"Doc" Silvey, Biologist - Univ. of North Texas - Denton, TX
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Max and 99
N 33° 12.837 W 097° 09.062
14S E 672316 N 3676529
Statue of "Doc" Silvey collecting samples from the turtle pond/fountain at the Environmental Education, Science & Technology building on the UNT campus.
Waymark Code: WMEY81
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 07/21/2012
Views: 28
This statue of popular UNT professor "Doc" Silvey (
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Text on plaque:
Dr. J.K.G. "Doc" Silvey
Dr. J.K.G. "Doc" Silvey joined the biology faculty of North Texas State Teachers College in 1935 as an assistant professor. His ability to write with either hand, his sharp wit and an entertaining but informative teaching style made him a favorite among students. As chair of the Pre-Medical and Pre-Dental Advisory Committee from 1945 to 1972, his recommendation helped hundreds of UNT students gain entrance into medical and dental schools.
Doc served as Chair of the NTSU Dept. of Biological Sciences from 1952 to 1972 and is credited with establishing a legacy of quality mentoring, teaching and research. His visionary leadership helped create a partnership with the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine that ultimately resulted in the creation of the UNT Health Science Center. He retired as a Distinguished Professor Emeritus in 1977.
Dr. Silvey was known as a "water doctor". He and his students investigated fish kills, managed farm ponds, conducted research on causes and solutions to tastes and odors in drinking water and assessed impacts of water pollution on aquatic life in streams and reservoirs. Many of his students followed in his foodsteps and became water professionals. In 1970, Doc created the Institute of Environmental Studies (now the Institute of Applied Sciences) to foster interdisciplinary environmental problem-solving research. His vision laid the foundation for current UNT graduate degrees in environmental science and in the construction of the EESAT Building. He did all of this and more with "wise counsel and kindness". Doc was truly special.
by David Iles/Bolivar Bronze (
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