the fun times
are the ones remembered best.
The new officers who will gUide us through the 1987·88
academic year are:
President - Kevin Fox
Vice President - Andrew Corbin
Secretary / Treasurer - Steven Hoffer
Program Coordinator - Jimi Williams
Submitted by Steve Hoffer
48
Big Screw Contest
During the spring the Big Screw Contest was held on
campus, sponsored by Alpha Phi Omega , Students "vote" for
their "favorite" professor (define "favorite" any way you like)
by donating money -
each penny donated counts as a Yote
cast. Two years ago we nominated one of OUT faculty. and he
won, Last year we nominated Johann, but he lost by $11
dollars,
This yea r we nominated Prof. Ros Miller. figuring it would
take a heavyweight to return the award to the School of
Forestry and Wood Products again . After all , even though the
award (a large screw) is representative of an engineeri ng
award, it IS made of WOOD rather than metal, and we figured
we could outdo the engineers again
if
the foresters brought the
awa rd back to the School.
The results were astonishing. The School worked together,
dug into their pockets, and pulled off a landslide victory, Ros
won by having about $81 while his closest rival had only $35 or
so worth of votes . Of course, the victory was all the more
complete as Ras even campaigned for the award and Ruth
Miller was serving as his campaign manager. Rumor has it that
Mrs, Miller was seen slipping a $20 bill into the vote jar in the
Union lobby - but the rumor is unconfirmed.
As a result of these efforts, Ros was presented with a twofoot tall wooden "Big Screw ," complete with his name If' brass
attached. Because he WliS the winner, he also got to choose his
favorite charity to receive the money raised from the whole
contest. The Copper Country United Way, of which Ros is a
Board Member, will be presented with a check for $227 ,24
from A,P,O,
Ros with a screwdriver is presented the Big Screw in front
of one of his classes by Eric Wennersten , A .P.O, Big
Screw Chairman, with Steve H offer , A .P.O. member
looking on.
In the photo at the left, the 1986 Conclave Team poses before the competition got underway at Purdue, (Standing, L. to R,) Scott
Swank, Carl Helquist, Jon Drukenbrod, Theresa Burger, Joanne DaVid, Lee Andrews. Jim Sholly, Mary Jo Humphreys, John Zenk,
Todd Groh, Kevin Fox,
(Reclining, L. to R) Steve Hoffer, Tom Hill, Jay Clark, Joe Foster, Jim Post, Randy Brooks,
49
Wildlife Society
Club News
Mooselift II
Once again it was an exciting year for the wildlifers. We
twisted the afm of Terry Sharik to be OUT new club advisor.
The fall included our usual apple cider making as well as
holding poster and bake sales to help the treasury along. We
also joined in with the SAF to sponsor a couple of evening
seminars dealing with the clear·cutting of prime deer yard areas
in the U.P.
In February of 1987, 30 moose from Ontario, Canada, were
released in Michigan's U.P. and the MTU Student Chapter of
the Wildlife Society was a part of the operation. Officers of the
Chapter contacted the Michigan Department of Natural
Resources to offer assistance for this special event. Four-person
crews were sent to the release site on each of the eight days
when animals were released.
The crew's duties were to monitor movements and behavior
of the moose in their new territory for a period of one to four
hours. The going was tough on some days as soft snow made
traveling on snowshoes difficult in the hilly terrain, even though
tracking was easier in some ways but visual contact was more
difficult. It was rewarding when a tracker would come upon one
of the moose browsing on its first American meal.
The release was a success for everyone - increasing the
U.P. moose herd to nearly 100 animals and giving students a
rare opportunity to participate in such an undertaking.
Other folks present at Moose Lift II were:
One of the new activities the club is involved in consists of
collecting and returning the empty pop cans around the School.
With the installation of a pop machine in the hall next to the
candy, potato chip and gum machine. the club provides a box
for the empties and returns them for the ten-cent deposit on
each of them. In return fo r these additions to our treasury. we
also keep the machine stocked with a variety of diet and non·
diet soda. By.products of this activity are cleaner classrooms,
halls and laboratories, along with the quenched thirsts of the
student body. Now, if we could only get the tobacco chewers to
stop using the empty cans as spittoons . . . yecht!
In the spring, six of our members made their way west to the
University of Minnesota. They were the host school this year
for the North Central Spring Wildlife Conclave. The emphasis
of this year's presentations were on "Non·game Wildlife" and
there were some very interesti ng presentations on some of
these, including the Piping Plover a nd the Said Eagle. Once
again , the extracurricular activities proved to be great fun and
many new friends were made.
Plans for the coming year 's activities are already in the
works. Good luck to our graduates - we hope to join you
soon .
50
Michigan Governor James Blanchard
D.N.R. Director Gordon Guyer
TV6 "Discovering" pe rsonality Buck Lavasser
Thousa nds of spectators
Thirty Ca nad ian moose who became Ame ricans
Xi SigDla Pi
Alpha Eta Chapter
The academic year 1986-87 was celebrated with two
initiations of new members in to Xi Sigma Pi. There actually
were enough candidates to hold both fall and spring initiations.
Celebratory dinners were held in the basement of Nutini's
Supper Club and in Gary Lyon's kitchen. Ken Anderson, Ken
Brummel, Andrew Corbin, Kevin Fox, John Rautiola and Jack
Mattila were initiated in the fall, and Gregg Anderson, Jeff
Anderson, Mark Koch and Roger Powell were initiated in the
spri ng. Joe Foster (1986), past Forester, returned to help with
the spri ng initiation and pa rticipate in Forestry Days. Kevin Fox
(Forester) learned that candles do not provide enough light to
read the ceremonies through the wax which drips on the paper.
Following a standing tradition, the Alpha Eta Chapter
sponsored its symposium during spring quarter , inviti ng
speakers from the Depart ment of Natural Resources, U.S.
Forest Service, Michigan United Conservation Clubs, Mead
Corporation, and Michigan Tech. The topic focused on a reas
where forest (timber) ma nagement and wildlife management are
in confl ict and where they are compatible. Speakers stressed
the potentia l benefits to wildlife habitat that can be obtained by
plan ning ha rvesting operations with a view towards habita t
improvement.
At the symposi um, Dick Black from Cha mpion International
took the opportunity to present a corporate contribution to the
School.
Forestry Day
The School started a new tradition in the spring with a large
blowout which will henceforth be known as Forest ry Day. The
proceedings consisted of the annual Xi Sigma Pi symposium
followed by a banquet in the Memorial Union BUilding.
The banquet was for students, faculty and staff of the School
along with wives and guests. Jim Sholly was the Me for the
student portion of the afterdinner activities, presenting
numerous awards, gifts and further bribes to the faculty during
an informal faculty roast.
On the serious side, guests and friends of the School were on
hand to present some special awards and scholarships to
deserving students. SeriOUS awards, such as the Outstanding
Senior Forester, were presented, and students who would
receive scholarships during the 1987·88 academic year were
recognized.
After the speeches and awards were over, people danced
and listened to the music of one of Our local bands, some of
whom were foresters.
Forestry Day will probably be expanded in the next fe w
years to welcome grads back to the School of Forestry and
Wood Products who wish to reminisce about the college
experiences in fo rmer years.
51
FPRS
The 1986·87 Forest Products Research Society Student
Chapter was a small but vital group. Officers were:
Trent Uehling, President
Sven Girschner, Treasurer
Rodney Maki, Secretary
Chris Watt, Membership Chairman
Members ordered T-shirts which proclaimed the many uses of
wood - all with respect, of course.
The Society sponsored two well·attended evening seminars.
Mark Conolly, General Manager of Mead's Northern
Hardwoods Division, spoke on "Staying Competitive in the
U.P." Mark's talk stimulated a lively discussion between
students, faculty and community members present.
A second seminar on "Genetic Engineering of Softwood
lignin" was given by Dr. Vincent Chiang, Assistant Professor in
the School and Research Scientist in the Institute of Wood
Research. Dr. Chiang informed an interested audience of new
MTU research on the cutting edge of the exciting field of
biotechnology.
For 1987·8, the FPRS Student Chapter plans to continue to
sponsor informative talks , as well as to organize social events
and undertake some hands·on projects. We will grow with the
growth of the Wood and Fiber Utilization program here at
Tech!
Load testing a molded wood pallet.
Photo at right shows a molded wood
pallet in use.
52
J and J Logging
This page is not a paid advertisement . J & J Logging
Company of Chassell, Michigan, has been an integral part of
our Timber Harvesting course for the past two decades. That
means that just about everyone of our graduates in the past 20
years has paid a visit to J & J and their logging job.
Back in the late 1960's. it was Gil and Bill who were
partners together, with one saw, one tractor, and one truck
with a big·stick loader on it. When Bill died, J & J was created
by the father and son team of Gil and Jan Juntunen. The
tractor was traded for a rubber·tired skidder and the newer
trucks had hydraulic loaders on them.
More recently , a nephew (and cousin) was added to the team
as a skidder operator and. in 1987, a fourth man (a faller) has
further increased the size of the outfit. Now Gil makes four
loads a day to the Northern Hardwoods (Mead) mill near South
Range rather than the two a day made back in the 1960's.
Graduates will probably remember some of the bus trips
down muddy or dusty logging roads in the fall to visit J & J
Logging. Gil and Jan especially have been willing to share their
experiences and comments with the classes. We just thought
you might like to hear of the changes that have been made.
And this is a public "thank you" to them for their part in
educating young professional foresters. Why else do foresters
exist, if not to grow trees better and faster for harvesting and
use of the wood?
In the middle photo at the right. Jan Juntunen (the son) spends
most of his time with a saw in his hands, bucking at the landing,
and trying to get the best grade he can out of the stringers that
have been skidded . If things are slow at the landing, however,
he is likely to be falling and trimming the trees too.
In the photo at the right. Gilbert (Gil) Juntunen (the father)
keeps pretty close to the truck, loading, driving, or unloading at
the mill . Evenings he's likely to be doing repair work or
maintenance on the vehicle . Even so, students are likely to see
him marking or making bucking cuts at the landing. And it's not
unlikely that he'll be operating the skidder too if someone is
sick and not working on any given day.
53
Forest Technician
PrograDl
School of Technology
The Forest Technology Program has been completely revised
within the past two years. While some of the changes were
precipitated by the high cost of summer field practices, others
were instituted in order to allow students the opportunity to
select courses outside of the Forest Technology curriculum.
Summer camp has been replaced by a fall camp {still held at
the Ford Forestry Center}. The faU camp is required of aU
second year technician students. While projects aTe still directly
field oriented, the fall quarter has a greater number of structure
recitations as compared to the old summer quarter field
practices COUTse. The elimination of summer field practices had
resulted in shortened field projects. There are fewer projects in
which the students are told to "go out and do your project
again, and get it right this time" as was commonly heard during
the old summer camp.
The fall camp does feature a project which includes all
classes the students have taken. The project consists of the
students being given a land description of an area away from
the Ford Forestry Center, with instructions to go out and
evaluate the tract and write a report that is appropriate to each
course taken in the fall quarter.
-
The greatest reduction in course work has occurred in the
area of surveying, which was reduced from three courses to
one general course taught in the Land Surveying Program.
Speech is now a required part of the curriculum, along with
First Aid. In addition, students are afforded the opportunity to
select free electives during the two· year period. However, the
revised curriculum still emphasizes the field applications
expected of a forest technician.
MTU 's Forest Technician Program was one of four in the
country to undergo an initial review for continued recognition
by the Society of American Foresters. The review was
conducted under the newly instituted procedures established by
the SAF. Our program was approved for continued recognition
with no restrictions. The recognition is for a ten·year period
with the normal interim update report expected in fjve years.
For those of you who may not have kept up with past
developments in the program, the faculty now conSists of
Bernie Carr and Tom Kelley. In addition, the School of Forestrl
and Wood Products loans us the partial services Dennis Baril
during the fall and spring quarters. "Wild" Bill Bertie is retired
and still lives in L'Anse. Ralph Duffek has left our program and
is now an extension forester with the MSU Cooperative
Extension Service. Ralph operates out of the Ford Forestry
Center. Jim Dougovito is now Manager of the Ford Forestry
Center. Declining enrollments experienced by the program has
prohibited the replacement of these valuable individuals.
BERNARD W. CARR
Associate Professor
Coordinator of Forest Technology
THOMAS L. KELLEY
Assistant Professor
" I haven 't had map reading yet, Matt,
but just going on instinct, I'd say that
we're just about here,"
"No way, Bud; according to my
reckoning, both you and the guys who
put up that sign were lost."
55
Houghton
National Bank
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supplier for over
33 years ...
The MTU Campus Bank
With 24-Hour Teller
Machine Service
let us help
your futu
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member F.D.I.C.
the spot
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NElSON PAINT COMPANY
Three plants :
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Mature Products
to Handle
Mature Forests
Don't bet your logging fu ture on
products without a past.
In logging, you need more than
promises. You need history.
For the Record:
IRON MULE
For the Future:
TRI-TRAC AND A RANGE OF GRAPPLES
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The basIcs you 'll use In your forestry
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1 ( _ I~ local>On 01 """'ClnC ... " .. ' bwfOI~ yG\I (ullr~('t 01
_
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You develop these basIcs through
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supplement them with man'made tools ,
8<rlol" you .'.11 10 d'9 . •~m .. mb.o.
,he ... ,or. h.dd.P"
", ~IJ PI.y ,I wI• • 1Id ull M,n Otg I
d .. ~,. ",nd<i'.g.ound ..
800 48471 71
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UF+Ek PENINSULA
~ POWER
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Midwest Timber, Inc.
HAYWARD, WI
CARNEY, MI
MERCER, WI
TWO HARBORS, MN
PULPWOOD, MACHINE·PEELED WOOD,
LOGS, LUMBER, BOLTS, TIMBER,
CHIPS, DECKING, AND LAND MANAGEMENT
Photos below - " You gotta start with big ones if you're
gonna make big ones into little ones, right Tom? "
58
Bruce Buell
Mr. Forester
Before there were any state forests in Michigan, and before
there were any national forests here either, forestry was an
idea that concerned only a few people ,
The forests and trees of Michigan were vast. They were used
to build the buildings of our Midwestern cities and towns. As
early as 1757 there was a water-powered sawmill at Detroit.
Thus began the imposition of forestry ideas, other than fire
protection. on the land of the U. P. Bru ce freely gave his
knowledge and experience to loggers and the young forestry
profession alike until his death in 1986. His story is told in the
edited writings of both Bruce and his second wife . Priscilla, in a
book compiled by the late Jean Worth : "Bruce Buell, Mr.
By 1834 there was a steam-powered sawmill at Saginaw which
was cutting pine lumber. And by the 1840's there were large
Foreste r. "
This book is not just tales , It is history as lived by a
sawmills at the mouths of the larger ri vers of the U.P.
professional who wrote down his ideas in forty years of letters
that were saved , It traces the history of a new graduate
By 1900 the best of Michigan's white and red pine stands
were gone. The logging then shifted to the hardwoods that were
searching for the "right job," of a forester trying to get his
left and, by the mid· 1930's, most of the original stands had
been harvested . This first logging was quite simple . The land
was purchased. The harvesting took any tree that could be
employer and his loggers to change their ways to harvesting. of
economically sawn . And then the land was sold ,
Since the original forests had grown for a long time and were
composed of relative ly large trees, this type of logging
essentiall y mea nt that the hardwoods were ciearcut, just as the
pine had been. And the need during the early 1900's was for
mine props , fuelwood. charcoal, chemical wood. and railroad
ties, as well as for sawlogs .
Into this Upper Peninsula envi ronment in 1930 came a young
forester . Graduating with a forestry education from the
University of Michigan in 1919, with a year's experience in the
young national forests of Wyoming and Colorado. and with ten
the labor turmoils of the 1930's, of the beginnings of the
national forests in M ichigan, and of the results of using the
se lection system rather than clearcutti ng.
Anyone with an interest in logging or forestry, whose student
or professional life many have been touched by Bruce , or who
works with the legacy left in the Upper Peninsula by Bruce, can
obtain a copy of the book by sending $10 to Mrs. Buell at 1330
N. 17th Street, Escanaba , MI 49829. You'll not be
disappointed if you do. The book is now required reading in the
Natural Resource Administration and Policy class here in the
School of Forestry and Wood Products.
years of experience in cruising, mapping. scaling and cutting
timber in Canada and the U.S .• Bruce Buell became the first
industrial forester in the U.P., having been hired by the Patten
Tim ber Company of Amasa, MI.
59
Quotes froOl the Past
(as gleaned from various student papers and saved for posterity
by one of OUT professors - printed here so that you may
receive as much enjoyment in reading them as we have in
bringing them to you. Also included aTe some very obviously
snide comments by the Editor).
"An offshoot of this method is when a group of mature trees
aTe cut in a small area at one time over a specified period of
time, and at the same time the rest of the stand is to be cut
over the same way but extended for a certain period of time."
(Huh!)
" Sometimes fire is good for the forest, because other agents
destroy the trees jf the fire fails to. "
"Successful vegetative reproduction depends upon an
adequate seed supply." (This guy was just a few years ahead
of his time. Biotechnology now just about makes this true) .
"Thinning may be accomplished by cutting the tops off of the
dominant trees." (Yep. if the tops are cut off low enough.)
"Pruning will reduce competition between closely spaced
trees and allow for more vigorous growth ."
"The most common defects in a forest are knots." (True, but
... )
" There are many private landowners in Houghton County
who have their land infested with weed trees and should be
removed." (Alta boy. let 's line 'ern all up and shoot 'ern.)
"Wildlife such as songbirds are dependent upon the forest for
browse. "
" This will help preven t erosion, which is a big part of good
water." (Maybe this is where we get hard water?)
"Range management will provide grazing for ranchers." (This
must be the same guy who feeds browse to songbirds.)
"Sustained yield was a practice where forests weren't left to
go to waste after they had been logged by implementing a
replanting program." (If only logging were that easy.)
" Many variables are found in our natural and artificial
forests." (Sounds like a biometrician to me!)
"Useful forests are created and maintained by the
destruction of carefully chosen parts of existing forests."
"Care must be taken to guard against un wanton growth."
(That, too.)
"Forest landowners may use their land for hunting and
hinking." (Sounds kinky to me.)
"It might be possible for all landowners to supplement their
income somewhat with careful considerations." (If the market
for them stays strong.)
"Stand density is a measurement of square feet of tree per
section of land."
"An uneven·aged stand is one that contains a mixture of
species. "
"Last year Weyerhaeuser invested 100,000,000 dollars into
this intensive management program, covering 5.7 acres of
forest land." (That's 44 bills deep if they used one's.)
"After a tree has been thinned, the crown eventually
responds." (Suuurrre it does.)
"Prescribed burning is an excellent method but only
recommended for use under skilled fire office rs." (Yeah, man
- that way just the unskilled ones will survive.)
Your editor hopes that you enjoy this year's Forester.
Believe me when I say that the errors which may occur in it are
mine, all mine. Thanks for reading this far. - RKM
60