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Earthquake Center
The Department of Geological Sciences has a history of teaching
and research in the area of geological hazards. This portion of
our webpage is dedicated to Richard Marquez, an undergraduate
student who devoted a great amount of time and energy to
earthquake education. Explore these links to learn what Richard
felt was so important to know about earthquakes.
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Dedicated to the Memory of
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Richard Marquez
1930 - 1998
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 Richard
was a breath of fresh air to everyone who met him. He treated volunteering
as a civic duty that was fun and rewarding. The results of his efforts
have immeasurably improved the Department. He served as an example
for all of us. Richard was a joy to have around and he is sorely missed.
Richard Marquez was born during the
Great Depression in Bay City, Texas. Like so many others of his generation,
his lifelong attitudes toward the virtues of hard work, personal responsibility,
and commitment to family were formed by the tough economic times prior
to World War II. As a small boy, his first job was selling newspapers
in downtown Houston and from that time until his retirement in 1995,
he was never without a job.
After graduation from high school,
he joined the Air Force and spent most of his four years of duty in
Tucson, Arizona where he met his wife of 42 years. After his discharge
from the Air  Force
in 1954, he worked for a time in Brownsville, Texas for the oil industry
"wildcatting" for a geophysical company. After he married, he left
the geophysical company to be closer to Houston with his young family.
The family eventually moved to California and settled in Eagle Rock.
After 40 years in southern California, Richard still had his distinctive
Texas drawl. Richard's career involved installation, maintenance and
repair of electronic equipment including televisions, television satellite
antennas, bank alarms, automated teller machines, and household fire
alarm systems. His work made it possible for him to travel throughout
the state of California. Richard was
active in his community and in local politics. He volunteered for
many years at the Northeast YMCA. He also volunteered at local polling
places for city, state and national elections. During the 1970's,
he was twice elected to serve on the Los Angeles County Democratic
Central Committee.
After retirement, Richard decided to
pursue a personal goal that had been deferred for nearly 40 years
- earn a college degree. A lifelong fascination with the physical
sciences and mysteries of our Earth made geology a natural choice.
Prior to entering college, Richard had pursued this interest through
his hobbies of attending rock and gem shows, prospecting, gold panning
and rock collecting.
Richard graduated from Pasadena City
College in 1997 with an Associate Degree in Science. While at PCC,
he became involved in the effort to establish a link with the Caltech/USGS
CUBE system to show recent earthquakes on a computer monitor. After
enrolling at Cal State LA, Richard initiated plans for another CUBE
display and, with great effort, set it up on the first floor of the
Physical Science Building. After completing that, Richard worked with
UC Berkeley to connect with the REDI system to show earthquakes that
have occurred in all of California during the last week. Richard then
worked to establish a connection to Caltech's seismometer on Mt. Wilson.
This was a very difficult project and great patience was required.
Richard's efforts were rewarded and we have a phone line to Mt. Wilson
and a great display of earthquakes being detected by that seismometer.
Richard made sure that every member of his family saw the display.
Richard Marquez and his extended family
have a nearly 20 year association with Cal State LA. His wife and
eldest daughter obtained their undergraduate degrees from the University
and his daughter-in-law is also an alumnus. His son, Richard, has
attended classes at the University. Another daughter is a former employee
of University Auxiliary Services. Richard was enrolled at CSULA at
the time of his death and was planning to graduate in 1999 with his
Bachelor of Science degree in geology. |
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