Tributes

Dr. Berry Sutherland was born to John Wesley and Georgia Elizabeth Sutherland in Pleasanton, Texas. He was the youngest of five siblings, four of which had left home years before he was born. He lived his early life in several Central and South Texas communities since his father was a lay minister establishing non-denominational small churches during the early nineteen hundreds. The family moved to San Antonio in late 1930 where Berry attended public schools including Morrill Ward Elementary, Thomas Page Junior High and George Brackenridge High School. After the outbreak of the Korean War in 1950, Berry joined the Navy and served in the Pacific Theater with Fighter Squadron VF24 aboard the USS Yorktown off Korea. He also served with the Military Air Transport Service MATS Naval Squadron VR8 in Hawaii and Guam transporting supplies to Japan in support of the war effort, moving the wounded back to Hawaii and the United States. After completing four years of service, he returned to San Antonio where he attended San Antonio College. Berry transferred to the University of Texas at Austin and completed a BS Degree in Geology in 1961. He worked as a geological engineer on drilling rigs throughout South Texas. He married Betty Thompson in 1961 and took up residence in San Antonio and Alice, Texas while employed by the Caran Engineering Firm. Berry applied and received a fellowship for graduate school from the University of Houston where he completed his Masters and Doctoral Degrees while teaching at that University. Upon completion of his Doctorate, Berry taught at the University of Florida at Gainesville. He moved back to Texas to take a professorship at the new University of Texas at San Antonio. He was one of the first group of faculty to be hired by UTSA in 1972. He served as a professor in education and environmental studies for 26 years. He also served as Associate Dean and several other administrative roles in two colleges for over 22 years. Berry co-authored with Dr. Margaret S. Bishop, Professor of Geology at University of Houston, a series of secondary school Earth Science textbooks that made the adoption lists of 18 states. Book sales exceeded 2.5 million units and were translated and used in both Spanish and Chinese cultures. He retired in 1988 from UTSA and was awarded Professor Emeritus in 2000. He remained an avid fan of UTSA Athletics after his retirement. Berry enjoyed trips to Hawaii, China, Italy, and annual visits to Colorado and the Big Bend Ranch State Park. Berry loved the outdoors especially in the Western States where the geology was exposed and accessible. He enjoyed his membership and travels with members of the Street Rod Car Club to events throughout Texas and surrounding states. His red 1934 Ford Victoria was his pride and joy for many years. He was a member of the First Baptist Church and enjoyed volunteering for the International Outreach Ministry which made weekly visits to the Food Bank delivering food to approximately fifty families who were Burmese refugees. Berry is preceded in death by his parents, brother, John Wayland Sutherland, Sisters: Zemma G. Moore, Gladys E. Duke, Georgia M. Weigand and niece LaTrelle Mercier. Survived by his wife Betty J. Sutherland, daughters: Dianne Elizabeth Sutherland and Cathy Jayne Davies; nieces, Patricia Campbell, Priscilla Gonzales, Georgia Sutherland; nephew, Stanley Saathoff LaJuana; and also great-nieces, Janis Shultz Edward, Cara Porter Clint, Ann Eysper Richard, Catherine Rozinek, and Sherri Holloway; and great-nephews: Randall Mercier Alana Trey Campbell Loraine, and Shane Saathoff; and 11 Great-great nieces and nephews.

Tributes

Dr. Berry Sutherland

February 10, 1932 - September 17, 2015