Aelred D

Aelred D. Geis: Wildlife Biologist

&nb= sp; In the early morning of August 20, 2007, Al Geis died at Howard County General H= ospital. Thus ended the= life of a man of great contrasts.

&nb= sp; Dr. Aelred D. Geis was a wildlife resear= ch biologist. Trained at Michigan State University, Dr. Geis worked f= or the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service for more than 30 years. After concentrating mainly on migrating game bird problems, he headed the U.S. Fi= sh and Wildlife Service’s Urban Wildlife Research Program. After retiring from Federal service, Dr. Geis worked for the MARS Company and for the Wild Bird Centers= of America= . Dr. Geis served as a Director of t= he Blandair Foundation from 1999 to 2005.

&nb= sp; Wild birds, especially Woodcock, were his passion. In his prime, he was recognized as= a leading authority on the feeding of wild birds. Last year, as an act of kindness t= oward a dying friend, Al put up bird feeders at Senator James Clark’s home = so that the senator could have something to enjoy in his final days.

Al was very active in the creation of the Middle Patuxent Environment Area (for which he received the Senator Clark Land Stewardship Award from the Howard County Conservancy) and was tapped by the Rouse Company to serve as a Founding Director of the Midd= le Patuxent Environmental Foundation. He once served as President= of the Howard County Historical Society.

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&nb= sp; Al was br= ight, imaginative, extremely knowledgeable and broad in experience in his field.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> However, his social maturity never developed beyond that of a graduate student, and he was outspoken, abrasive= and arrogant. He was controversial because he had a history of taking no prisoners in public meetings.

Over the last few years, his health problems increased, and his mood darkened considerably. If there is a life after this one,= may he find peace.

Byron C. Hall, Jr.

Chairman