Portrait unveiling honors mining pioneer

Submitted by Megan Otts
Phone: 907-474-6959
09/19/07

Dean and Professor Emeritus Earl H. Beistline was honored for his contributions to the University of Alaska Fairbanks and the Alaska mining industry during a portrait unveiling this week.

The unveiling coincided with the College of Engineering and Mines’ convocation ceremony in the Duckering Building, where staff and faculty members shared their memories of Beistline and celebrated his achievements. His portrait will hang in the Duckering lobby with those of fellow CEM deans.

Beistline attended the event with his daughter, Kathy Nussbaumer, and son, Bill Beistline. Nussbaumer originally wondered whether her father would be able to attend due to health problems, but reconsidered when she noticed how his health had improved.

"Dad’s been doing great," she said. "He was very ill this summer, but he’s the only 90 year old I know that’s getting better everyday."

Beistline is a lifelong Alaskan and a respected authority in the mining industry. He was recently inducted into both the Alaska Mining Hall of Fame and the National Mining Hall of Fame in Leadville, CO. The nomination procedures state that inductees are men and women who "achieved lasting greatness" in mining. Typically, the honor is only given posthumously.

According to Bill, his father is one of only a few living inductees and the only Alaska-born miner. Though he appreciates the enormity of receiving such an ward, Bill said that his father has always measured his success by the changes made within the university and the mining industry. For him, being acknowledged for his achievements is not of great import.

"His life revolved around the university," Bill said. "We would go through piles of plaques and recognitions but he never really cared about them. He was humble in that way. Being honored for his work just wasn’t a motivating force."

Beistline received his degree in mining engineering from UAF in 1939, and after serving with the U.S. Army during World War II, he returned to Fairbanks to work as a mining engineering instructor. He continued to serve the university for 35 years, holding various positions including professor, dean of the school of mineral industry, department head, provost and even acting academic vice president of the university on two occasions.

Scott Huang, professor of mining and geological engineering, was hired by Beistline in the early 80’s and remembers him as a friend, a mentor and above all a dean.

"I still think of him as my dean," Huang said. "He hired me and gave me marching orders to strengthen the mining programs at the university. I am still trying to carry them out today."

Huang said that it is important to note how Beistline’s vision has impacted both the university ’s mining programs and the mineral industry as a whole.

While at the university, Beistline helped establish its Mineral Industry Research Laboratory, Petroleum Engineering program and annual Placer and Coal Mining Conference. He also did extensive research on historic mining operations and procedures and received an Honorary Doctorate of Law Degree from the University in 1969. In 1986, he was the motivating force in the Alaska Legislature’s enactment of the Alaska Minerals Commission, whose members have continuously striven to improve the business climate for mining in Alaska.

Nussbaumer explained that her father has always been the kind of person to accomplish a great deal in a short amount of time.

"Most people have sixty seconds to their minute and somehow dad has managed to squeeze in ninety," she said. "It is pretty amazing for one man."

Beistline left the university in 1982 to start his own placer mining operation and consulting firm. Following his retirement, he was recognized for his contributions to the university and given the title of Dean of the School of Mineral Industry, Emeritus and Professor of Mining, Emeritus.

In an April 1982 interview with the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, Beistline looked back fondly on his long tenure with the university.

"Each year brought new challenges for accomplishments," he said. "That challenge was picked up in the attempt to further mineral industry education of the school for the benefit of Alaska."

He went on to explain his decision to retire.

"I think there is only one thing we’re sure of in life, one major thing other than death, and that is change," he said. "You have a certain number of years that you put in and I feel that it’s time to change, to allow other people to come in and carry on, something like a relay race, where you keep right on going."