Arthur Solomon King was born 13 September 1906 and was raised on a farm north of Corvallis. He graduated from Oregon State Agricultural College with a BS degree in Agriculture in 1928, and earned a Masters of Science Degree in Soils, also from OSAC in 1930. King was long associated with the Oregon Water Resource Congress, serving as secretary from 1943 to 1949. He was known nationally for his work to improve soil and water resources through irrigation and land drainage, the application of fertilizers and lime, in soil judging and in improved land use. In July 1972, King retired from OSU and was honored with the title of Professor Emeritus of Soil Science, a position he held until his death in October 1972. He was survived by his wife, Geraldine; daughter, Mrs. Carol Nelson; and son, James A. King.
A native Oregonian, Robert E. McDole was born in Eugene, Oregon, and lived in Ontario, Oregon from 1933 until he graduated from high school. McDole entered Oregon State College (OSC) in fall 1948 and attended OSC until 1952, when he earned a BS in Soils. From 1952 until 1965, he conducted soil and range surveys in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho as a soil scientist with the Bureau of Indian Affairs. In 1964, he entered graduate school at the University of Idaho and earned MS (1968) and Ph.D. (1969) degrees in soil science. He also was employed by the University of Idaho as a research fellow and Extension Soils Specialist. He also served as Chair of the Soils Science Division of the Department of Plant, Soil, and Entomological Sciences at the University of Idaho from 1986 until his retirement in 1990.
