News Release, Kansas Geological Survey, June 1, 2001
Skelton was named the Honorary Award Winner for the Rocky Mountain Federation of Mineralogical Societies. The award consists of two $4,000 scholarship s that will be given to two earth-science graduate students to be selected by Skelton. Skelton will be recognized at the Rocky Mountain Federation's annual meeting in June in Roswell, New Mexico.
The award is for Skelton's public service and educational activities in mineralogy and the earth sciences.
Skelton has been director of the Survey's Wichita facility since 1981. The facility collects, archives, and loans rock samples from oil and natural gas wells drilled in the state. The collection includes samples from more than 130,000 wells drilled in Kansas.
Skelton has an undergraduate degree in geology from Indiana University, a master's in business administration from Trinity University, and a master's degree in geology from Wichita State.
In addition to other professional activities, Skelton has served as president of the Kansas Geological Society and president of the Kansas Geological Foundation. He is currently Vice President of the Kansas Academy of Science.
The American Federation of Mineralogical Societies is an organization of approximately 750 gem and mineral clubs.