What is the Hall of Fame?
The National Rockhound and Lapidary Hall of Fame was founded in
1987 to recognize excellence in the earth sciences by inducting one
or more persons each year in six categories: Minerals, Fossils,
Metal Craft, Lapidary, Education and Tribute (Deceased). At this time we have
inductees representing 44 states. All of the inductees are
experts in their fields. Many of them have published several books
and most of them have been active in community service.
|
|
 |
Some Notable Inductees
- Washington Roebling, one of our inductees in the
Tribute
category, was best known for designing the Brooklyn Bridge. He had
an extensive mineral collection that was given to the Smithsonian.
- Lafayette Funk, a member of the family that hybridized a type of
corn (Funk's G Hybrid), collected giant mineral specimens. Lafayette
donated his first collection of enormous minerals to Illinois State
University at Normal. Later collections were donated to Wesleyan
University and the University of Illinois at Champaign. Originally
inducted in Minerals category, he is now deceased.
- Also in the Tribute category, Joseph Lizaddro, collector of
lapidary masterpieces, established the Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary
Arts in Elmhurst, Illinois.
- A Lapidary inductee, Ute Bernhardt, was the first American and
the first woman to carve the official cameo of the Pope. She lived
in the Vatican for the six weeks it took to carve the cameo.
- Roger van Cleef, an inductee in the Fossil category, played
football for the Dallas Cowboys.
- In the Mineral category, Paul Desautels, was curator of Minerals
at the Smithsonian until his retirement. Paul also served on the
Board of Consultants for the Hall of Fame. He is now deceased.
 About Us
The Hall of fame is a tax exempt organization. Under a ruling by
the Internal Revenue, dated March 14, 1996, donations to the
National Rockhound and Lapidary Hall of Fame are tax deductible
under Section 501 (a) of the Internal Revenue Code as an
organization described in section 501 (c) (3). We accept donations
of almost anything including, but not limited to, money, rocks,
fossils, jewelry, antiques, cars, works of art, etc.
In the Hall of Fame, we have a picture gallery wall where a
picture of each inductee is hung. Also on the picture gallery wall,
is a plaque engraved with the names of each inductee with the
category and year they were inducted. There is also a special case
where donated examples of their work are displayed.
The Hall of Fame is governed by a seven member Board of
Consultants composed of one person from each of the American
Federation of Mineralogical Societies. The names and federations of
the Consultants are as follows; Isabella Burns, California; Marge Colins, Midwest; Diane Dare, Southeast; Fred Schaefermeyer,
Rocky Mountain; Doug True, Northwest; Emerson Tucker, South Central;
and Steve Weinberger, Eastern, Chairman. The curator is Maxine M.
Wilson, South Dakota.
Nominations to the Hall of Fame of qualified persons associated
with the earth sciences may be made by anyone.
Click here to view the qualifications and nomination form.
The National Rockhound and Lapidary Hall of fame is located in
the Pioneer Auto Show at Murdo, SD. Watch for the looong green car! |
