==Tribute: Thomas E. Jackson==

Jan 31, 2010

Our SEGS President, Tom Jackson of Lakeland Florida, passed away on December

26, 2009 after a brief illness. Tom was recently elected to serve

as the 2010 SEGS President, ascending from the office of Vice

President where he served in 2008 and 2009, and was looking forward to an

active year leading the society. Tom was 60 years old.

I first met Big Tom in 1984 when we were undergraduate students in the geology

program at the University of South Florida in Tampa. We both

graduated in 1986 after attending field camp together in New Mexico, and

enjoyed travel experiences across the Southwest with our fellow geology

classmates. After graduation Tom continued studying geology at USF and

received his Masters degree before entering the work force. He was active for

nearly two decades working in private sector consulting and for

regulatory divisions at both the St. Johns River Water Management District and

the Southwest Florida Water Management District. I stayed in contact

with Tom through work associations, and more recently with the SEGS, and we

shared mutual interests in hydrogeology and Florida’s natural and cultural history.

Tom was passionate about Florida history pertaining to state water law and the

effects of human impacts on Florida’s rivers and aquifers. As a Polk

County native, and a lifelong resident of Lakeland, he was deeply concerned

about the diminished hydrologic condition and ecology of the Peace River.

Most troubling to him was the historical disruption of baseflow in the Upper

Peace River from losses of spring discharge to the river due to

groundwater extractions, which is especially evident at the historic Kissengen

Spring site. While Tom was always pragmatic about the slim

prospects of seeing Kissengen Spring flow again, he remained optimistic to the

end that it could be possible to restore flow to the spring.

One of his favorite sayings in this regard was, “Just follow the science”, and I

think Tom was always pretty good at doing that.

We will all miss Tom, his sincerity, kindness, and thoughtful insights about geology.

Dave DeWitt, SEGS President

Reference For Above Article

SOUR ORANGE PIE

PIE FILLING:

1 cup water

1 cup sugar

Bring to a boil

2 level tablespoons cornstarch mixed with a little cold water

2 egg yolks (reserve egg whites)

Pinch salt

3 cubes sour orange (or ½ cup of juice)

Cook for 5 minutes

MERINGUE TOPPING:

Use 2 reserved egg whites and ¼ teaspoon of cream of tartar

Beat until stiff

When stiff add 2 tablespoons sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

BAKING INSTRUCTIONS:

Add meringue to pie and brown by baking 15 minutes at 350 degrees

Link to IHN update and story about the Orange Pie recipe:

==CHRISTMAS 2011 SPRING PICTURES FROM CHARLES COOK==

Slumping and aging from years without water the spring basin lies

quietly a few days before Christmas 2011.

No longer boiling up cold and clear water from earth’s belly, the last

of the season’s rainfall slowly retreats into the drying ground.

They came to visit by thousands, walking up and down these silent steps

by the spring, now abandoned by the sound of their voices and the laughter

of children playing here.

Not satisfied to stay above, the water seeks to rejoin the vast

reservoir below, taking evermore earth and soil as it labors to

obey the force of gravity.

On a quiet day before Christmas the creatures in their need find

the last water, not seeing what will come, for only thoughtful humans

can reflect and understand the possibilities.