The Sainte Genevieve Museum Learning Center was saddened to hear of the passing of Dr. Bruce Stinchcomb and respect his 50+ years of contributions to the world of geology and paleontology.
With more than 50 years of professional experience, Dr. Stinchcomb has been retired since 2005, having worked at St. Louis Community College as a professor of geology since 1969, an associate professor of geology from 1968 to 1975, and a full professor after 1975. In addition to his geology courses, he taught earth sciences and paleontology. Prior to those roles, he was a teacher of earth science and chemistry at McCluer High School from 1966 to 1968. Earlier in his career, he was a teacher with the Fox C-6 School District and a field geologist with the Missouri Geological Survey. He also worked many summers doing geologic and mineral exploration for various companies and institutions in remote parts of Wyoming and Montana, northern Canada and Alaska.
Dr. Stinchcomb obtained a Bachelor’s degree in geology in 1961 from what is now the Missouri University of Science and technology. He went on to study at Washington University in St. Louis, receiving an MA in geology in 1966, and returned to Missouri University of Science and Technology to earn a PhD in geology in 1978. He was, for many years, a member of the Paleontological Society and the Geological Society of America. Dr. Stinchcomb was president, 1993, of the Association of Missouri Geologists and Geology Section Chair; Missouri Academy of Sciences, Senior Division, 2006, a founding member of the Eastern Missouri Society for Paleontology and a long time member of the St. Louis Mineral and Gem Society.
A respected voice in the field, Dr. Stinchcomb has published more than a dozen books relating to geology and paleontology.
He was also involved with detailed geological mapping in various parts of the Missouri Ozarks.
Dr. Stinchcomb saw the potential for discovery at the Chronister property in southeast Missouri where the Missouri dinosaur was discovered and excavation work continues. He bought the property in the 1980s so that further exploration could continue, and the property is now owned and managed by the Missouri Ozark Dinosaur Project. The Sainte Genevieve Museum Learning Center and MODP is grateful for his involvement.
Guy Darrough, curator of the Sainte Genevieve Museum Learning Center, was a long-time friend of Bruce and in his early years considered Bruce somewhat of a mentor in the geology field.
“He had a handle on Missouri’s fossils and geology more than anyone and he identified and described new genuses of fossils,” said Darrough. “Then he had the smarts to buy the dinosaur site and was kind enough to let MODP take it over. He touched tons of people through his teachings and has left quite a legacy.”
(pictured l-r are Guy Darrough, Bruce Stinchcomb and geologist Mike Fix)
The Sainte Genevieve Museum learning Center honored Dr. Stinchcomb in April, 2023 with a Bruce Stinchcomb Appreciation Day. Dozens of people in his fields of study attended as well as members of various fossil clubs. The Missouri Fossil Hunters presented him with a special appreciation poster.
Dr. Stinchcomb influenced many in the fields of geology and paleontolgy and gave a presentation during his appreciation day on who influenced him. (Ste. Genevieve Cable Access TV taped his presentation.) Bruce also took the opportunity to sign a number of his books.
Fans of Dr. Stinchcomb’s may enjoy viewing his some of his You tube videos.
Since his passing, there has been an outpouring of condolences. Here are just a few taken from Facebook….
Trilobites Rock…A great loss Bruce was a gift to all of us he will be hard to replace. I have worked with Bruce off and on over the years. We collected with him at the Cretaceous sites in the Missouri boot heel. I also got to work with him (and others) at the Chronister Dinosaur site a number of times what fun. Visiting his basement collection like Cam shared for us a few years earlier was awesome what a collection. Spending time with him at many MAPS meetings over the years was always enlightening (as well at Tucson Show). I have most of his self published books on the fossils of Missouri that he sent me personally those will always be treasured.
Steve Pavelsky…Very sorry to hear of Bruce passing. I have many fond memories. He made an impact on throngs of people. A natural teacher. It was an honor to know him.
Tim Northcutt’s… “I’ve always been honored to know Bruce. His eccentricity was endearing. His knowledge was captivating. He’d been in the “business” for long enough to have befriended many characters I’ve read about in the literature and envied his experience. We talked about writing a book on fossil plants together, but a heart attack intervened and delayed my participation. Thankfully, before he was ready to go to press I was able to put together some things and he included my effort. I’ll be forever grateful.”
Asa Asa…We mourn the loss of Dr. Bruce Stinchcomb tonight, mentor to mentors and holder of the Missouri paleontology lineage. We will take time over the next few weeks to celebrate Dr. Bruce and his legacy, that’s for certain. But for now, if it helps, we welcome y’all, when the time is right, to post your stories of times with Dr. Bruce, either in the comments below or in your own post. Sharing those can be a way of helping each other grieve and move forward with Dr. Bruce in our hearts. Bruce was a true gentleman, a scholar, a friend, he shared freely and gladly with all his knowledge and his fossil sites that he was glad to take us to. Thanks for everything, Dr. Bruce.
Amy E. White…1985 maybe? He had his guitar at school and was singing “The Rubbery Stromatolite” song and some Tom Lehrer favorites. He was the best teacher for science nerds., so generous with his time and knowledge.
Boneta Marie Hensley…I first met Bruce at a Clean Stream event around 30 years ago. He kept pulling his canoe to the rocky banks of the Big River near Washington State Park. He had a group of college people with him. I stopped cleaning to see what he was doing. He was showing us fossils etc… Of the bluffs there. He will be greatly missed.
Shelly Dooley…I met him at the Bruce Stinchcomb appreciation day for the first time and for the first time ever bought a book and had it signed by him. I found the stories he told inspiring and exciting. To me he was an incredible person with such passion for his craft and I am extremely grateful to have met such a man that breathed life into paleontology.
I’m also glad that he got to know how many people cared and respected him by the poster he was given that had been signed by many.
Daniel Way…I will always remember the trip we took took once. He rattled off information of every roadcut. He was an encyclopedia of knowledge. Ha, and his eccentricity of buying a half gallon of milk and drinking it out of the jug on the road trip there. And stopping to get ice cream!