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PERSPECTIVE

CSU Spring, 2004, Vol. 12, No. 2, p. 99

Remembering Clarence Golueke

MANY of you personally knew Clarence Golueke, who died May 23, 2004 at
age 93. Dr. Golueke was internationally recognized for his research contributions to the science of composting and his work in the entire field of solid waste
management. To those of us who had the joy of being with him from time to time, we will always

treasure his wonderful qualities as a human being. Clarence had an enormous role in the launch and development of BioCycle right from its beginning in 1960. He also served as the initial editor of Compost Science & Utilization when it was founded in 1992.
Clarence grew up in the cold, blustery town of Marinette, Wisconsin - which made him and his wife Dolores thoroughly appreciative of the warmer climate of California. His undergraduate studies were at the University of St. Louis, where he earned a double degree in zoology and philosophy, went on to Illinois for a Masters in microbiology, and then to the University of California at Berkeley for his Ph.D. For a short time, he worked as an instructor in microbiology and bacteriology at St. Mary's Hospital in Kankakee, Illinois and Nazareth College in Kalamazoo, Michigan. In 1952, he returned to Berkeley as a research biologist in the Sanitary Engineering Research Laboratory (SERL) in Richmond, California where he progressed to professor. He remained there until retirement. In 1978, he joined CalRecovery, Inc. where he served as director of research and development.
In 1989, BioCycle published a special report honoring Dr. Golueke and his 40 years of compost research. As part of that report, his former student and long-time colleague at CalRecovery - Luis Diaz - wrote a piece titled, “Combining Experience with Common Sense” which included these recollections: “During his 26-year tenure at the University, he worked on a variety of projects and taught a number of students. Although he is recognized nationally and internationally as one of the first scientists to apply composting in the field of waste management, his work in waste management encompassed a broad spectrum.
“Golueke worked with Dr. William Oswald in the development of algal systems for the treatment of liquid wastes. Projects in this area included the development of oxidation ponds for wastewater treatment and the evaluation of algae harvesting techniques for protein production. Anaerobic digestion of the algae also was assessed for methane yield. As early as the 1960s, Golueke and Oswald explored the potential of integrating food production with waste treatment and energy generation.”
From 1968 to 1972, Golueke directed a research program entitled, “Comprehensive Studies In Solid Waste Management,” which was funded by the U.S. Public
Health Service. Its scope dealt with a variety of technologies for treating and disposing municipal solid wastes. The technologies included pyrolysis, incineration, composting, anaerobic digestion and enzymatic hydrolysis (for ethanol production).
The study also explored the planning and economic aspects of municipal solid waste management.
In 1972, Dr. Robert Cooper and Dr. Golueke conducted an environmental evaluation of disposable diapers. The purpose of the study was to assess potential impact of the diapers on water quality due to leachate from landfilling.
Later, his work covered a variety of topics in the area of resource recovery, including: Marketing recyclable materials; Utilization of aquatic weeds for wastewater treatment in developing countries; and Public health aspects of composting refuse and sludge.
In the 1989 BioCycle report, author Gene Logsdon profiled the full range
of Clarence's interests beyond his
professional career - from gardening and hunting wildflowers to bread-baking and power-walking: “Of all the people this writer has interviewed, he comes closest to being the total renaissance man.”
Logsdon closed his profile by referring to Clarence Golueke as a classic philosopher above all, citing his words: “One of the more regretful trends I see in modern society is our current retreat from reason into emotionalism as a way out of problems. We are raising up generations who want to rely on their feelings rather than their intellects - that can only lead to social chaos. Such people are also susceptible to all sorts of ridiculous advertising propaganda and pseudoscientific theories. If I'm remembered at all, I hope it is as the person who took the witchcraft out of composting and replaced it with rationality.”
Clarence Golueke will be remembered for possessing remarkable qualities - from his gentle nature and wonderful sense of humor to all of his great scientific knowledge and ability to communicate that knowledge. Knowing him has been a real privilege. - J.G.