Perry H. Rahn was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania. He received bachelor’s degrees in civil engineering and geology in 1959 from Lafayette College in Easton, PA. After graduating, he was employed as an engineering geologist by the California Department of Water Resources in Oroville, CA. In 1965, he received a doctoral degree in geology from The Pennsylvania State University. For the next three years, he was an assistant professor at the University of Connecticut. In 1968, Dr. Rahn began teaching at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. He became a full professor in 1979 and remained at Tech until his retirement in 1997 when he attained the status of professor emeritus.

Dr. Rahn is a professional engineer and is a member of AEG, GSA, AIPG, and the National Society of Professional Engineers. His research and publications deal with engineering geology, hydrogeology, and geomorphology. He is the author of the acclaimed textbook, Engineering Geology, an Environmental Approach, which is the mostly widely used engineering geology textbook today.

Some of Perry’s other exceptional contributions to the field of geology include his ground-water protection efforts and research on the Madison aquifer, which is western South Dakota’s most valuable ground-water reservoir.  In addition, he has made outstanding efforts to alert the general public to the dangers of building on floodplains.  In his retirement, Perry continues to remain very active in working on geologic and hydrologic issues pertaining to public and environmental safety.

Perry has instructed thousands of students over the years at SDSM&T, preparing them for work in geological engineering, hydrology, and environmental fields.  Many students vividly recall his many memorable field trips to various geological locations in the beautiful Black Hills.  J. Foster Sawyer, Assistant Professor at SDSM&T said “Dr. Rahn’s mentorship and guidance had a profound impact on my education as a hydrologist and geologist, and I will never forget the standard that he set as a scientist and engineer of the highest caliber who dedicated his life to the betterment of society and to the benefit of those around him.”

Eleven years ago when I began working at SDSM&T, Perry invited me to join a morning coffee group consisting of several members of the geology department and other Tech faculty and staff … a tradition started many years prior to that by Dr. Gries.  It has been a heck of a lot of fun having been part of that tradition all these years and it is one of the things that I truly look forward to at work each day.  

For all of these reasons, it is my distinct pleasure to nominate Perry Rahn for AIPG’s South Dakota Section “2010 JP Gries Geologist of the Year Award”.

Respectfully submitted,

Tom Durkin, CPG-9138

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