2021 Katherine Palmer Award to Sally Labadie and David Thompson

October 6, 2021

Each year, the Paleontological Research Institution recognizes an individual who is not a professional paleontologist for the excellence of their contributions to the field. This award is named for PRI's second Director, Katherine Palmer, who was an avid supporter of avocational paleontology.

PRI is pleased to announce that Sally Labadie and David Thompson have been selected by PRI’s Science Committee as the co-recipients of the 2021 Katherine Palmer Award.

Sally and Dave were nominated for this award by Dr. Matt Friedman, Director and Associate Curator of the University of Michigan Museum of Paleontology (UMMP), on behalf of the UMMP community. Excerpts from Dr. Friedman’s nomination letter follow:

Dave and Sally are both “active members of the Friends of the University of Michigan Museum of Paleontology (FUMMP), and have served as a board member and/or officer on and off for the past 30+ years. Dave and Sally share exceptional generosity combined with a passion for advancing the field of paleontology and making that knowledge accessible to everyone.”

“Dave and Sally share many qualities as people and collectors that other FUMMP members describe as ‘... gracious, generous, and collaborative.’ Both Dave and Sally have donated countless fossils to enrich the teaching and research mission of the UMMP. They are equally generous in giving their time and energy to the museum, described by one as ‘[the] first in line to raise their hand when something is needed.’ Dave has volunteered for numerous Fossil Identification days at the U-M Museum of Natural History and helped with ongoing projects in the collections. Sally has been a regular participant in local mastodon and mammoth digs, which from the 1980s to early 2000s took place most weekends during spring, summer, and autumn. She was part of the 1991 field team that uncovered the Brennan mastodon (UMMP 10627) and the associated mastodon trackway (UMMP 117485). This massive undertaking involved not only excavation, but also the creation of a fiberglass mold of the 40’ long trackway. At every stage of the project, Sally was there to help. A cast of the trackway, which she helped to make, is now prominently displayed in the atrium of the U-M Museum of Natural History. Sally was also involved in the excavation of the Fowler Center mastodon (UMMP 118277) and the Bristle mammoth (117677), both of which are on exhibit. Much of this work took place under the guidance of curator Daniel Fisher, who noted that Sally’s ‘upbeat and energetic personality sets the tone for both other volunteers and interactions with members of the public who often stop by to watch the work.’” 

“Dave and Sally are natural educators and spend considerable time encouraging young minds to ask questions about fossils and paleontology. Sally has inspired many people over her long career as an elementary teacher, principal, and university instructor. She authors children’s books about animals (including dinosaurs) and the natural world (e.g., If I Had a Dinosaur, Archway, 2017). She began collecting fossils and sharing her experiences and knowledge with students in the 1980s as a member of the Michigan Earth Science Teachers Association. Sally has brought her own fossils and field experiences into classrooms around the state of Michigan, allowing students of all ages to touch and examine ancient life. Over the past year, Dave has been mentoring one of the FUMMP’s youngest members, Maddie, a teen interested in paleontology. Like many avocational paleontologists, Dave has a large collection of fossil material at his home. He has been teaching this young scientist about the care that goes into maintaining a collection, how to go about identifying your fossil finds, and how to prepare material that may require some additional tools. He goes a step beyond, making sure that Maddie’s questions are answered, she has reading materials, and the tools she needs to practice her skills. Maddie describes Dave as being ‘... knowledgeable, kind, and approachable’ and mentions that she ‘... learns something new every time they speak.’”

“Dave and Sally support paleontological research by donating scientifically valuable specimens and participating in projects. Sally volunteered a considerable amount of time assisting paleontologist Bob Carr in ongoing field collection for his research on placoderm fishes. This resulted in two peer-reviewed publications. Bob Carr notes that, ‘Sally has contributed in expanding knowledge of the fishes from the Middle and Upper Devonian of the Michigan Basin. The material collected over the years continues to serve as a source for research including a manuscript in progress for which I am a junior author and material awaiting preparation.’ Dave has worked collaboratively with Tomasz Baumiller since the mid-1990s, before Tom was employed as a UMMP curator. They have focused on documenting and interpreting interactions between platyceratid gastropods and other marine invertebrates in the fossil record, which has resulted in co-authored peer-reviewed papers. Tom mentioned, ‘Dave has not only been incredibly generous in providing fossils that uniquely capture the interaction, but his thought-provoking insights have greatly influenced my thinking on this subject.’ In addition to Dave’s research interest, he has acted as a resource to Tom and his students regarding information on the paleontology of the Michigan Basin.” 

“As their fellow club members say, Dave and Sally ‘do things the right way.’ They are kind, generous individuals that are eager to share their passion for paleontology with anyone interested. Dave and Sally rightly take immense pride in this work. Both have provided selfless support for many projects at the UMMP over the past decades, all of which have been enriched due to their generosity. Dave and Sally have our complete and enthusiastic support for the Katherine Palmer Award.”

In recognition of Sally and Dave’s numerous important contributions to the advancement of the science of paleontology and their many years of dedicated service to the UMMP, we are pleased to present them with the 2021 Katherine Palmer Award.

Information about the Katherine Palmer Award, including instructions for how to make a nomination and a listing of past recipients, may be accessed here.

Sally Labadie

Dave Thompson