Chronology

CHRONOLOGY OF DAVID J. SCHMIDLY

Updated May, 2023

 

1943

• Born December 20th, Lubbock, Lubbock County, Texas.

 

1944

• Lived with my mother and grandmother in Littlefield, Texas, while my father served in World War II.

 

1945  

• My father returned from the European Theatre of World War II.

 

1946 – 1948

• Lived in a two-bedroom rent house with my parents in Levelland, Texas.

 

1949.

• My young brother, Steven Scott, was born. 

• Moved into a new 3-bedroom frame house built on our farm 10 miles north of Levelland in Hockley County.

 

1950  

• Entered the first grade at West Elementary School in Levelland, Texas.

 

1951 – 1953

• Continued with elementary education.  Rode school bus daily to farm.

 

1954 

• Inducted into the Texas Readers Club.

 

1955

• Completed elementary education.

 

1956 

• Entered Junior High School, Levelland, Texas.

 

1957 – 1958

• Played Babe Ruth and American Legion baseball.

• Worked on the farm with my father.

• Family moved from the farm to the edge of Levelland city limits.

 

1959 

• Entered Levelland High School. 

• Lettered in basketball and baseball.

 

1960   Lettered in basketball and baseball.

 

1961

• Inducted into the National Honor Society at Levelland High School. 

• Elected President of High School Band. 

• Inducted into Mu Alpha Theta, Mathematics Club, for superior achievement in the field of mathematics.

• Lettered in basketball and baseball.

 

1962

• Selected Captain of the Levelland High School basketball and baseball teams.

• Graduated from Levelland High School. 

• Entered Texas Tech College (TTU) with a major in zoology.

• Played freshman basketball and baseball at Texas Tech. 

 

1963  

• Pledged Sigma Nu Fraternity at Texas Tech in the Spring.  Awarded active status in Sigma Nu in the fall.

• Met my wife Janet on a blind date.

 

1964 

• Made Deans Honor List at TTU (GPR greater than 3.0).

 

1965

• Made first field trip, with Dr. Robert L. Packard, to the Big Bend region of West Texas. 

• Made Deans Honor List at Texas Tech.  

 

1966

• Graduated from TTU with B.S. in Zoology. 

• Made Deans Honor List. 

• Entered graduate program in biology at TTU to pursue Master’s degree. 

• Married Janet Elaine Knox on June 2nd in Dallas, Texas (Highland Park Methodist Church).

 

1967 

• Made first field trip to Mexico with Dr. Robert J. Baker. 

• Published first scientific paper in the Southwestern Naturalist.

 

1968  

• Graduated with M.S. in Zoology from TTU. 

• Entered Ph.D. program in the Department of Zoology at the University of Illinois-Champaign/Urbana. 

• First child, Katherine Elaine, born on October 3rd in Urbana, Illinois.

 

1969  

• Spent summer months collecting deer mice in Texas and Mexico for Ph.D. dissertation.

 

1970

• Passed qualifying exams for Ph.D. degree.

• Wrote Ph.D. dissertation.

 

1971  

• Graduated with Ph.D. in Zoology from the University of Illinois. 

• Accepted Assistant Professor position in the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences (WFSC) at Texas A&M University (TAMU). 

• Authored first paper in the Journal of Mammalogy on population variation in the kangaroo rat, Dipodomys ordii.

 

1972  

• 2nd child, Brian James, born on August 16th in Bryan, Texas. 

• Appointed to the Graduate Faculty at TAMU. 

• Appointed Curator of Mammals at the Texas Cooperative Wildlife Collection (TCWC) of WFSC. 

• Reported the first occurrence of the black right whale on the Texas Coast, my first paper on marine mammals.

• Authored two papers (published in the Journal of Mammalogy and Southwestern Naturalist) from my Ph.D. dissertation.

 

1973

• Authored two additional papers (published in the Journal of Mammalogy and Southwestern Naturalist) from Ph.D. dissertation.

• First Master’s student graduated (Richard M. Poche).

 

1974  

• Elected Professor of the Year in WFSC by the Association of Graduate Student Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences. 

• Appointed Research Scientist, Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, TAMU.

• Established Marine Mammal Stranding Network on the Texas coast.

• First Ph.D. student graduated (Robert Patton). 

 

1975 

• Initiated field work in Big Bend National Park to survey and analyze recreational and livestock impacts on the riparian zone of the Rio Grande in the park.  This was one of the first interdisciplinary studies project supported by the NPS that involved a social scientist (Robert Ditton) and a naturalist (DJS).

• Appointed Editor for General Notes for the Journal of Mammalogy.

 

1976  

• Promoted to Associate Professor, WFSC, TAMU. 

• With Robert Ditton initiated an interdisciplinary “User-Resource Analysis of the Amistad Recreation Area in Texas.”

• Appointed Editor for Feature Articles for the Journal of Mammalogy.

 

1977  

• Authored “The Mammals of Trans-Pecos Texas Including Big Bend National Park and Guadalupe Mountains National Park” published by the Texas A&M Press.

• With M. Raymond Lee, described a new species of deer mouse, Peromyscus hooperi.  Published in the Journal of Mammalogy.

 

1978  

• Elected to the Board of Directors, American Society of Mammalogists (ASM).

 

1979  

• Elected Fellow, Texas Academy of Sciences (TAS). 

• Elected to Board of Directors, TAS.

 

1980

• Completed field work and report on the Mammals of Big Thicket National Preserve (4 year project).

 

1981  

• Re-elected to Board of Directors, ASM. 

• Received a grant, “Chromosomal and biochemical differentiation in Peromyscus: systematics and evolution of the P. boylii group,” funded by the National Science Foundation (with Ira Greenbaum and William Kilpatrick).

 

1982  

• Promoted to Professor, WFSC, TAMU.

 

1983  

• Appointed Chief Curator, TCWC, WFSC, TAMU. 

• Authored “Texas Mammals East of the Balcones Fault Zone” published by the Texas A&M Press.

• Received a grant, “Reorganization and updating of the recent mammal collection, Texas Cooperative Wildlife Collection, Texas A&M University” funded by the National Science Foundation.

 

1984  

• Re-elected to the Board of Directors, ASM.

• Authored “The Furbearers of Texas” published by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Bulletin No. 111.

 

1985  

• Received Distinguished Professor Award, Association of Graduate Wildlife and Fisheries, WFSC, TAMU. 

• Elected President of the Texas Mammal Society.

• My father, Henry J. Schmidly, passed away.

 

1986  

• Appointed Department Head, WFSC, TAMU. 

• Selected Outstanding Professor, WFSC, TAMU. 

• Host and organizer of Joint International Meeting between ASM and Mexican mammalogists in Cancun, Mexico.

 

1987

• Re-elected to Board of Directors, ASM. 

• Elected President, Sigma Xi, TAMU Chapter.

 

1988 

• Received Donald W. Tinkle Research Excellence Award, Southwestern Association of Naturalists (SWAN) – inaugural award.

 

1989  

• Awarded Diploma of Recognition, La Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara (UAG), Mexico.

 

1990 

• Elected President-elect of SWAN. 

• Received award for Excellence in Administration, Texas A&M University System. 

• Re-elected Board of Directors, ASM. 

• Awarded Diploma of Recognition, La Universidad Autonoma de Tamaulipas, Mexico.

 

1991  

• Served as President of SWAN. 

• Recognized as a Distinguished Alumnus College of Arts and Sciences, Texas Tech University. 

• Served as President, National Association of University Fish and Wildlife Programs. 

• Appointed member, Systematics 2000 Agenda. 

• Received Sigma Xi Distinguished Scientist Award, TAMU. 

• Appointed to the Board of Trustees, The Nature Conservancy of Texas (TNC).

• Co-editor (with Michael Mares) of “Latin American Mammalogy: Topics in History, Biodiversity and Conservation,” University of Oklahoma Press.

• Authored “Bats of Texas” published by the Texas A&M Press.

• Elected to the Board of Directors of the Chihuahuan Desert Research Institute.

 

1992  

• Appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Campus Dean, Texas A&M University at Galveston. 

• Appointed Vice President Texas Institute of Oceanography.

• Elected Vice-President of the Chihuahuan Desert Research Institute.

• Relocated from College Station to Galveston, Texas.

 

1993  

• Elected to Board of Directors, American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS).

 

1994  

• Authored (with William B. Davis) “The Mammals of Texas,” published by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Press, Austin.

 

1995  

• Presented Certificate of Appreciation for 25 years of “distinguished scholarship, dedicated service, and innovative leadership as a faculty member, as a department head, and as the Chief Executive Officer and Campus Dean at Texas A&M University at Galveston (signed by President Ray M. Bowen and Dean Robert A. Duce). 

• Appointed Visiting Professor at the University of the Americas (UDLA) in Puebla, Mexico.

• Delivered the fall commencement address to the graduates of Texas A&M University at Galveston.

 

1996  

• Appointed Vice President for Research, Graduate Studies, and Technology Transfer and Dean of the Graduate School at Texas Tech University. 

• August 17th proclaimed David and Janet Schmidly Day by the Mayor of Galveston. 

• Re-elected to the Board of Directors, ASM.

• Relocated from Galveston and College Station to Lubbock, Texas.

 

1997

• Reappointed to the Board of Trustees of the Nature Conservancy of Texas.

 

1998  

• A grant “Enhancement of Collections and Safety at The Museum, Texas Tech University, funded by the National Science Foundation (with Robert Baker, Robert Bradley, and Clyde Jones).

 

1999  

• Elected Honorary Member, Texas Mammal Society (TMS). 

• Appointed by Governor George H. Bush to the Governor’s Task Force on Conservation in Texas. 

• Appointed Chair, Conservation Committee, Texas Nature Conservancy.

 

2000  

• Named President, Texas Tech University. 

• Authored (with Bernd Wursig and Thomas Jefferson) “The Marine Mammals of the Gulf of Mexico,” published by the TAMU Press. 

• A grant, “Texas Parks and Wildlife for the 21st Century,” funded by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

• Appointed to the Executive Committee, Texas Council of Public University Presidents and Chancellors.

• Founding member, Campus Compact, Texas Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service.

 

2001  

• Received Meritorious Service Award, SWAN. 

• Elected President of the Texas Campus Compact. 

• Mayor Hugh Bradley of Levelland proclaimed March 20th as David J. Schmidly Day.

 

2002  

• Authored “Texas Natural History: A Century of Change,” published by the Texas Tech University Press.

• Appointed to State Affairs Committee, Texas Council of Public University Presidents and Chancellors.

 

2003  

• Appointed President and CEO Oklahoma State University System. 

• March 6th proclaimed as David and Janet Schmidly Day by the State of Oklahoma Executive Department. 

• Presented Proclamation of Welcome to OSU and Stillwater by Mayor of Sillwater (March 9). 

• Inducted to the Texas Hall of Fame for Science, Mathematics, and Technology.

• Inaugural Recipient of the Harvey Weil Professional Conservation Award.

• Received the Joseph Grinnell Award for Excellence in Education in Mammalogy. 

• Received the Donovan Steward Correll Memorial Award for Scientific Writing in the field of native flora of Texas. 

• Presented “Distinguished Public Service Award” by the Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

• Appointed to the Board of Trustees of The Nature Conservancy of Oklahoma.

• My mother, Faye Norvell Gregory-Schmidly, passed away.

 

2004  

• New species of deer mouse, Peromyscus schmidlyi, named in my honor for research contributions, is published in the Journal of Mammalogy. 

• Authored “The Mammals of Texas,” published by the University of Texas Press. 

• Museum exhibit of “Texas Natural History: A Century of Change,” shown at The Museum (Texas Tech University), the Dallas Museum of Natural History, Houston Museum of Natural Sciences, and the Witte Museum, San Antonio.

• City of Shawnee, Oklahoma, adopts a proclamation recognizing March 23rd as “David Schmidly Day.”

 

2005  

• Received John Tanner Lectureship Award, Brigham Young University.

• Appointed to the Presidential Leadership Task Force, NCAA. 

• Presented resolution of appreciation from the OSU Alumni Association for leadership and support. 

• Recognized as a “Visitante Distinguido” by the city of Puebla, Mexico.

• Another new species of rodent, Habromys schmidlyi, named in my honor for contributions to Mexican mammalogy, is published in the Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington.

 

2006  

• Named Maestro Emerito Universidad Popular Autonoma del Puebla (UPAEP), Mexico (4th person so recognized).

 

2007  

• Named President, University of New Mexico. 

• OSU Student Government Association issued a resolution commending David Schmidly for service to Oklahoma State University. 

• Presented appreciation plaque for years of service (2000-2007) to the Big 12 Athletic Conference Board of Directors. 

• Received Stillwater Campion Award from Chamber of Commerce for leadership and commitment to the economic development of Stillwater and the State of Oklahoma.

 

2008  

• Awarded Distinguished Leadership Award by the New Mexico Anti-Defamation League. 

• Presented Award for Energy Leadership by the New Mexico Chapter of Energy Engineers. 

• Presented certificate of appreciation for service as Honorary Chair of the 75th Anniversary Benefit Concert of the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra. 

• Appointed to the Executive Committee, Mountain West Athletic Conference.

 

2009  

• Appointed to the NCAA Board of Directors. 

• Initiated into the University of New Mexico Chapter of Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society.

 

2010  

• Presented the Ticul Alvarez Award by the Mexican Society of Mammalogists (AMMAC) for career contributions to the science of mammalogy in Mexico.

• Appointed to the Executive Committee, NCAA Board of Directors. 

• Diagnosed with pancreatic neuro-endocrine tumors which required major surgery and 12 weeks in the hospital.

 

2011  

• Named Honorary Letterman, UNM Letterman Association.

 

2012  

• Retired as President, UNM. 

• Appointed Professor of Biology, UNM. 

• Named Distinguished Alumnus, Texas Tech University. 

• Received Alumnus Achievement Award, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Illinois. 

• Elected to Honorary Membership, American Society of Mammalogists (ASM).  

• Mayor of Albuquerque (Richard Berry) issues Executive Order 12-28 proclaiming April 12th as Dr. David J. Schmidly Day. 

• Rio Rancho Mayor, Thomas E. Swisstack, proclaimed May 24th as “President David Schmidly Day” in Rio Rancho in recognition of his tenure as UNM President and his efforts to increase higher education facilities and opportunities in the City of Rio Rancho. 

• Regional Chamber of Commerce presented special recognition to DJS for commitment to Higher Education in Rio Rancho and Sandoval County.

• Candido Morales Rosas, Instituto de los Mexicanos en el Exterior presented “Reconocimiento Ohtli” to DJS for distinguished service in the interest of Mexican communities and residents living in the United States. 

• The Legislature of the State of New Mexico adopted a resolution honoring DJS for his service to the University and the State of New Mexico. 

• Received Chapter Citation Award from the Mortar Board of the University of New Mexico in recognition of outstanding academic, service, and leadership achievements. 

• Published with Loren Ammerman and Chris Hice, “The Bats of Texas (revised),” at the Texas A&M Press.

 

2013  

• My brother, Steven Scott Schmidly, passed away. 

• Museum exhibit of my work, “Texas: Vanishing Habitats and Species,” shown at the Brazos Valley Museum of Natural History, Bryan, Texas.

• Invited to deliver the spring commencement address to the College of Arts & Sciences (COLA) at the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana.

 

2014 

• Taught mammalogy for the last time in the Department of Biology at the University of New Mexico. 

• Authored a paper in the Journal of Mammalogy describing a new species of deer mouse (Peromyscus), P. carletoni, from Nayarit, Mexico.

 

2015 

• Appointed as a Research Professor at UNM. 

• Authored with Robert Bradley and others a paper published in the Journal of Mammalogy describing a new subspecies of the white-ankled mouse, Peromyscus pectoralis zimmermani, from northern Mexico.

 

2016  

• Celebrated 50th Wedding Anniversary. 

• Named Professor Emeritus, UNM. 

• Authored with Robert Bradley, “The Mammals of Texas, 7th Edition,” at the University of Texas Press. 

• Edited with William Tydeman and Al Gardner, “United States Biological Survey: A Compendium of Its History, Personalities, Impacts, and Conflicts,” as a Special Publication of The Museum of Texas Tech University.  Authored two papers included in the volume.

 

2017  

• Authored with Robert Bradley, Lisa Bradley, and Richard Stevens “A Timeline of Significant Events in the Development of North American Mammalogy” as a Special Publication of The Museum of Texas Tech University.

• Authored with Robert Bradley and others a paper in the Journal of Mammalogy describing a new species of deer mouse, Peromyscus kilpatricki, from Michoacan, Mexico.

• Invited to be the Commencement Speaker at the Texas Tech University Graduation Ceremonies.  Speech entitled “Poise Leads to Success.”

 

2018 

• Diagnosed with multiple myeloma and underwent chemo and stem cell replacement procedures as treatment. 

• Authored a biography, “Vernon Bailey: Writings of a Field Naturalist on the Frontier,” published by the Texas A&M Press.

• Elected to Membership in the Explorers Club, New York City.

• Invited to deliver the general university commencement speech to the graduates of Texas Tech University, May.

 

2019

• Authored an invited paper with Virginia Naples, “North American mammalogy: early history, dominant personalities, and significant milestones (1850-1960)” in the Centennial Issues of the Journal of Mammalogy.

• Edited (with Robert Bradley, Hugh Genoways, and Lisa Bradley) “From Field to Laboratory: A Memorial Volume in Honor of Robert J. Baker” that was published as a Special Publication of the Museum of Texas Tech University.  Author on two papers included in the volume.

• Diagnosed with thyroid cancer which did not require surgery.

• Purchased a home in Cholula, Puebla, Mexico in order to spend more time in that country.

 

2020

• With Robert and Lisa Bradley completed work on “Texas Natural History in the 21st Century” which was accepted for publication by the Texas Tech Press. 

• With Frank Yancey and other authors completed work on a Field Guide to the Mammals of Trans-Pecos Texas which was accepted for publication by the Texas A&M Press. 

 

2021

• Volume 12, numera 2 of the journal Therya dedicated to David J. Schmidly, Ph.D., in recognition of his contributions to mammalogy in Mexico.

 

2022

• Authored a paper in the Journal of Mammalogy with Robert D. Bradley and others describing 2 new species of deer mouse, Peromyscus greenbaumi and Peromyscus ensinkii, from the Transverse Volcanic Belt of Mexico.

• DJS 2005 article in the Journal of Mammalogy 86, “What it means to be a naturalist and the future of natural history at American universities.” was translated and published in the Chinese Journal of Natural History in 2022.

• Presented invited paper “Texas Natural History in the 21st Century” at the Witte Museum (San Antonio, Texas) Conference on Changing Landscapes, May 15-17.

• Contracted COVID.

 

2023

• The Mammals of Trans-Pecos Texas including Big Bend and Guadalupe Mountains National Parks, Second Edition, published by Texas A&M University Press.

• Taxonomic Catalog of Terrestrial Vertebrates Described from Texas published as a Special Publication of the Museum, Texas Tech University.

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