In Passing: Raymond B. Daniels

Raymond B. Daniels, 84, retired USDA-NRCS and NCSU soil scientist died June 21, 2009 in Richmond, VA. Ray was born and raised on an Iowa farm and educated at Iowa State University, receiving his Ph.D. in 1957. He initiated his career with NRCS in Iowa and moved to NC in 1960. It was on the Atlantic Coastal Plain where Ray distinguished himself as an outstanding soil geomorphologist. His work explored the interaction of stratigraphy and geomorphology with soil forming processes to develop working concepts of plinthite formation, E horizon formation, argillic horizon formation and water table dynamics in these areas. His work profoundly influenced soil scientists throughout the world to examine soils in a larger physical dimension than was traditional before his work. Ray did such outstanding work in the field that he was transferred to Washington, D.C. as Soil Survey Investigation Leader. Ray never enjoyed directing soils scientists as much as he liked being a soil science researcher, so in 1977 he retired from NRCS and moved back to NC where he worked part-time at NCSU for the next 12 years. Ray’s innovative research continued at NCSU where he was part of a team which showed that much of the previous research showing soil erosion on yield loss did not separate the effects of landscape position and erosion on yield differences. He also authored papers showing water quality benefits of riparian buffers. In addition to many scientific papers Ray coauthored a book Soil Geomorphology with Richard D. Hammer in 1992 which is widely used by those studying soils. He was also senior author on Soil Systems in North Carolina which everyone interested in NC soils keeps handy. Ray loved working with students interested in soils, particularly in the field, where he would point out very distinctive 6-12 inch terraces which almost no one else could see until they were shown. Ray’s work earned him the honor of being a Fellow in SSSA, Geologic Society of American, and the SSSNC Achievement Award.

Ray was married to the former Irene Byles who preceded him in death and is survived by a son and daughter, five grandchildren, and two great grandchildren.