
	Wheeler was unique He was one of a kind Friend to all who met him Inspired and directed by example The eternal optimist Politely persistent Can’t refuse Constantly curious Blue eyes that sparkled and rarely sparked Shoes with flapping soles, hush-puppies Blue Mister California shirts Turgid pocket protectors and yellow Scripto pencils Patient and attentive to the student Patient and attentive to the waitress with the bran muffin Patient and attentive to the Nobel candidate A gentleman, a scientist twenty-four seven Green crusted dive gear in a sack Laboratory journals bulging with notes Scuba tank deviating across his back Odd colored photos of odd shaped kelp It’s too good to through away, I may be able to use this later Stratigraphy of desk Stratigraphy of files Stratigraphy of storerooms and warehouse Starting before dawn thermometer in hand Work till dark Ice cream at Wrights In bed by nine He was unique. He had a profound effect on everyone he met young and old. He had life changing, life directing effects and we probably didn’t even know it at the time. We have all been spread over time and space and I glad that we have the opportunity to get together here to day to compare notes on the phenomena. The summer of 1955 I told Dr. Norris Rakestraw at Scripps that I was 16 years (I was only 15) and managed to get a summer job with Wheeler and quickly got to know a number of people here his afternoon. Since that time Wheeler has been my "kind-of-adopted Dad". It seems that over the years every time a group of marine biologists get together Wheeler’s name comes up and there begins an evening of Wheeler Stories. I would like to take this opportunity to share those some of those stories so that they may be preserved. Chuck Mitchell