John S. King

Published April 18, 2013 This content is archived.

John S. King, professor emeritus of geology, died March 15 in his Tonawanda home. He was 85.

Known as “Jack,” King earned a bachelor’s degree from UB in 1955, graduating summa cum laude. He then went on to earn a master’s degree in 1957.

He worked at the University of Wyoming, where he earned a doctorate in geology, from 1959 until joining the UB faculty in 1963.

He worked at UB for 33 years, including service as department chair. He directed the geology summer field camp for 27 years and also worked with NASA, creating maps of Mars and Mercury, and directing a NASA intern program for more than 20 years.

He retired in 1996.

King had owned a home in Monticello, Utah—in the southeastern part of the state—since the 1970s and spent time there annually until recent years.

He enjoyed photography, painting and studying the geology of the West—always with a dog at his side.

A private memorial service was held on April 15.