Goddard, Maurice K., 1912-1995

Maurice K. "Doc" Goddard was born in Lowell, Massachusetts on September 13, 1912. He received a bachelor's degree in forestry from the University of Maine and a master's degree in forestry from the University of California at Berkeley. He joined the Penn State faculty in 1935 as an instructor of forestry. He served in the United States Army from 1941 to 1945 and was awarded the Bronze Star, the Legion of Merit and earned the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. After serving as the director of the Mont Alto Forestry School, Goddard became head of the Pennsylvania State University Forestry School. In 1955, Maurice K. Goddard wrote a letter to the Pennsylvania governor with his suggestions for priorities for forestry and conservation. After being extensively questioned about his recommendations for who should head the Department of Forests and Waters, Goddard was himself offered the job. His goal was to have a state park within 25 miles of every resident of Pennsylvania. During his tenure as forestry secretary, 45 state parks totaling some 130,000 acres were created. Mr. Goddard was awarded honorary doctoral degrees from Waynesburg College, the University of Maine, and Gettysburg College. He is considered the father of the Pennsylvania State Park System. In 1964, he master-minded Project 70, a $70 million bond issue to buy land for state and local parks. Four years later Project 500 proposed a $500 million bond issue to outfit those parks. On July 1, 1978, Maurice K. Goddard retired from the university with the rank of professor emeritus of forestry. He served on the Penn State University Board of Trustees for seven years.