College of Agriculture & Natural Resources Department of Forestry

Bob Goodman| BS ‘58

During a discussion this morning about what is learned through a college program, I was reminded of what then Department Head Dr. Terrell D. Stevens told the gathered group of forestry students about to graduate in May or June of 1958. 

Dr. Stevens is a man I have admired since the first day I met him.  I had the opportunity to work with him during a December break on a logging job in the Experimental Forest.  It was so cold we drained the cat of water at the end of the day, and filled it with hot water we carried from campus the next day.  I was impressed with his ability to drink scalding hot coffee when we stopped for breakfast.  A couple of ice cubes for me, please.

Anyway, at this gathering he told us,  “You have earned two letters of the alphabet, a B and S.  Now go out into the world and learn the other 24.”

This  little piece of sage advice has guided my life ever since. 

Alan Fowler I BS ‘60

We are here in Louisville, KY, happily retired for the past 20 years, and have never been bored! Connie and I have ten grandchildren to keep up with, spread from New York City to Seattle, WA, plus we travel – a couple of months in Florida each winter plus time in N. Michigan in the summer. We enjoy reading, good food, the flora and fauna, but despair at watching our investments drop precipitously.

I do some fishing and “manage” a trio of ponds here in our neighborhood (thanks Prof. Wilcox) and as I begin my 84th year, a friend of mine just noted, continue “slowly falling apart.” So far the memory is intact so I have many good memories of MSU, Dunbar Camp ‘59, the notorious “Hardpan Crew” and the very useful forestry education I use every day!  All the best to any of my old friends who are still out there! It’s been a good life!

Carl R. Working | BS ‘72 

I owned five forest lots in Santa Claus, IN on a small lake but sold them in retirement to move to Owensboro, KY on a downsized lot next to a farmer’s small forest and I have large trees in my back/side yards. 

I retired from the UPS Airline in 2005. I had returned to college at UofL in Louisville to gain a computer degree.

I worked at the largest urban forest in the country and taught children and adults the love of nature. I even marched in the UofL band and pep band!

Now retired, I’m traveling – trying to see all 50 states and did some travel to Europe, New Zealand, Australia and Fiji. A Hawaii trip is planned for this Jan-Feb.  

I plan to visit MSU campus this summer as we still vacation up on Lake Huron in July near my home town of Port Huron.

I married my friend from MSU and raised two children in Louisville, KY. I’m now an old Forestry major at the age of 72 after the first 10 years; graduating in the field of Aboriculture. 

Edward Fischer | BS ‘75

I served two years in the Peace Corps in Honduras after graduating with a B.S. in forest management.  I served as a forester and planner with the US Forest Service in Colorado, Southeast Alaska, Idaho and the Black Hills, where Jeannie and I still live.  In forty years together, our four children thrived in small towns, now live in much larger places but still love the outdoors. I retired in 2016, and my volunteer activities include a retiree wilderness trail clearing crew using crosscut and handsaws. I love hiking and biking.  Remembering Drs. Wright, Manthy, Dickmann and Kielbaso and a great education!      

Paul Schultz | BS ‘89,  MS ‘91

Since graduation, I’ve worked for the Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources for 30 years as a Forester on the NHAL State Forest, the largest state forest in Wisconsin.  It’s been wonderful, living and working in the Northwoods of Wisconsin.  I set up timber and oversaw the regeneration program.  I was also involved in developing GIS and GPS technology for the Division of Forestry. 

I’ve recently become the National Forest Specialist, overseeing the GNA (Good Neighbor Authority) program for the Division.  GNA is a cooperative agreement between the Division and the Forest Service, whereby State forestry staff conduct management activities (timber sales, planting, inventory, etc.) on Federal lands.  It’s a tool the FS uses to increase management on National Forest lands beyond what they can perform with their own staff.  

Looking forward to retirement in a few years!  A big shout-out to the classes of ‘89 and ’91 (and ‘88 – had a lot of courses with those guys). Hope all are doing well!

Jacob Slusser | MS ‘11

I am still serving as the Panama Coordinator with the Yale School of the Environment’s ELTI program, and would like to share an exciting new publication. In collaboration with two Panamanian colleagues, I recently published the first ever silvopastoral system (SPS) establishment guide for Panama’s Azuero Peninsula (in Spanish). This open-access guide is based on over a decade of our experience implementing SPS with cattle farmers (and is available via the ELTI website: https://elti.yale.edu/resources).  With over 20% of Panama’s land use in permanent pasture, it is a publication that will be of great interest to Panamanian authorities, environmental organizations and cattle producers who want to restore tropical forests in cattle ranching landscapes.