George Etzel Pearcy

George Etzel Pearcy (May 2, 1905 – June 28, 1980) was an American geographer known for his plan to re-draw the United States map to have only 38 states.[1][2] He also published influential work on America's global role in stewardship over the air.[3]

George Etzel Pearcy
A middle-aged white man, bald, wearing a suit and necktie
George Etzel Pearcy, from a 1965 publication of the US Department of State
Born(1905-05-02)May 2, 1905
Greencastle, Indiana
DiedJune 28, 1980(1980-06-28) (aged 75)
San Francisco, California
NationalityAmerican
Alma materUniversity of California, Los Angeles (B.E., 1931), Clark University (A.M., 1932; Ph.D., 1940)
Spouse
Florence Elizabeth Barili
​
​
(m. 1937⁠–⁠1980)​
AwardsFellow of the Royal Geographical Society
Scientific career
FieldsGeography
InstitutionsUnited States Department of State, United States Board on Geographic Names, California State University, Los Angeles
ThesisAvignon, a study in urban geography (1940)

Early life and education

Pearcy was born in Greencastle, Indiana, on May 2, 1905, to George William and Dora Hodge Pearcy. He received his B.E. from the University of California, Los Angeles, in 1932, followed by an A.M. and Ph.D. from Clark University in 1933 and 1940, respectively.[4]

Career

Pearcy was an American Field Service fellow from 1933 to 1934. He joined the faculty of the University of Alabama in 1939, where he taught until 1942. He then worked as a geographer for Trans World Airlines from 1943 to 1950. From 1950 to 1957, he was an attache for the United States Foreign Service, after which he became the geographer for the State Department.[4] From 1965 to 1969, he was the chairman of the United States Board on Geographic Names.[5] In 1969, he left the State Department to join the faculty of California State University, Los Angeles, where he taught until his retirement in 1973.[6]

Affiliations with learned societies

Pearcy was a member of the Association of American Geographers, and served as chairman of their Middle Atlantic Region. He was also a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society.[5]

References
  1. Jacobs, Frank (23 July 2010). "5 - The 38 state Union". Big Think. Retrieved 2018-01-17.
  2. "Notes: Sky Shuttle To London—When?". The New York Times. 1974-04-14. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2018-01-17.
  3. Barney, Timothy (2015-04-13). Mapping the Cold War: Cartography and the Framing of America's International Power. UNC Press Books. p. 31. ISBN 9781469618555.
  4. "Indiana authors and their books 1917-1966". Indiana University. Retrieved 2018-01-17.
  5. "Dr. G. Etzel Pearcy Dies". Washington Post. 1980-07-10. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2018-01-17.
  6. "In Memoriam". California State University, Los Angeles. 2016-11-04. Retrieved 2018-01-17.
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