Bobby Creel Passes

Bobby Creel, Associate Director of the New Mexico Water Resources Research Institute (WRRI), passed away on February 15th, 2010. The NM geospatial community, the WRRI, NMSU, and the state in general, lost a good friend, who was a truly helpful "do anything for you" kind of guy, as well as a skilled researcher and manager. He will be greatly missed.

Bobby had been with the WRRI since 1986. He has served as Assistant Director, Acting Director, and Associate Director at the institute since that time. He came to NMSU as a student in 1964 and received his bachelor's degree in agriculture in 1968 and a master's degree in agricultural economics in 1971 as well as a Ph.D. in Resource Economics from UNM in 1986.

He published over 150 journal articles, research reports, special reports, book chapters, and conference proceedings publications and abstracts, mainly in the areas of natural resource economics, water resource planning, allocation, and use of the water resources in the various basins of the state and southwest U.S. Most of these incorporate various quantitative assessment methods such as geographic information systems, input-output analysis, benefit-cost analysis, linear programming, and cost and returns analysis. Assessments for water quality protection programs using geographic information systems, feasibility of developing saline water resources, geothermal water resources, large-scale irrigation projects, and energy development impacts on agriculture. In 2002, he received the Fort Bliss Federal Credit Union Research Award for his many years of research in the areas of water and natural resources.

Bobby enjoyed building streetrods and restoring old automobiles.

To honor Bobby J. Creel’s memory and his devotion to students over a career of 40 years, the WRRI has established the Bobby J. Creel Student Water Research Scholarship. Those interested in contributing to the scholarship can call the WRRI at 575-646-4337.