Dr. Ronald Howard Konig's Obituary
Dr. Ronald Howard Konig, Professor Emeritus of Geology at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville (1959–2010), climbed his last mountain at home as he wished during the early morning hours of July 1, 2026.
Ron was born on August 12, 1932, in Albany, New York, the only child of Howard Frances and Mildred Manning Konig, who preceded him in death in 1967.
He graduated from Bethlehem Central High School in Bethlehem, New York, in 1949, where he played baseball and lettered as their pitcher. He also pitched for both the Kiwanis League and American Legion teams, throwing multiple no-hitters during his three seasons of play.
Ron attended St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York, where he continued pitching for and lettering with the Cardinals. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Geology in 1952. Although he was offered an opportunity to play professional baseball—before the era of large signing bonuses—he chose instead to pursue graduate studies, accepting a teaching assistantship at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. There he earned both his Master's degree (1956) and Ph.D. (1959) in Geology.
He joined the faculty at the University of Arkansas in the fall of 1959 as an Assistant Professor of Geology. He was promoted to Associate Professor in 1967 and to Professor in 1971.
Dr. Konig served as Chair of the Department of Geology from 1971 to 1980, guiding the department through a period of remarkable growth and expansion. During his tenure, General Geology was included in the Arts and Sciences general education requirements. He also introduced a number of changes to the geology curriculum to both strengthen the geology major and improve the quality of students.
Under his leadership, the department expanded from four to eight faculty members, with three adjunct faculty positions and multiple graduate assistantships, while major space and equipment expansions paved the way for the future growth resulting in the Department of Geosciences as it is today.
Returning to teaching in 1980, he taught General Geology, Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology, and Structural Geology while serving on numerous master's thesis committees. Throughout his many years of teaching, Dr. Konig interacted with and introduced an astonishing number of undergraduate students estimated at more than 16,000 students—"with the grade books to prove it"—to the principles of Geology. In addition, hundreds of Geology majors and Civil Engineering students completed coursework under Dr. Konig's direction.
Even before beginning his academic career, Ron was immersed in geological fieldwork. As an undergraduate, he worked for the State of New York conducting seismological studies of glacial deposits in upstate New York along the southern boundary of what would become the St.
Lawrence Seaway. Nothing like getting paid to drive truckloads of dynamite!
This was followed by five summers of fieldwork for the State of Vermont Geological Survey, mapping more than 5,000 square miles of igneous and metamorphic rock throughout the Northern Green Mountains. These field investigations, combined with decades of laboratory research at the University of Arkansas, resulted in numerous scientific publications for various state, national, and international agencies.
Dr. Konig also spent summers employed as a consulting geologist for various mining and petroleum companies. His mining work often involved exploration for copper, lead, zinc, and silver mineral deposits in Colorado, Idaho, and Montana, as well as uranium exploration in New Mexico, Wyoming, and Saskatchewan, Canada. His petroleum work focused primarily on oil and natural gas exploration in Arkansas.
Ron is survived by his beloved wife of 50 years, 3 months, and 23 days, Janet Koester Konig, whom he wed on March 9, 1976, in Austin, Texas. He is also survived by his children, Liz Konig and M.K. Konig, both of Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Becoming a father later in life was one of Ron's greatest joys. He embraced parenthood wholeheartedly, teaching his children to swim, water ski, sail, and fish. He never missed one of their softball, baseball, basketball, or soccer games and often coached one of their teams.
Ron is also survived by his cousin, Keith Manning (Barbara), their children and grandchildren of Rochester, New York; his sister-in-law, Ellen Koester Plunkett (Dan) and their children of Abinoi, New Mexico; and his brother-in-law, Andy Koester (Becky) and their children, spouses, and grandchildren of Georgetown, Texas.
Ron often remarked that "books and desks are work; construction, woodworking, and landscaping are play." He certainly knew how to enjoy playing, whether remodeling and rewiring his beloved New York “camp” or landscaping his Fayetteville home alongside Janet. He found great satisfaction in building, creating, and improving the world around him.
A portion of Ron's ashes will be interred at his home on the Great Sacandaga Lake in the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York. A graveside service and interment will be held at a later date at St. Joseph's Cemetery in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Department of Geology at St. Lawrence University, Canton, New York, or to Circle of Life Hospice, Springdale, Arkansas.
I will meet you on that mountain.
Love you Best, Janet
Arrangements are by Nelson-Berna Funeral Home in Fayetteville.
What’s your fondest memory of Ronald?
What’s a lesson you learned from Ronald?
Share a story where Ronald's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Ronald you’ll never forget.
How did Ronald make you smile?