NSS Luminary Series
The National Speleological Society is pleased to present video talks featuring pioneering cave explorers, karst scientists, and other long-time NSS members. Three luminaries are selected each year to make presentations at the annual convention. These talks are designed to give young and old cavers alike the opportunity to learn from some of the true superstars in our Society. This program is the brainchild of AVP Geary Schindel and Dave Hughes; the videos are produced by Dave Socky and Alex Sproul. Recommendations for future speakers are encouraged.
2023 Luminary Series – George Dasher
NSS 16643 /RL/FE/AL/OS George Dasher is a force to be reckoned with in the Virginia Region and across the NSS.…
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2023 NSS Luminary Series – Annette Engel
NSS #31319 RL, FE, JM, SC Annette’s scientific career has been guided by serendipity. At 12 years old, away at summer…
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2023 NSS Luminary Series – Dave Bunnell
NSS 14760/RL/FE/OS Dave got his start caving as an undergrad at the Univ. of Delaware, where the outing club offered…
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2022 Luminary Series – John Mylroie
NSS 12514/FE/SC Attendees at caving events, and those that read the speleological literature, will surely recognize Dr. John Mylroie (pronounced…
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2022 Luminary Series – John Scheltens
NSS 10886RL/FE/CM/OS Few cavers in the National Speleological Society have had the breadth of experiences enjoyed by John Scheltens. In…
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2022 Luminary Series – David Springhetti
A spelunker in his teenage years, Dave Springhetti began serious caving while a college student. Dave relocated to Texas after…
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2021 Luminary Series – Richard Breisch
Rich started rock climbing his first weekend of his freshman year at Pennsylvania State University. The following September, his younger…
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2021 Luminary Series – Ralph Ewers
Ralph Ewers got interested in rocks and minerals on a family trip to the Rocky Mountains. When he returned home,…
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2021 Luminary Series – Frank Binney
Tales of endless passages honeycombing the Mojave Desert mountains near his childhood home inspired Frank Binney from the time he…
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2020 Luminary Series – Bill Balfour
While visiting relatives in Kentucky as a 13-year-old youngster, Bill Balfourwith his dad and uncledrove over to Mammoth Cave. Balfour…
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2020 Luminary Series – Bill Jones
After graduation from high school in Fairmont, West Virginia, Bill Jones and a buddy set out on a much-anticipated road…
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2020 Luminary Series – Phil Lucas
Phil Lucas underground exploits are legion and include extensive poking, prodding, digging, excavating, exploring, and surveying in the Water Sinks…
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Ric Finch grew up in Georgetown, Texas, and spent a meaningful part of his youth crawling around in a few…
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2018 Luminary Series – Chris Howes
Chris Howes first cave exploring trip was in 1968. Afterward, his dadbelieving that caves were dangerousemphasized to Chris that he…
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2018 Luminary Series – Michael McEachern
Mike McEachern happened upon Bill Hallidays book entitled Adventure is Underground and, in due course, was invited on a grotto…
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2017 Luminary Series – Carol Hill
An initial fascination with Mammoth Cave catalyzed Carol Hills passion for cave geology, along with the speleothems that decorate the…
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2017 Luminary Series – Charlie Gibbs
After a trip to Schoolhouse Cave, Charles Gibbs reasoned that some type of ascender activated by the legs instead of…
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2017 Luminary Series – Dale Pate
For more than 20 years, Dale Pate enjoyed explo- ring and surveying in Sis- tema Purificación, and in many of…
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2015 Luminary Series – Bill Steele
If there is a single word to describe Bill Steele, that word would be “Explorer.” Since childhood, Bill’s path in…
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2015 Luminary Series – Forrest Wilson
While living in Washington, Forrest Wilson attended meetings of the D.C. Grotto, met Paul Stevens, and learned of the Organ…
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