James M. Schopf (1911-1978) worked for 10 years as a geologist with the Illinois Geological Survey, then for 4 years as a paleobotanist with the U.S. Bureau of Mines. From 1949-1976, he worked as a geologist at the U.S. Geological Survey's Coal Geology Laboratory on the campus of Ohio State University. He joined the University's faculty in 1950, and was an active member for the remainder of his life. Dr. Schopf made several expeditions to Antarctica for the U.S. Geological Survey and Ohio State's Institute of Polar Studies. He authored more than 150 published reports on subjects including and related to plant fossils, ancient climates, and coal. Schopf received the Geological Society of America's first Gilbert H. Cady award for outstanding contributions to the field of coal geology, the Botanical Society of America's Certificate of Merit for his work in the fields of fossil plants and coal petrology, and posthumously, the Paleontological Society's Ford Medal. He died on September 15, 1978, in Columbus, Ohio. His wife, Esther Nissen Schopf, assisted James in his research assignments and was educated in botany and mathematics.