Richard M. Godman
(1922-1985)
Inducted September 16, 1991
Plaque Engraving:
Richard M. (Dick) Godman, Research Forester, USFS North Central Forest Experiment Station, Rhinelander, WI, made significant contributions to research and management of northern hardwoods. In addition to his operating and coordinating research on the Argonite Experimental Forest, he was recognized and respected by professional foresters and forestry technicians for his numerous scientific publications on hardwood management in the Lake States. Perhaps Dick’s most outstanding talent was his ability to translate this information into practical, usable form for the field forester.
More on Richard M. Godman:
Richard (Dick) M. Godman, Research Forester, Northern Hardwoods Silviculture Unit, Forestry Sciences Laboratory, North Central Forest Experiment Station, Forest Service, USDA, retired September 2, 1983, and passed away May 11, 1985.
He is well-known for his exemplary work in northern hardwood research and technology transfer as a research forester in the hardwood silvicultural unit at Rhinelander.
As a research forester, he developed new techniques to the problem of even-age forest management, and adapted those techniques to the Lake States hardwood resource.
In 1983, a total of 517 resource managers “graduated” from silvicultural workshops, short courses, and tours conducted by Godman. Dick was a silviculturist, a generalist in an era of scientific specialists. His ability as a silviculturist to synthesize diverse types of biological and economic information and mold that information into a management context is widely recognized by field foresters.
He was responsible for operating and coordinating research on the Argonne Experimental Forest. He served as an exceptional communicator and host, and was responsible for putting current research into practice on National Forests, State Forests, County Forests, Industrial Forests, and on the Menominee Indian Reservation.
