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Richard Boyd recognized for his lifetime of archaeological and preservation efforts

Dr. Richard J. Boyd ’61, MS’64, PhD’72’s contribution will be prominent in the new State Historical Museum addition that will have a maritime history section of the new State historical museum will showcase underwater archeology and maritime history as its primary permanent display.

Dr. Boyd is being recognized this year for his research and published material about the Great Lakes over six decades. He has received several awards this year: The Wisconsin Historical Society Historical Preservation Award for his Lifetime of Archaeological and Preservation Efforts; the Association for Great Lakes Maritime History 2018 C. Patrick Labadie Award for Historic Preservation. For articles and stories written for The Anchor (Quarterly Magazine of Wisconsin Maritime History) honorable mention award May 2018 Council for Wisconsin Writers Award for short nonfiction.

At the beginning of the scuba industry, Dr. Boyd helped develop the critical gasses used in aqualungs and is considered a nationally known expert for his ongoing work in that field. He helped develop techniques for underwater diving in caves. He worked with NOAA and the National Park Service. He was part of the team that raised the Alvin Clark Mystery Ship that was a museum in Marinette for many years. He was one of the divers that helped find the downed plane in Lake Monona carrying Otis Redding.

He was the youngest member of the Wisconsin Historical Society while he was in elementary school. Since his early teen years he helped document the history of the early development of the Grignon complex in Kaukauna. He has researched and helped preserve burial sites in the Fox River valley, especially Kaukauna.

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