In memoriam: Stanley W. Buol

Stanley W. Buol, 91, of Garner, NC, passed away on Apr. 18, 2026. He was a 50-year member of SSSA and ASA and a Fellow of both Societies. He is remembered as a devoted husband, father, colleague, and mentor whose influence stretched across generations of soil scientists. 

Dr. Buol enjoyed a distinguished career as one of the nation’s leading soil scientists. A longtime professor at North Carolina State University, he served as Head of the Department of Soil Science and became internationally recognized for his work in soil genesis, classification, and landscape relationships. He authored foundational texts—including multiple editions of Soil Genesis and Classification—and helped shape modern soil taxonomy through his research, teaching, and leadership in professional societies. His students and colleagues remember him, not only for his scientific rigor, but for his generosity, clarity of thought, and unwavering commitment to advancing the discipline.

In addition to being awarded Fellow of the Societies, he also received SSSA’s International Soil Science Award in 1989 and the Soil Science Distinguished Service Award in 2005.

He leaves behind a legacy defined by scholarship, mentorship, and a lifelong dedication to understanding and explaining the soils that sustain us. A collection of soil science images was taken by Dr. Buol over his many travels around the world.