The Daily Ardmorite
Ardmore, Oklahoma
Story last updated at 8:25 a.m. Thursday, February 26, 2004
Paleontologist honored for exceptional work
By Steve Biehn
Staff Writer
Graffham
Allen Graffham of Ardmore is not your everyday fossil salesman. Because of his
unique ability to combine paleontology and commerce, he was recently awarded
the Sternberg Medal from the Association of Applied Paleontological Sciences.
In addition, the organization announced the creation of the A. Allen Graffham
Research Grant for the study of paleontology.
"He has been an inspiration, a motivator, a pioneer, a fantastic paleontologist
and one of the greatest fossil collectors there has ever been," said Neal Larson,
AAPL's president. "He is also a geologist, an archeologist, an author and a
philanthropist."
"It was quite unexpected," Graffham said from his office at Geological
Enterprises.
Graffham has been operating his fossil business in Ardmore since 1955. He
sells fossils primarily to individuals and institutions who use them for display and
research.
"He has undoubtedly purchased and sold more fossils than any other business
and may have even collected more fossils than any one of us," Larson told his
fellow AAPL members during their annual meeting in Tucson, Ariz., earlier this
month.
Graffham has discovered so many fossils that quite a few, like the
Graffhamicrinus pictus, carry his name.
"It's unusual to get that many named for you," he said. "Usually, it only happens
to people after they have died."
A meteorite Graffham identified in 1953 is still on display in Tucker Tower at
Lake Murray State Park. The "Lake Murray Meteorite" is the oldest fossil
meteorite yet found.
A cast of the Acrocanthosaurus atokensis dinosaur he purchased and prepared
is on display in Graffham Hall at the Goddard Youth Camp south of Sulphur. The
actual dinosaur is on exhibit at the North Carolina State Museum of Natural
Sciences in Raleigh.
Next year, Graffham will celebrate his 50th year in business.
"He has discovered so many new and important fossils and localities, it is a
shame he will not be around forever to help us collect them all," Larson said.
Steve Biehn, 221-6546 or steve.biehn@ardmoreite.com.
Ardmore, Oklahoma
Story last updated at 8:25 a.m. Thursday, February 26, 2004
Paleontologist honored for exceptional work
By Steve Biehn
Staff Writer
Graffham
Allen Graffham of Ardmore is not your everyday fossil salesman. Because of his
unique ability to combine paleontology and commerce, he was recently awarded
the Sternberg Medal from the Association of Applied Paleontological Sciences.
In addition, the organization announced the creation of the A. Allen Graffham
Research Grant for the study of paleontology.
"He has been an inspiration, a motivator, a pioneer, a fantastic paleontologist
and one of the greatest fossil collectors there has ever been," said Neal Larson,
AAPL's president. "He is also a geologist, an archeologist, an author and a
philanthropist."
"It was quite unexpected," Graffham said from his office at Geological
Enterprises.
Graffham has been operating his fossil business in Ardmore since 1955. He
sells fossils primarily to individuals and institutions who use them for display and
research.
"He has undoubtedly purchased and sold more fossils than any other business
and may have even collected more fossils than any one of us," Larson told his
fellow AAPL members during their annual meeting in Tucson, Ariz., earlier this
month.
Graffham has discovered so many fossils that quite a few, like the
Graffhamicrinus pictus, carry his name.
"It's unusual to get that many named for you," he said. "Usually, it only happens
to people after they have died."
A meteorite Graffham identified in 1953 is still on display in Tucker Tower at
Lake Murray State Park. The "Lake Murray Meteorite" is the oldest fossil
meteorite yet found.
A cast of the Acrocanthosaurus atokensis dinosaur he purchased and prepared
is on display in Graffham Hall at the Goddard Youth Camp south of Sulphur. The
actual dinosaur is on exhibit at the North Carolina State Museum of Natural
Sciences in Raleigh.
Next year, Graffham will celebrate his 50th year in business.
"He has discovered so many new and important fossils and localities, it is a
shame he will not be around forever to help us collect them all," Larson said.
Steve Biehn, 221-6546 or steve.biehn@ardmoreite.com.
