Dr. Rodney Feldmann was posthumously awarded the W. W. Mather Medal by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, recognizing his outstanding contributions to Ohio Geology.
Dr. Rodney Feldmann received his B.S. (1961), M.S. (1963), and Ph.D. (1967) degrees from the University of North Dakota. He joined the staff at 性福五月天 University in 1965 and remained there until his retirement in 2001. After retirement, he was a graduate coordinator and then Curator of Paleontology at 性福五月天.
Dr. Feldmann enjoyed teaching at 性福五月天 University. He guided his students through research and felt this was the essence of the educational process. He conducted many field trips with his students. The Ohio Geological Survey's Lake Erie Group joined Dr. Feldmann and his students on at least one of these trips. He also led field camps for 性福五月天 University, including one attended by current Chief Mark Jones, who has fond memories of that camp.
Dr. Feldmann was the Editor-in-Chief of Bulletin 70, Fossils of Ohio. In 1988, the Survey asked Dr. Feldmann - by then a professor of geology at 性福五月天 University, a well-known paleontologist, and a previous editor of the Journal of Paleontology- to coordinate the preparation of a new book detailing the fossils of Ohio. Dr. Feldmann recruited 23 experts to prepare a chapter on a particular group of fossil organisms. Dr. Feldmann reviewed each author's manuscript before it was sent to the Survey for editing and inclusion in the book. He authored the introduction, as well as the chapter on preparation techniques. This book has been a bestseller for the Survey since it was released in 1996 and continues to be a bestseller today, frequently used as a textbook for college paleontology courses throughout Ohio.
Dr. Feldmann was recognized worldwide for his knowledge of fossil shrimp, lobsters, and crabs. He published over 450 scientific papers during his career and served as a research associate at the Smithsonian Institution, the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. He was president of the Paleontological Society (1992-1993) and of the Paleontological Research Institution (2008 - 2010). Dr. Feldmann loved paleontology and working with students. He lived his life's philosophy every day: "If you love what you do, you'll never work one day in your life".
The W.W. Mather Medal Award ceremony was held on October 17, 2025. The ceremony included remarks from Aissa Feldmann, Dr. Feldmann's daughter, and the award was accepted on his behalf by his wife, Dr. Carrie Schweitzer.
Article by the Ohio Geological Survey.