Evening star., 1959-12-23
LA GORGE
Geographic Society
President and Editor


and the editors chair. But in
his third floor paneled and
handsomely appointed suite at
the society's headquarters, at
Sixteenth and NJ streets NV,
DR.. La Gorce remembered well
his early training. A gold tele-
graph key presented to him as
a gift by his colleagues en-
abled him to tap out mes
sages for his own relaxation
and to conjure up a host of
memories.
From 1907 to 1911, he was
assistant editor of the National
Geographic Magazine and was
vice president and associate ed
itor until his election to the
presidency in 1854. He was also
a life trustee of the organiza-
tion.
He Travelled extensively and
contributed numerous articles
to the magazine.
Wrote Many Books
Among his books and articles
were: "The Warfare on Our
Eastern Coast" Devil Fishing
in the Gulf Stream" Food
Fish Of North Atlantic" Book
Of Fishes" Fight at the Tim
berline," Puerto Rico-the
Gateway Of Riches" Jamaica
Isle of Many Rivers" and
"Penn'S Land of Modern
Miracles"
Many honorary degrees came
to him. These included those
from the University of Lima,
Peru, Georgetown University,
George Washington University,
South Dakota School of Mines,
the University of Tampa FlaO
Oglethorpe University and the
University of Miami.
! He was a delegate represent
ing the United States at the
Third Pan-American Scientific
Congress at Lima, Peru, 1925.
He was named an honorary
member of the Geographic
Society of Lima.
Awarded Bryant Medal
He was a Fellow of the Royal
Geographic Society of England.
On December 6, 1948. the Geo.
graphic Society of Philadelphia
presented the Henry Grier
Bryant Medal to him for his
distinguished services to geo.
graphy." In 1855 he received
the National Geographic So
ciety's Grosve Medal.
Columbia University gave him
the Maria MoorS Cabot Medal
and prize for his outstanding
contribution to understanding
among nations of the Amer
icaS."
Among other distinctions, DR..
La Gorce held the title of post
master of Little America, Ant
arctica. In 1888 he was ap-
pointed to this Office in con-
junction with the Byrd Ant
arctic Expedition.
His Name HOnOred
Mount La Gorce, a lake and
"a glacier in Alaska were named
in his honor. The La Gorce
meteorological station of the
first Byrd Antarctic Expedition
and a mountain range and peak
in Antarctica were given his
name. He was an ardent fish,
erman.
He was one of the few men
in the Nation to have a golf
courSe-the La Gorce Country
Club at Miami Beach-bear his
name. But he conflded he
never played golf, yet the
courses name was a tribute
from its developer Carl Fisher.
DR.. La Gorce was a trustee
of the Corcoran Gallery of Art,
a chevalier of the French Le-
gion of Honor, a trustee of the
University of Miami, a director
of the Riggs National Bank.
He had been chairman of the
Miami Beach Committee of
One Hundred.
Headed Alfalfa Club
In 1884, he was president
of Wash!ngton's famed Alfalfa
Club. He was a member of the
Cosmos Club, the National
Press, University, Army and
Navy and Overseas Writers
Clubs of Washington, the Chevy
Chase Club, Armor and Arms
Club of New York and the Surf
Club of Miami Beach.
Mrs. La Gorce is the former
Ethel Davis Whitaker Of Wash
ington. He also leaves a STEP
daughter, Mrs. Howard r. Nc
Bride of Chardon, Ohio, and
her sons, Navy lieutenants
Byron Bruce Newell and John
Newell, both stationed in Cali
fornia; his daughter in law,
Mrs. Gilbert Grosvenor La
Gorce of 4400 Forty-Seventh
street NV. and two grandchil-
dren, John Oliver La Gorce II
of Washington and Mrs. Harold
c. Paul, jr., of CasS City, Mich.
DR.. La Gorce'S only son. Gill
bert G. La Gorce, who was di-
rector of advertising for the
National Geographic Magazine,
died here last February 20.