The Jesse W. West Research Endowment

This Endowment is intimately tied to the Pond Boss magazine and forum. It honors the life of Jesse W. West, a Mississippian and professor of Geology. While teaching Geology “Summer Camp” in the West, including Colorado, California and the Black Hills (one of his favorite geologic places), he developed a love of the area and its people which he shared with his family. His interest in lands and waters and all they provided led to many trips with his family to study and behold the Earth’s majesty through fishing and hunting. He often encouraged and reminded others as Winston Churchill did that “We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.” His strong belief in helping others along their journey in applied science is the cornerstone of this Endowment. 

The Endowment was initiated by a donation from son Eric West. Since that time, Pond Boss members have donated individually and through the proceeds from the silent auction at the annual conference. The interest on the Endowment is used to fund worthy projects. The 2007 award was used to purchase viewing tanks to study walleye-smallmouth bass feeding interactions. The 2008 award was used to help study a potential nonlethal technique for distinguishing fish food habits from fin clips, rather than muscle samples.

For further information, contact Dr. David Willis at the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences (David.Willis@sdstate.edu). Tax-deductible donations to the Endowment can be made through the South Dakota State University Foundation at the following contact information.

          Brandon Thiesse, Development Director 

College of Agriculture and Biological Sciences

SDSU Foundation

815 Medary Avenue, Box 525

Brookings, SD 57007

brandon.thiesse@sdsufoundation.org

605-697-7475 ext. 3024

Toll Free: 888-747-7378

Fax: 605-697-5641