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Dr. Richard K. Moore Ph.D.

Dr. Richard K. Moore Ph.D. obituary

Richard Moore Obituary

Dr. Richard K. Moore, Ph.D.

Memorial services for Dr. Richard K. Moore, Ph.D. will be held at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, November 21, 2012, at First Presbyterian Church, 215 Clinton Pkwy, followed by a reception. Burial will follow at Pioneer Cemetery. Professor Moore died on November 13, 2012.

Dr. Moore, one of the most noted scientists in his field, was born in St. Louis, Missouri, on November 13, 1923, to Louis D. and Nina M. Moore. He lived in the family home in Kirkwood, through university graduation. His avid interest in ham radio led him to study Electrical Engineering at Washington University where he received his B.S. in 1943.

He worked for RCA in Camden, NJ as a radar engineer, where he met and married Wilma Schallau, also an engineer, in 1944. He joined the Navy in 1944 and served as an electronics and radar officer on the USS Rehoboth in the Pacific. In 1946, on separation from the Navy, he attended graduate school at Washington University, St Louis. His master's thesis, in which he invented the VLF antenna for submarines, was judged to be of doctoral quality, and he moved to Cornell to complete that work, while also researching tropospheric and ionospheric propagation.

Upon receiving his PhD from Cornell in 1951, he moved his young family to Albuquerque, New Mexico, and worked at Sandia Corp. while lecturing at UNM. In 1955, he became Chairman of the Electrical Engineering Department at UNM, remaining until 1962. Offered the Black and Veatch distinguished professorship at KU, he moved to Lawrence. With his research interests in microwave remote sensing, he started the interdisciplinary Remote Sensing Laboratory where he worked until his retirement in 1994, doing seminal work in both theory and experiment for radar returns. He continued to run sponsored projects until 2004, and contributed to the Center for Remote Sensing of Ice Sheets until his death. His research interests included microwave remote sensing of atmosphere, ocean, land, ice and planetary surfaces; radar systems, and radio wave propagation.

Professor Moore's accomplishments include the 1995 Australia Prize (for Science, Australia's equivalent of the Nobel Prize); Remote Sensing Award, Italian Center, 1995; Fellow of the AAAS; Life Fellow of IEEE, Member of the National Academy of Engineering; Irving Youngberg Award in the Applied Sciences, KU, 1989; Louise E. Byrd Graduate Educator Award, KU, 1984; Centennial Medal, IEEE 1984; Distinguished Achievement Award, IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Society, 1982; Outstanding Technical Achievement Award, IEEE Council on Oceanic Engineering, 1978; Alumni Achievement Award, Washington University, 1978. He and his brother were the only brothers ever in the National Academies.

He authored or co-authored 10 books and over 300 journal articles and conference publications.

His professional memberships and activities not mentioned above included the AAUP, American Society of Engineering Education, Geoscience and Remote Sensing Society, Antennas and Propagation Society, Aerospace & Electronic Systems Society, Education Society, American Geophysical Union, International Union of Radio Science (URSI), Chairman, International Commission F.

Dr. Moore, in addition to serving his country in the Navy, performed classified research and served on classified government committees in the areas of defense and national intelligence throughout his career, including the CIA's MEDEA committee and the NRC Advisory Committee on Undersea Warfare.

He was active in the community, regularly attending meetings of the Kiwanis Club, the Endacott Society (KU retirees association), and the Military Officers Association of America. His interest in Amateur Radio continued (W0GYS, now SK). He was an avid traveler, visiting every continent, either for science or personal interest. He was active in First Presbyterian Church, and gave generously to many charities.

He is survived by his sons: John Moore and wife Anne (Scottsdale, AZ), and Daniel Moore and wife Mieko (Las Vegas, NV), and his long time companion Barbara McCorkle. He leaves two grandchildren, Elizabeth Reye (Hillsboro, OR) and Alexander Moore (Iwata, Japan), and great grandchildren Colin and Brigit Reye (Hillsboro, OR).

His love, his decency, his support and advice was so very important to us, and we sorely miss him. He was a true gentleman, beloved not only by his family but his many friends and colleagues.

Memorials can be made to First Presbyterian Church of Lawrence or to the University of Kansas Endowment Association in care of the Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, 601 Indiana, Lawrence, KS 66044.

Please sign this guestbook at Obituaries.LJWorld.com.

Published by Lawrence Journal-World on Nov. 18, 2012.
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Memories and Condolences
for Richard Moore

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Memories are vivid of working with Dr. Moore and other faculty and students at KU's Center for Research in Engineering Sciences from 1965 through 1969. His dedication to his students was steadfast, and his friendship was enduring. My thoughts are with Dr. Moore's family and Bobby.

Kay Sommerfeld

November 30, 2012

I had known Dick as a colleague for the past 40 years, and was saddened to learn of his passing. He made many contributions in RADAR remote sensing of the ocean, and aggressively pushed his ideas for building advanced instrumentation for this purpose. His three volume microwave remote sensing books (with Ulaby and Fung) are widely used by the remote sensing community.

Dick will be missed.

Cal Swift

November 27, 2012

It was my honor to know Dick for many year. He was always supportive and encouraging for my work. He leaves behind good memories.

Jerry Niebaum

November 23, 2012

My condolences to the Moore Family. I was a student of Dr. Moore in 1962. He was a great inspritation to me. I will always remember his helping hand in my EE classes.

Duane Davis

November 23, 2012

I worked for Dr. Moore for many years. He was not only my employer, but became my friend. I am grateful for all I learned from him in both capacities. He will be missed.

Julie Banhart

November 23, 2012

With respect, KD0TPF

Stan Trekell

November 23, 2012

John and Dan, good memories of you as youngsters and son Joe's friends. I talked to your Dad one time via phone as a reference librarian at Lawrence Public. A client asked about "white noise generators" or some such thing. Dr. Moore gave me the answer to pass on to the client. I enjoyed the both of you, appreciated your Father's place in the life of this town and in the world of science at which he excelled. Blessings to you and yours.

Sue Hess

November 20, 2012

I had the privilege of working with Professor Moore when I was Contract Administrator at the Center for Research, Inc. in the early 1970's. He was the leader of the Remote Sensing Lab which brought many thousands of research dollars to KU. He was not only a brilliant scientist but also a kind and generous person who will be greatly missed. My sincere condolences to his family.

Robert Simmermon

November 20, 2012

I was a student of Dr. moore in 1963 and over the years had a few amateur radio contacts with him. May he rest in peace. Bill McCaa

November 19, 2012

Brenda Kirk

November 19, 2012

For the last 9 spring seasons, I have pulled a book off the shelf to prepare a few lectures on waves for my advanced physics high school students.
Often I hear what a brilliant man I am.
I laugh and set them straight.

No I am not. I teach from Dr. Moores's "Traveling Waves" book. Thank you Dr. Moore. You were a brilliant man. I learned much from you. I am honored to continue your legacy.

David Brunfeldt

November 19, 2012

So sorry for your loss God be with you. KD0CYR

Linda McGuire

November 19, 2012

I knew Dick for 29 years. He was a kind and brilliant man. My sympathy to his family.
Pamela Mayfield

November 19, 2012

Fond Kiwanis memories, Dick. William Winkler.

November 18, 2012

My condolences to the Moore Family and Mrs. McCorkle. Dick was a real friend and mentor to my husband Julian Holtzman, keeping him entertained by emails until Julian's passing. He was my friend as well and I know he will be missed.

Aline Holtzman

November 18, 2012

To the Moore Family and to Bobby. My condolences on the loss of father and dear friend. He was a true gentleman and scholar and will be sorely missed.

Jill Murphy

November 18, 2012

I grew to love Dick over the years he and my mother were together and I so appreciated how much he loved her. I will miss him greatly. He was a good man and stayed engaged with his intellectual world until the end. He kept his mind nimble, sharp, and entertaining.

Robert Backus

November 18, 2012

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