Citation for presentation of the 1999 C. C. Patterson Award to R. Lawrence Edwards

Abstract

Mr. President, Colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen: I received an urgent message that Larry Edwards had telephoned with a request that he should be called at work or at home. My first thought was—what in Heaven’s name was wrong? When I reached him, he informed me that nothing was wrong. He was to be awarded the Patterson medal and asked if I would introduce him. That was wonderful news and I was most pleased to accept this happy task. It is a privilege and a delight for me to introduce R. Lawrence Edwards who is to be the recipient of the C. C. Patterson award of the Geochemical Society. This award is for a recent, innovative breakthrough in environmental geochemistry. Having known Claire Patterson since 1948, I have some basis of guessing what his views of Larry Edwards’ contributions would be. I think Pud would point a very long, bony finger at Larry Edwards’ face and say, "Edwards, you know I don’t like engineers and technologists—but—you have made a scientific breakthrough and do wonderful science," and then he would shove the long, bony finger into Larry’s chest and say, "You are a poet and a scientist."