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New marine science building named after Knauer

By Rose Hooper
Knauer George Knauer (third from left) of Sylva recently helped break ground for the new Marine Science Building named after him at Stennis Space Center on the University of Southern Mississippi campus. With Knauer are, from left, Admiral Thomas Donaldson, CO Oceanography Command; Aubrey Lucas, University of Southern Mississippi president; Knauer; Jay Grimes, dean, USM College of Marine Science; and Capt. Phil Renaud of the CO Naval Oceanographic Office. George Knauer recently received more than his allotted 15 minutes of fame when he was chosen to be the namesake of a building.

During a daylong ceremony last month, ground was broken at Stennis Space Center on the University of Southern Mississippi campus for the George A. Knauer Marine Science Building.

'I was kind of surprised,' said Knauer, who lives in Jackson County's Greens Creek community.

'It was a big deal,' said his wife, Linda.

The story begins back in 1985 when Knauer learned that USM wanted a startup director to develop a marine science department. Knauer, who received his Ph.D. from Stanford, realized such as job 'it would be a real challenge.'

He decided to take that challenge. With a $10,000 grant, no office and no paid help (Linda volunteered), Knauer laid the ground work for what has grown into the USM College of Marine Science.

First thing he did was convince the top brass that the program should be academic, including graduate and Ph.D. programs in oceanography.

Operated by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Stennis Space Center houses the U.S. Navy's main oceanographic research.

'At first the Navy didn't want to give George any space, but soon there will be a 17,000-square-foot building there named after him,' said his wife.

Thanks to Knauer's efforts, USM students can specialize in biological, physical, chemical and geological oceanography.

'Marine science is one of the last really romantic professions,' he said. 'Your office is the ocean and you interact with scientists all over the world.'

Marine science is a growing field, said Knauer. 'The oceans play a critical role in our lives in a variety of ways, including effects on climate, weather, fisheries and recreation.'

The Knauers' lives change in 1992 when they quit that field and went into Christian service. They moved to Sylva three years ago, where Linda now serves as executive director of the Community Table, which helps feed the hungry in Jackson County.

Back to Archive: 05/30/02.