Jerry Culver

Jerry Bayley Culver was born in Platteville. He graduated valedictorian from Platteville High School in 1943 and received his Bachelor of Science degree from Platteville State Teachers College (now UW-Platteville) in 1948. He served in the Wisconsin State Guard as a member of Co.E 3rd Infantry from Dec. 1944 receiving an honorable discharge in May 1947. He then went to graduate school for Geography and was a teaching assistant and research associate for the Office of Naval Research Program. In 1956, he joined the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Department of Geography and Earth Science, becoming an Associate Professor in 1961. He developed a four-credit laboratory science course known as Geography 122, "Maps and Landforms, " which later became part of the basic studies offered to all students entering UWL. Other course specialties were "Geography of Wisconsin, " "Conservation of Wisconsin, " and "Historical Geography of the United States. " Later "Environmental Conservation " was added to satisfy the DPI requirement of graduating Education, and Social Studies teaching majors. To keep his courses up to date he traveled throughout U.S. and Canada during vacations and summers, researching, viewing landforms, and acquiring photos and slides of the features he lectured about in his classes. In 1976 alone, he traveled more than 8,000 miles in western North America studying geomorphology and collecting materials for his courses. In addition, he offered classes to teachers throughout Wisconsin via Extension. He was appointed to Director of The Atlas of Wisconsin Project, a joint project of the State University and the University of Wisconsin from 1967-1973. The Atlas contained maps and a gazetteer of some 14,000 names referring to places in Wisconsin, the latter under his direction. The Atlas of Wisconsin was published in 1974. He also was a consultant to Raintree Publishers, who published reference books and atlases.

Jerry Culver left his mark on UWL. He was constantly involved on campus, loved to travel and learn. He was an advocate for faculty governance, working to improve the conditions, salaries, and benefits for all employees. He was a professor at UWL for 371/2, retiring in 1993. Upon retirement, he continued his travels, sharing his love of the land, traditional jazz, Chryslers, and the Culver heritage with family and friends. "Always a devoted teacher, these were memorable educational experiences for all who had the good fortune to ride along. Dr. Culver died of cancer in 1998 at the age of 71.