The Hall of Texas and Mexico Cavers
February 11, 2025
Jay Jorden, editor – jjorden@gmail.com – (214) 202-6611, mobile
William R. (Bill) Elliott, creator and advisor
This page is dedicated to tributes, biographies, obituaries, and photos of departed cavers and cave scientists.
Latest updates include memorials for Mike Anderson, Noah Sigmund Brown, Don Denton, José Justo (Marcelino) Reyes Gómez, and Michel Siffre – with additional content on William Russell and Peter Strickland.
Please view the memorials in descending chronological order below. Use your browser’s “find” option (e.g., ctrl-f, command-f) or your mobile device’s “find in page” function to locate a surname.
All these cavers are greatly missed by friends and families. Readers are invited to send files and obituaries to Jay Jorden to post. Please send additions and corrections to Jay at jjorden@gmail.com …
Acknowledgments: Susan Hardcastle Beaty, Dale Pate, Frances Fehribach, and Carol Russell assisted us with challenging research into obituaries, news articles and death certificates. Carl Kunath is recognized for the many years he has written caver obituaries and tributes, accompanied by his great photos. Additionally, we borrowed information from In Memory of Texas Cavers by Ron Miller and are also indebted to many other cavers who provided text and photos.*
2025
Noah Sigmund Brown, 9 May 1983 – 29 January 2025, NSS 72763 – 41 years old.
2024
José Justo (Marcelino) Reyes Gómez, 17 December 1956 – 30 September 2024, 67 years old. Also, please see a video of Marcelino's funeral procession.
Michel Siffre, 3 January 1939 – 25 August 2024, 85 years old.
Lawrence Dean Littlefield, 21 October 1935 – 10 August 2024, 88 years old.
Charley W. Savvas, 16 July 1958 – 21 May 2024, 65 years old.
William Lenton "Dub" Rhodes Jr., 28 January 1935 – 1 January 2024, 88 years old.
Holmes Semken, 28 January 1935 – 1 January 2024, 88 years old.
2023
Perrie (Butch) Loring Fralia, 9 April 1946 – 1 December 2023 – NSS 27041 FE, 77 years old.
Royce Ballinger, 21 February 1942 – 11 November 2023 – NSS 3946, 81 years old.
William David (Bill) Bell, 4 March 1942 – 14 September 2023, 81 years old. Also, please see the video eulogy from 21 October, 2023.
John P. Brooks, 21 October 1957 – 9 September 2023. NSS 20233, 65 years old. Also, please see Jerry Atkinson’s tribute and more photos.
Lynn Allman, 25 September 1936 – 23 June 2023, 86 years old.
Alexander Klimchouk, 29 August 1956 – 11 April 2023. NSS 31491, 66 years old.
2022
Orion Knox Jr., March 1941 – Dec. 31, 2022. NSS 4603. In addition, please see Remembering Orion Knox.pdf.
Marion O. Smith, 24 September 1942 – 30 November 2022. NSS 9164.
J. Bruce Anderson, January 1948 – 6 September 2022. 74 years old. Tribute unpublished by request of the family.
Marc Tremblay, 31 July 1964 – 26 June 2022. NSS 23743.
Tom Rogers, 9 April 1970 – 22 June 2022
Dwight Deal, 18 April 1938 – 11 June 2022. NSS 3592. In addition, see Deal_Album.pdf , Deal_poem.pdf, Deal_Pubs.pdf.
2021
Larry Williams, 1947 – 27 August, 2021
Tommy McGarrigle, 12 January 1950 – 24 August 2021
Mike Connolly, July 1947 – July 8, 2021
James (Jim) Youmans May 20, 2021, age 60s.
Nevin Davis 1942-2021, 79.
John Loving 1975?-March 2021, 46.
Walter D. Feaster, 17 December 1950 – 3 February 2021, 70, Midland, NSS 31624. A second obituary by his friend, Gralin Coffin, is included separately.
2020
Joe Giddens, 30 October 1939 – 23 December 2020
Art Carroll, 30 June 30, 1935 – 26 July, 2020, 85, San Jose, California, UT Grotto.
Dr. Solveig A. Turpin, 31 August 1936 – 17 July, 2020, 83, San Antonio. Great cave archaeologist. Also see her 1994 Texas
NSS Convention article: Lower Pecos Prehistory: The View from the Caves
Wayne Burks, 22 September 1943 – 7 July 2020, 76, NSS 11992, River Oaks (Ft. Worth), Texas, DFW Grotto.
Michael J. Gibbons, 9 July 1958 – 20 January 2020, 61, NSS 68718, San Antonio.
Mike Hennessy, 15 March 1955 – 6 January 2020, 64. SWT caver in the 1970s with John Chelf.
Carmi Blum, 1944 – 4 January 2020, 76.
2019
Kerry Rowland, 1957 – December 2019, 62. Missouri caver who also explored Texas and Mexico caves.
Bennie Pearson, 28 August 1929 – 27 October 2019, 90, NSS 1847
Dr. John Fish, fall 1942 – 24 October 2019, 77. Great cave hydrogeologist, pioneered caving areas in Mexico.
Lee White, 17 April 1988 – 15 September 2019, 31
Terry Plemons, 19 February 1941 – 19 August 2019, 78
Tom Wright, 12 April, 1951 – 26 August, 2019
Ernie Garza, 20 July 1938 – 16 August 2019, 81
Jenni Arburn, 7 February 1964 – 26 May 2019, 55
Don Broussard, 17 August 1948 – 16 May 2019, 70
Bill Mixon, 29 December 1940 – 8 May 2019, 78 plus Tributes to Mixon
William H. “Bill” Russell, 30 June 1937 – 21 March 2019, 81. In addition, please see an account of William’s participation in a 1988 rescue at Maple Run Cave by Craig Bittinger.
Bob Crisman, 30 October 1934 – 15 February 2019, 84. Bobby had a good caving career with brother Bart in Texas, then another one at Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico. Photo by Dale Pate.
2018
Dorothy Ann Payne McClure, known as Dottie, 13 October 1935 – 14 December 2018, 83, Scottsdale, Arizona.
Lee Jay Graves, 29 October 1959 – 24 November 2018, 59
Louise Power, 30 May 1952 – 28 August 2018, 66
Paula Good, 22 January1954 – 29 July 2018, 64. SWT Grotto
Tom White, 23 March 1942 – 7 July 2018, 76
Peter Strickland, 1946 – 3 July 2018, 72. In addition, please see more caving adventures with Peter by Logan McNatt.
Charles M. Whites Jr., 22 August 1954– 27 April 2018, 63. Caving and outdoor outfitter who became a Round Rock police officer.
B. Lilly, 1936 – 10 March 2018, 82. Active member of the Abilene Grotto who printed The Texas Caver for years. Nice tribute by Carl Kunath.
Joe C. Pearce, 23 January 1928 – 20 January 20, 2018, 90, NSS 2903. One of the founders of the original Balcones Grotto and a principal in getting the Texas Caver started.
2017
William A. “Bil” Phillips, ? – November 2017. Bil was a Canadian and cave–diving cartographer in Quintana Roo. He perished after a short battle with cancer.
Doug Allen, ? – 6 November 2017, 50s. Active in TCMA and TSA. Ran the Longhorn Caverns clean–up in 1988. Helped map caves in the 1990s. Worked in contract cave studies around Austin.
Jimmy Walker, 1927 – 12 October 2017, 90. Jimmy explored Mayfield Cave (Caverns of Sonora) and caves in the Sierra de El Abra in the 1950s. Talented artist.
Bob Oakley, 14 October 1944 –April 10, 2017, 72. From Uvalde, a member of Carta Valley Sucks and other caving clubs.
2016
Sergio Zambrano, 1948 – 12 November 2016, 68. Deep vertical caver, cave diver, climber, and pilot from Mexico. Sergio dove in caves in Mexico and Florida. He was killed in a traffic accident on the way to Sótano de las Golondrinas. Obituary by Bill Stone in AMCS Activities Newsletter 41, June 2018.
Jerry Lee Chastain, 23 April 1934 – 20 October 2016, 82, Austin.
David McKenzie, 1943 – 14 December 2016, 73, NSS 6419. An important speleologist who mapped many caves and wrote the software Ellipse, Walls, and WallsMap.
Blair Pittman, 12 February, 1937 – 10 October, 2016, 79. Photojournalist, DFW caver, author of books on the Big Thicket and Big Bend, Blair published his book Texas Caves in 1999 through the Texas A&M University Press.
Charlie Yates, 4 October, 1950 – 10 August 2016, 65. SWTG caver, caved in Texas and Mexico, Texas historian and re–enactor.
James Estes, 10 October 1928 – 18 September 2016, 87. An early editor of The Texas Caver from Abilene, he rejuvenated the TSA and was Chairman of the 1964 NSS Convention in New Braunfels. He worked a lot in Deep Cave. Nice tribute here by Carl Kunath.
Art Simpson, 4 October, 1932 – 30 July, 2016, 83. Ferris Arthur “Art” Simpson started caving in the 1950s in the UT Grotto. He was a Renaissance man, a caver through and through,
and a close friend of Carol Westmoreland Russell. He died in Foster City, California.
2015
James Calvin (Jim) McLane III, 23 June 1945 – 22 September 2015.
Dr. Francis E. “Ab” Abernethy, 3 December 1925 – 21 March 2015, 89. Professor of folklore and naturalist from Stephen F. Austin University, he helped discover new cavefish sites in Mexico.
Roger Sperka, 25 November 1940 – 2 February 2015. Cave geologist and biologist, explorer and surveyor, he passed away in El Paso.
Mario Zabaleta, died 20 February 2015. Cave diver from Spain and Mexico.
2014
Ollene Bundrant, 1 June 1931 – 25 December 2014, 83, NSS 6984
Mike Anderson, 5 April 1953 – 13 November 2014, 61
Robert “Bob” Obele, 27 May 1945 – 19 September 2014, 69
Katherine Goodbar, 28 August 1920 – 18 July 2014, 93
2013
Bob Cowell, ca. 1938 – 5 October 2013, age ~65
2012
Nathan Parker, 28 February 1972 – 5 November 2012, 40
Nick Arburn, 1 July 1993 – 12 June 2012, 18
2011
Dr. Barry F. Beck, 18 October 1944 – 28 November 2011, NSS 11737RL (HM–FE), 67
Rod Goke, 6 December 1946 – 5 October 2011, 64
Mike Swinford, 25 January 1951 – 12 November 2011.
Richard M. Smith Jr., 2 July 1945 – 16 October 2011, 66. He was “THE Richard Smith” to distinguish him from A. Richard Smith. Both were good geologists and cavers.
2010
Michael B. Collins, 16 July 1942 – 4 July 2010, 67.
Dr. Robert W. “Bob” Mitchell, 25 April 1933 – 18 March 2010, 76. Cave biologist and Texas Tech University professor who pioneered many studies in Texas and Mexico, particularly Astyanax cavefishes in the Sierra de El Abra.
2009
Ed Alexander, 25 November 1942 – 17 October 2009, 66
Carl Ponebshek, 16 October 1924 – 14 August 2009, 84. Obit from Texas Caver 2009–07.
Jack C. Burch, 11 November 1922 – 16 June 2009, 86, NSS 2175. Obit in Texas Caver 2009–07.
Richard N. “Dick” Beauchamp, 1936 – 7 July 2009, 73. NSS 3252. Obit in Texas Caver 2009–07.
Benny Martin, 21 December 1941 – 6 July 2009
Bart Crisman, 27 September 1932 – 7 March 2009, 76, NSS 2781
2008
Harry Walker, 1921 – 16 December 2008, 87, NSS 14628
Bert Olsen, November 1932 – 16 July 2008, 76
2007
Johnny Gass, July 1922 – 25 October 2007, 85. Owner of Honeycreek Cave.
Donna Mosesmann, 7 June 1942 – 11 September 2007
Marcia Cossey–Littlestar, 19 May 1956 – 24 January 2007, 50. Marcia was SWT Grotto president in the mid 1970’s.
**Thomas Summers III, 1963 – 30 April 2007, 44. He drowned while trying to clear a logjam in Deadman’s Cave, the resurgence of Cave Without a Name, Kendall County, Texas.
2006
Anne Hurst, 21 June 1937 – 2 October 2006, 69, DFW Grotto. Owned Backpackers’ World in North Dallas with husband, Calvin Hurst.
Walt Rosenthal, 8 April 2006. Former Austinite, caver and climber, he was also an expert on avalanches. He died trying to save co-workers buried in a snow collapse on California’s Mammoth Mountain.
Randy Waters, 1958 – 24 January 2006, 48
Clark Santos, 13 December 1942 – 14 January 2006, 63
2005
Fred Sawin, August 1934 – 25 October 2005, 71
Brian Burton, 23 October 1960 – 14 September 2005, 44
David Hannah, 1930 – 29 January 2005, 75
Tom Bone, January 1948 – 12 January 2005, 56
2004
Mariano Silva Fuentes, 1971 – 6 April 2004, 33
2003
Noble Stidham, 3 March 1938 – 26 February 2003, 64
Charles Reubush, 19 May 1965 – 19 February 2003, 37.
2002
Stan Moerbe, 7 February 1952 – 11 December 2002, 50
Don Denton, 1959 – October 7, 2002, 43
Mike Moore, 1957 – April 24, 2002, 45
George Sevra, 4 October 1946 –10 April 2002, 55
2001
A. Richard “Dick” Smith, 22 September 1939 – 4 July 2001, 61. A great Texas caver and geologist who was the rock of the Texas Speleological Survey for years. Recipient of the first TSS Outstanding Service Award in 1997. Photos by Carl Kunath.
Thomas E. “Doc” Harding”, October 1928 – 22 February 2001, 72, owner of Midnight Cave.
Oren Tranbarger, 24 June 1939 – 28 January 2001, 61
2000
**Joe Ivy, 1965 – 30 September 2000, 35. Expert vertical caver, died in a technical climb mishap and fall in O–9 Well. Beloved by many, he had an outrageous sense of humor,
Alejandro “Alex” Villagomez, ? – spring 2000, ~35
Mason Estes, 1965 – 2000, 34, Aggie SS.
1999
**Christy Quintana, 1972 – 26 August 1999, 27. A vibrant young caver. A large rock struck her while on rope in Sótano del Aire, San Luis Potosí, México.
Robert Crowder, May 1965 – 26 February 1999, 33.
1998
Pat Copeland, 20 November 1942 – 30 December 2000, 58. Died in an auto accident near San Saba, Texas.
William B. Blakemore, January 1923 – May 1998, 75. Midland, NSS 763.
1997
Margaret Alma Hart–Keys, 3 May 1955 – 23 August 1997, NSS 9411. Revised with new photo by Peter Keys.
Rob Parker, 1962 – 17 August 1997, 35. British cave diver.
1996
Al Brandt, 15 December 1928 – 3 December 1996, 67. Al was on the discovery trip to Natural Bridge Caverns in 1960.
Harry Heidemann, 25 September 1925 – 5 October 1996, 71, developer and manager of Natural Bridge Caverns, Harry worked closely with cavers.
Don Widener, February 1936 – July 1996, 60, NSS 3224
1995
Bill Greenlee, 14 August 1957 – 29 July 1995, 37. He liked to blow up cans of peas in the campfire. He caved with PBSS in the Guads.
Jim Quinlan, 1937 – July 1995, 58, NSS 3021. A PhD grad in geology from the University of Texas, Jim went on to do karst hydrogeology studies at Mammoth Cave, Kentucky, and in many countries.
Charles R. “Squire” Lewis, 29 April 1930 – 11 April 1995, 64, NSS 6951.
1994
Jerry Johnson, 16 June 1950– 9 June, 1994, 43.
**Sheck Exley, 1 April 1949 – 6 April 1994, 45. Died in a deep diving accident at –906 ft. (–276 m) in Cenote El Zacatón, Tamaulipas.
**Ian Rolland, 1965 – 27 March 1994, 29. English caver died in rebreather diving mishap in Sótano de San Agustín, Huautla, Oaxaca.
Charles Haskett, 1994. Greater Houston Grotto.
1993
**Bill Mayne,12 February 1954 – 16 July 1993, 39, NSS 15404. Born in Corpus Christi, Texas, William Allen “Bill” Mayne was a Texas caver who moved to Tallahassee, Florida, and took up cave diving. Bill had done 120 cave dives and was certified, but he died in Clearcut Sink with friend Ariel Goldberg in a double accident.
Luther Bundrant, 1 January 1926 – 24 April 1993, 67, NSS 6983, Alamo Grotto
1992
**Rolf Adams, 1965 – 19 April 1992, 26. A brilliant cave diver from Australia who did significant work in Cueva Cheve, Oaxaca. Rolf died in a cave diving accident in Florida.
1991
**Chris Yeager, ? – 2 March 1991. Died in Cueva Cheve, Oaxaca, when his rappel rack detached from his seat sling.
1990
**Sgt. Murray Elson, ? – 13 December 1990. While helping on a salamander study, he died in Bullis Hole, Bexar County, when his rappel rig detached from the rope. More information is needed.
Dr. Richard O. Albert, 10 September 1920 – 10 March 1990, 69. Colorful surgeon and naturalist from Alice, Texas, who piloted many flights over the Sierra de El Abra for Bob Mitchell’s research, discovering many caves. Wrote several interesting articles published posthumously in the AMCS Activities Newsletter.
Philippe Rouiller, ? – 27 May 1990. An international caver and cave diver from Switzerland, Philippe was a driving force in the 1987 and 1989 Cerro Rabón, Oaxaca, expeditions, pushing the deep Kijahe Xontjoa and other caves in the region. He died while climbing in Switzerland.
Jonathan O. Davis, 1948 – 1990, 52. Talented caver and geologist, killed in a motorcycle accident.
1987
Jon Everage, 3 March 1944 – 10 August 1987, 43. A daring explorer with an outrageous sense of humor.
1986
Tom Meador, 2 April 1943 – 29 September 1986, 43, NSS 5202FE
1984
**Wayne Russell, 1947 – 26 February 1984, 37, NSS 9873. A well–known caver and former TSA chairman, Wayne drowned while cave diving in Jacob’s Well, near Wimberley, Hays County. He was the ninth person to drown in Jacob's Well.
1983
Sandy Deal, 22 November 1941 – 10 October 1983, 41, NSS 7945, Alpine, Texas. Sandra Renstrom Deal was a musically and mathematically gifted woman. She was a great mother, an enthusiastic cave explorer and surveyor, a talented artist and performer, and provided many hours of entertainment around campfires.
1982
Tom Warden, 1917 – September 1982, 65, NSS 6869
1980
Chuck Stuehm, 1928 – 31 January 1980, 52. See memorial issue of Texas Caver, 1980, no. 2.
The Chuck Stuehm Award is for a Texas Caver who took great interest in new cavers. Chuck exhibited this interest in his involvement with Boy Scouts and cavers alike. This award was named in his honor and is given to a “new caver”, that is, someone who has been involved with organized caving for less than two years. The requirement is that the individual show an unusua1enthusiasm for caving. Each grotto in the state may nominate someone they feel best qualifies for the award. Nominations are submitted to the Texas Caver Reunion committee, and the award is given at the annual TCR held in September or October each year. No contest is held, everyone selected for the award receives it. It is up to the individual grotto to select a caver who they want to honor for their eagerness as a new caver.
Dr. Federico Bonet (pronounced “boh–net”), 18 October 1906 – 10 June 1980, 73. Famous Spanish/Mexican cave scientist, he published important papers on the geology and biology of caves in the Sierra de El Abra, Xilitla area, and Cacahuamilpa. See obituary by James Reddell.
A.T. Jackson, 1895 – 27 January 1980. Archaeologist and contributor to NSS Bulletin 10, The Caves of Texas, 1948. Proposed the first cave and archaeology preserve in Texas.
Dr. Paul Boyer, 6 March 1940 – 19 August 1980, 40, NSS 8422.
1979
Gilbert Harder, April 1945 – 19 September 1979, 34. Abilene Grotto. He died on Mount Annapurna.
1978
John Delano, October 1954 - April 1978
1977
George W. Gray Jr., 17 Feb 1924 - 11 Jan 1977, 52. Editor of the Texas Caver in the 1960s.
1975
**Dionicio Vásquez, June 1936 – 16 August 1975, 39. Rope anchor broke, fall in Punkin Cave, Edwards County.
**David Brown, 1959 – 31 May 1975. Inexperienced spelunker died in Dead Deer Cave, Bexar County.
Jerry W. Cooke, 20 November 1936 – 7 April 1975. Cave biologist and arachnologist who studied cave ricinuleids at Texas Tech under Bob Mitchell. He was murdered at his apartment in Houston.
Scott Lillie, 22 June 1952 – 28 March 1975, 22.
1972
**Angeline Palmer, 1954 – 15 April 1972, 18. Equipment failure and fall from rope in Devil’s Sinkhole.
1971
**Bruce Stone, 1953 – 26 November 1971, 18, from Houston. Drowned in Gruta de Carrizal, Nuevo León.
**Chris Cleaveland, 1953 – 26 November 1971, 18, from Houston. Drowned in Gruta de Carrizal, Nuevo León. Same accident report as Bruce Stone. This accident led to the creation of the Texas cave rescue system.
1966
Blair Goodbar, 1919 – 9 September 1966, 47, NSS 5537. Blair was the father of famous caver, son Jim Goodbar, and husband of Katherine, also famous. Blair was one of the first cavers to enter Laubach Cave (Inner Space Cavern).
Frank Harrison, 21 June 1901– 29 January 1966, 65. A Canadian immigrant to Mexico, Frank owned a house for 20 years at Rancho del Cielo, near Gómez Farías, Tamaulipas. He was a friend and host to many cavers and biologists. He was murdered by two radical agrarians who lived nearby; they were apprehended.
Preston McMichael, 4 May 1938 – 14 January 1966, 27. Preston was a beloved and multi–talented cave mapper. The “Preston McMichael Award” was later given by TSA in his honor with a certificate and money to a deserving Texas caver. The award was given five times from 1969–2005, but unfortunately the award faded into obscurity. The recipients were:
1969 James Reddell
1970 Texas Caver staff
1972 Roger Bartholomew
1974 James Jasek
2003 Award reinstated, but not given
2005 Linda Palit
1960
**Abner J. Totty, III, 11 November 1944 – 4 September 1960. Explorer scout, 15, struck in the head by a large rock while on a cable ladder in Devil’s Sinkhole, Edwards County. There was no belay and he fell to his death. This was the first cave–related death in recorded Texas history.
1956
Charles William Hilburn, Jr., 28 September 1931 – 16 June 1956, Fort Worth.
Lost Cavers:
We need more information on cavers who may have passed away. We usually need a person’s full legal name, place of death and year. These first four were well known, but we cannot find their information.
James Brummett. Last reference in the Texas Caver as manager of Inner Space Cavern in 1988. In 1993 he was referred to as the former manager, then only historical references after that.
More Lost Cavers:
William B. Blakemore, January 1923 – May 1998, 75. Midland, NSS 763.
Roland W. Collins, August 1943 – February 1994, Sul Ross SS, Alpine.
Ephraim A. Cuevas, March 1930 – April 2003, Corpus Christi.
John Delano, October 1954 – April 1977, UT Grotto, Austin.
Douglas D. Drysdale, July 1961 – August 2004, Bexar Grotto, San Antonio, NSS 20596 or 20598.
Eugene Ebell, March 1918 – February 2000, Cave Without A Name.
**Sgt. Murray Elson – 13 December 1990. While helping on a salamander study, he died in Bullis Hole, Bexar County, when his rappel rig detached from the rope. More information is needed.
Walter B. Friesen, January 1944 – January 2002, Paisano Grotto, Alpine, NSS 14435.
Ted R. Gates, May 1941 – May 2004, Sul Ross SS, Alpine.
William R. (Bill) Gray, October 1917 – June 1999, Alamo Grotto, NSS 5476. Last reference was in February 1965 Texas Caver.
Claude Head. See Sheffield below.
Clara D. Heidemann, April 1918 – October 1997, Natural Bridge Caverns
Bob Hudson, early active caver from Dallas.
David T. Ince, October 1933 – July 1983, DFW Grotto, NSS 7462.
Harvey R. (Doc) Jackson, Corpus Christi CC, NSS 3656.
Fred Mason, April 1969, Indian Creek Cave owner.
Lucrezia D. Moody, March 1942 – April 1998, DFW Grotto, CVS, NSS 13634.
John D. Moore, April 2006, Honeycreek Cave, NSS 9951.
Richard Novak, 1933 – 1991, NSS 10946.
Jack Prince. See Sheffield below.
James Papadakis. Listed in NSS News Sept. 2009, as a 60–year NSS member.
Carol Ann Roberts, October 1937 – February 1999, Corpus Christi SS.
Robert C. Schroeder, February 1945 – June 1999, Paisano Grotto, Alpine, NSS 7732.
Danny Sheffield. In the Texas Caver, 4th Quarter, 2005, p. 11: “Danny Sheffield (Mid-1950s Dallas caver and member of the Mayfield discovery trip): I am a very lucky man. My first cave trip included a few minutes at the Devil's Sinkhole (at night), a few hours at another small cave (home of many bats) [Red Arrow], and Mayfield Cave [Caverns of Sonora]. From that time on, it was always Mayfield Cave. My wife came along once and we had several trips with Bob and Bart Crisman. Our party from Dallas was usually Claude Head, Jack Prince, myself, and two or three various others.”
Elizabeth Smith (nee Kelly). Last listed in January–February 1997 Texas Caver, no address. Former wife of A.R. Smith and an early UTG caver.
Geren Smith. Recently died in Phoenix. No details yet. Elder son of Elizabeth and A.R. Smith. Younger son is Preston.
Steve Vallandingham, June 1988, CVS, San Angelo.
--
Note: Files are generally stored as pdfs to simplify file maintenance and downloading. We will gladly accept and privately store résumés and biographies of living cavers in preparation for the day when they depart for the great cave beyond.
* Thanks to all who wrote tributes and provided photos; some are now deceased: Ed Alexander, Tavita Alvarado, Katie Arens, Gerald Atkinson, Dale Barnard, Roger Bartholomew, Bill Bentley, Frank Binney, Craig Bittinger, Steve Bittinger, Jim Bowden, Don Broussard, Dave Bunnell, Rune Burnett, Tom Byrd, Bill Calvert, Sylvia Carroll, John Chelf, Jimmy Clements, Gralin Coffin, Jim Coke, Matt Colson, Jim Currens, Glenn Darilek, Gil Ediger, Dale Ellison, James Estes, Jim Evatt, Francis Fehribach, Ron Fieseler, John Fish, Derek Ford, Preston Forsythe, Butch Fralia, Julia Germany, Sherry Graham, Andy Grubbs, April Herzig, Terry Holsinger, Kira Holt, David Honea, Jocie Hooper, James Jasek, Paul and Barbara Johnston, Rebecca Jones, Jay Jorden, Jim Kennedy, Joy Kennedy–O’Neill, Travis Kinchen, Cindy Lee, Bryant Lilly, Pete and Karen Lindsley, David Locklear, Vivian Loftin, Zeke MacCormack, Robert M. McClure, Martha McKenzie, Jim McLane, Logan McNatt, Tom Meador, Karlin Meyers, Marvin Miller, Ron Miller, Mark Minton, Gary Napper, Bob Oakley, Dorothy Olsen, Dan Oughton, Linda Palit, Gary Parsons, Greg Passmore, Lee Perry, Jodell Power Miller, Terry Raines, James Reddell, Bruce Rogers, Christie Rogers, Mary Rusco, Carol Russell, Philip Russell, Geary Schindel, Danny Self, Rex Shepperd, Steve Slocomb, Susan Souby, Alex Sproul, Peter Sprouse, Bill Steele, Bill Stone, John Strickland, Chris Thibodeaux, J. LaRue Thomas, Brian Vauter, George Veni, Mike Walsh, Nancy Weaver, John Woods, and Sam Young.
** Indicates a cave–related death.
El Desnivel Grande, Bustamante, por Carl E. Kunath.
