
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, March 3, 1995                   TAG: 9503030092
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV2   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG                                LENGTH: Short

FORMER TECH SOIL SCIENTIST HOBART CLARKE PORTER DEAD AT 86

Hobart Clarke Porter, 86, who was retired from Virginia Tech's Agronomy Department, died Wednesday at his home in Blacksburg.

He had worked for the agronomy department for 38 years as a soil scientist, mapping soils all over Virginia before his retirement in 1973.

"He greatly influenced soil science in Virginia, the nation and the world," said Samuel Obenshain, who had worked with Porter on Tech's Soil Survey program since 1935.

He called Porter a leader in starting to use the results of soil surveying as a basis for urban development, saving the state millions of dollars in determining areas inappropriate for commercial or residential development because of poor or unstable soil conditions.

Porter is survived by his wife, Dorris Porter; two daughters, Beverly Simpson of Athens, Ga., and Diane Goff of Blacksburg.

The funeral will be Saturday at 2 p.m. in McCoy Funeral Home in Blacksburg. Burial will follow in Westview Cemetery.

by CNB