Dr. Richard L. Bullock, professor emeritus of mining engineering at Missouri S&T, died Nov. 20 at his home in North Richland Hills, Texas. He was 91 years old.
Bullock was the first Robert H. Quenon Chair of Mining Engineering at Missouri S&T and served in the post from 1997 to 2002. After retiring from the classroom, he continued to teach online courses at the university for another 13 years while working as a mining consultant in the U.S. and around the world.
Bullock earned a bachelor’s degree from what was then known as the Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy in 1951, a master’s degree in mining engineering in 1955 and a doctor of engineering degree in mining engineering from the University of Missouri-Rolla (UMR) in 1975.
Bullock had over 60 years of experience in the mining industry. His work ethic allowed him to achieve success as a miner, mine foreman, mine and plant superintendent, director of mining research, manager of mine evaluation, mine project executive, and vice president of engineering and research.
Bullock received many awards, including the Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration (SME) Jackling Award in 2011, Distinguished SME Member, and the Distinguished M&E Division Member, as well as numerous teaching awards from SME and Missouri S&T. He was a registered engineer in three states and a Qualified Person in Mining and Reserves.
Bullock was a co-editor and author of mining books and technical papers. He also wrote a two-volume memoir, From Hard Knocks to Hard Rocks: A Journey in My Shoes, about how his humble, rural Ozarks beginnings evolved into his life as an internationally known mining engineer. Bullock was featured in a two-part video interview for the American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical and Petroleum Engineers (AIME) oral heritage series in 2018.
Bullock is survived by his wife and adult children.