Marc Woodin
It's odd how important aspects of a relationship can sometimes be captured in mere minutes, or even flashes, of time. Even today, I recall vividly my first meeting with Milt Weller. It was in the middle of the winter of 1978-79.
I had traveled to see Milt, who was then at the University of Minnesota, about the possibility of doing graduate work under his guidance. The wind chill on the day of my scheduled meeting was somewhere around -30 degrees! As I approached his office, I was having thoughts such as, "Who am I to be meeting with Milt Weller?", and "Do I really belong here?" No doubt I was visibly shivering from the frigid cold, but also, I think, due to my nervous tension about meeting this well-known icon of waterfowl research and conservation. However, in only a few minutes, Milt had allayed my fears with his easy, reassuring way. In just that short length of time, I realized that I had found a professor to serve as my major adviser and mentor, one with whom I would feed comfortable to work for. I left his office that day knowing that I had a future at the University of Minnesota.
Another moment in time with Milt that remains locked forever in my memory occurred in the summer of 1979. Milt had traveled to the prairies of North Dakota to check on my progress during the first season of my graduate research project. Upon his arrival in Jamestown, I met Milt at the airport, and we drove to my apartment for a quick meal before heading into the field. My wife, Chris, and I were sitting with Milt at the kitchen table, as we enjoyed a home-cooked meal of fried chicken. Well, we noticed that Milt was eating his chicken rather slowly and very carefully, Milt was turning each piece of chicken over and over, examining it minutely, as if it was not cooked to his liking. We asked Milt if something was wrong with the chicken, and he replied, "Oh, no, not at all! I'm reviewing my avian anatomy." Well, in that instant, I knew that I was in for an intense learning experience with Milt Weller as my adviser and that I would become trained to focus as never before!!
A very fond memory I have from my days at the University of Minnesota is the periodic evening gatherings, hosted by Milt and Doris at their home, for Milt's graduate students. These were meant to foster grad student communication on shared research issues and questions, but they also served to enhance camaraderie among fellow students. I always enjoyed these cozy get-togethers in such a homey setting. These evening gatherings also always ended with one of Doris's superb desserts! That was always a very welcome treat for struggling grad students.
These are but a few of the memorable waypoints in time that stand out since my relationship with Milt began more than 35 years ago, on that distant winter day in the late 1970s. Milt led me through a highly rewarding period of intellectual growth while serving as my adviser and mentor at the University of Minnesota. Later, in the 1980s and early 1990s, Milt served as my advocate and as my colleague, friend, and cooperator, as we worked together on collaborative research projects for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Milt became more and more my friend and confidant while he and Doris resided in Corpus Christi after his retirement. We were able to meet regularly for lunch then, often lamenting the proliferation of institutional barriers which came to burden federal wildlife scientists after the mid-1990s.
I am fortunate to have known Milt as my adviser, friend, and confidant over these many years. Milt assisted me in so many ways, as he has selflessly aided his other graduate students, as well. In addition to that, though, Milt Weller was truly a good and decent man. No man can leave a better legacy than this.