William L Chenoweth

Bill was born September 16, 1928, in Wichita, Kansas to Bertrum and Bessie (Lyman) Chenoweth. He graduated from Wichita State University in 1951 with a BA degree in geology. While at WSU he attended a 1950 summer field camp in the Zuni Mountains sponsored by the New Mexico School of Mines. After seeing New Mexico’s geology he decided to enroll in graduate school at the University of New Mexico, where he received an MS in geology in 1953. His thesis was a study of the Morrison Formation in the southeastern part of the San Juan Basin, Valencia County, New Mexico, and was funded by the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission (AEC). After graduation, he was offered employment by the AEC to work on uranium exploration drilling projects on the Navajo Indian Reservation in northeastern Arizona. For the next 11 years he studied uranium ore deposits in northeastern Arizona and northwestern New Mexico. In 1964 he was transferred from Grants, New Mexico, to the AEC’s main office in Grand Junction, Colorado, and was assigned to study uranium ore deposits in South Dakota and Wyoming. Bill was appointed Chief of the Geologic Branch in Grand Junction office in 1970 and was responsible for the activities of the AEC geologists in the 14 western states. During this time he examined all the major uranium mining area in the US. In 1983, his job was moved to Washington, DC by the Department of Energy (DOE). Rather than relocate, Bill began consulting and became a research associate at Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources. He was also the Chairman of the Nuclear Minerals Committee of the Energy Minerals Division of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists from 1983–1998. He is the author and coauthor of over eighty reports on uranium mining history, geology and resources in New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado and Utah. Bill has been a member of the New Mexico Geological Society since 1952. He spent his later years as a consultant to the Justice Department on the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act. His incredible memory for details and his meticulous record keeping were an invaluable resource to families of miners seeking compensation for radiation-related illnesses. He was still serving as the secretary/treasurer of the Grand Junction Geological Society at the time of his passing.

In 1954, he met Miriam (Polly) Pawlicki, the head nurse at the Indian Service Hospital in Shiprock, New Mexico. They were married on January 6, 1955 at Christ the King Mission in Shiprock. Their children Mary and Martin were born in Farmington, Peter in Flagstaff and Paul in Grants.

In his spare time he enjoyed working around the house and gardening. His declining health prevented him from working in the yard this year, but he held out hope that next year he would be able to plant some tomatoes.

Bill is survived by Miriam, his wife of 63 years; daughter, Mary (Steve) Donivan of Grand Junction; sons, Martin (Chris) of Grand Junction, Peter (Kingsley Luey) of San Francisco, and Paul (Satomi) of Copenhagen, Denmark. His grandchildren Nick Costello of Denver, Andrew Chenoweth of Grand Junction, and Stephen Donivan of Lampasas, TX, also survive.

The DOE has installed a temporary historical photo exhibit at City Hall at 250 N. 5th St. through October 10 to mark the 75-year anniversary of the area’s contribution to the Manhattan Project and the Cold War. The display includes a special tribute to Bill for his research into the DOE’s history in Grand Junction. Bill was honored to be included in the book “Grand Junction’s Story, 125 People, 125 Years.”

Bill enjoyed a glass of red wine or a frosty Mexican beer, especially Bohemia, and his family encourages you enjoy one in his honor if you are so inclined.

A visitation will be held at Callahan Edfast Mortuary on Sunday, July 29, from 4-5pm, with Rosary at 4:30pm. Funeral services will take place the following day at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church at 3pm.

The family would like to thank the entire staff at HopeWest Hospice for their incredible kindness and compassion. Memorial Contributions can be made to HopeWest, 3090 N. 12th St #B, Grand Junction, CO 81506.

Arrangements are under the care and direction of Callahan-Edfast Mortuary.