January 26, 2026
Today I was deeply saddened as I just learned of Benny's passing. I send my sincerest condolences to Nancy, their family, and the staff of LGL Research. 

Benny was a dear friend and respected colleague of mine since May 1981. We collaborated on many aspects of fishery research on the North Slope of Alaska. We had a close working relationship for almost two decades, from 1981 through the mid-1990s. Our collaboration extended well beyond our work on North Slope fisheries to a deep and lasting friendship.

I offer this to show how Benny's research interests broadened to include sea turtles.

KEMP’S RIDLEY STOCK ASSESSMENT PROJECT FINAL REPORT
Prepared For 
Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission 
Attn: David M. Donaldson, Executive Director 
2404 Government Street 
Ocean Springs, MS 39564 
June 2013
(https://www.gsmfc.org/publications/Miscellaneous/Kemp%20Ridley%20Stock%20Assessment%20Report%20Final%20June%2027%202013.pdf)

Development of a Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle Stock Assessment Model. 2016. Gulf of Mexico Science Volume 33, Number 2 (https://aquila.usm.edu/goms/vol33/iss2/3)

Charles W. Caillouet, Jr.
Montgomery, Texas

We offer our heartfelt condolences to Benny's family.  
We were blessed to have known Benny and Nancy over decades.  Benny was a true friend and colleague.

Charles and Nancy Caillouet
Montgomery, Texas

Benny was a great scientist, colleague, and mentor. Even more importantly he was a very warm, welcoming, and supportive friend. A unique human being, he will be missed by many in many places.

Nancy, Karen and Shelly,
I was sad to read of Benny’s passing. Condolences to you all.

My deepest condolences to Benny's family. He was a great scientist and, more importantly, a good man.  I always appreciated his insights into the subjects we worked on together. He was right about many things, and always patient and gracious with those he disagreed with.   I will miss him very much,
   Clay Porch
   Director, Southeast Fisheries Science Center, and friend of Benny's

I think this is is in the early 1980s. Moved here from the first office on Pleasant Street in Bryan. A fantastic job led by Benny that took me from amazing projects in the Gulf of Mexico to diving under the ice in Prudhoe Bay Alaska. ('m second from right); any place you can come to work in shorts and flip flops can't be too bad.  Many late evenings playing darts after long days.

I have fond memories of a few fishing excursions on the 'pond' near Benny and Nancy's home.

I always looked forward to LGL corporate gatherings and the opportunity to see and interact with Benny.  None more so, than the gatherings in Texas where Benny always displayed his tremendous skills as a host.

We were measuring a rope before the next scientific scuba dive on one of the Buccaneer gas an oil field platforms. We found this eagle ornament somewhere on the platform complex in August 1976. As our supreme commander, it was only natural to stick it in Benny's hard hat. Randall Howard in back, photo by Greg Boland

I made about a dozen dives with Benny here at the Buccaneer platforms in 1977 and a few at the Flower Garden Banks in 1979. He couldn't make it into the field after the first few years of our Gulf studies do to conflicts with running the fledgling LGL business but we were happy to have him out with us in the early days.

Very sad news. Benny gave me the opportunity to work for LGL in 1978 as a graduate student while working on my MS thesis project at the same Gulf of Mexico Buccaneer offshore  platforms LGL had a contract to study. I was first hired by the day to participate in diving field  work in 1977 and I'll always remember, he said it would be cheaper to just hire me full time! Ten years of invaluable experience with LGL led to my continued successful career as a biological oceanographer retiring in 2018.  I will be forever grateful. I was fortunate to see Benny one last time in November of 2023.

I am saddened to hear of Benny's passing.  Elaine and I send our condolences to Nancy and Benny's family.  I worked for Benny in his Anchorage, Alaska office for a dozen years, and he was a remarkable scientist and a real people person.  He trusted me with making decisions for LGL's Alaska projects, and Benny's scientific credentials and proven expertise in many fields of Alaskan ecology, especially in the Arctic,  led him to be very respected by many.  His insights into ecological process in a variety of marine environments was known internationally.  He was indeed a warm and personable colleague and I will miss him.  When I think of Benny I smile.  
Bill Wilson

OBITUARY

Dr. Benny John Gallaway

April 7, 1944 – November 11, 2025

Memorial Funeral Chapel—College Station

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