Meet Jeri
Jeri was born in Hanover, PA and grew up in York, PA. While in grade school, Jeri was looking for a science fair project in 6 th grade. His parents suggested he could do a display on rocks and minerals from specimens that his grandparents had brought to him from North Carolina. He was introduced to the York Rock and Mineral Club at that time. Jeri not only went on to win 1 st place in the science fair but his father started a very successful mineral collecting hobby. While at William Penn Senior High School, Jeri became interested in astronomy and spent more time learning the sky and use of telescopes than digging into the Earth. He graduated from Catawba College, Salisbury, North Carolina with a degree in Geoarchaeology and was involved in operating the astronomical observatory on campus. While at Catawba, Jeri did all of his research with the Archaeology Department in conducting geologic reports for Environmental Impact Studies for Uwharrie National Forest, located within what is known as the Carolina Slate Belt.
Returning home, Jeri found a career with the York County Parks for 38 years
where he developed geologic and archaeology programs, built the John Rudy County Park observatory through donations and established the traveling mobile science center known as the Discovery Center. The Discovery Center was established again through sponsorships including Hoss’s Steak & Sea House, Carmate Trailers and Pepsi. Jeri was also responsible to having what is now known as the P. joseph Raab County Park added to the Parks system. This park was home to the 19 th century York Iron Company Mine. Jeri retired from the Parks in 2017. Jeri was an adjunct professor for Harrisburg Area Community College – Gettysburg Campus, York College of Pennsylvania and Messiah University at various times. He developed Jones Geological Services in 1985 where he specializes in educational programs and research. He has provided programs for many civic organizations, youth and school groups, libraries and large families. He loves to talk to anyone about geology, astronomy or archaeology.
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One enjoyable task that he enjoys is writing reports and books. His extensive list
of articles written, some published in journals and books he has published, concentrate on the geology of southeastern Pennsylvania. His books published include:
- The Geology of the York County Parks co-authored with Dr. Williiam Kreiger
- Whispering Hills – The Geology of York and Lancaster Counties co-authored with Paul Chrastina
- Time Walk – The Geology of Adams, York and Lancaster Counties, PA
- Gold in Southeastern Pennsylvania co-authored with Donald Schmerling
- The Geology of the Northwest Lancaster County River Trail, PA
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He also narrated a 3-part video series called TimeWalk which described the
geology of York County, the world-famous Peach Bottom Slate and Dinosaurs in York and Adams Counties. These videos were distributed to all elementary schools in the two counties free of charge due to generous sponsorship.
With his love of auto racing, Jeri was introduced into the chemistry of clay by a local prominent sprint car owner in 2001 who convinced Jeri that he would be able to help the local dirt tracks to find clays that would provide good racing and also a safe surface for these high-speed vehicles. Today, Jeri works with Lincoln, BAPS, Williams Grove, Selingsgrove, Port Royal and Big Diamond speedways in their clay resources. With Covid introduced into our society in 2020, Jeri started the Zoom Rock Room since he was not able to go out and talk to the public, he brought the people to him. With a on-going sponsorship from his cousin, Paul Lehr, of Lake Havasu City, Arizona, the Rock Room was started in April, 2000 and continues today providing earth and space science programs to anyone free of charge.
