On March 7, 2022, Joseph Smith interviewed Dr. Aleta Hohn for the NOAA Beaufort Lab Oral Histories project. Dr. Aleta Hohn was raised in Maryland.  She received her Bachelor’s and Graduate degrees in the 1970s from the University of Maryland at College Park, the latter under Dr. Eugenie Clark. While at College Park she volunteered at the Smithsonian and worked for Dr. Jim Meade, where she gained her love for marine mammals.

• Allyn B. Powell: Born in Wilkes-Barre, PA, and raised in Jersey City, NJ, and vicinity.
• Graduated from Middlesex County (NJ) Vocational and Technical School in 1954 with certification in Machine Drawing.
• Employed by Bethlehem Steel Co.

Ann Rose grew up in Harkers Island, NC where her father, Chief Ira Lewis, served in the Coast Guard. Her family lived in New York for a period while her father worked at various lifeboat stations, and they later resided at Montauk Lighthouse. After her father's retirement, they returned to Harkers Island, where Ann met her husband and started working at the Beaufort Lab in 1962 where she was employed as an Editorial Assistant until 1995. 

Scope and Content Note

Dr. Carolyn Currin began her tenure at NOAA's Beaufort Lab in 1983, initially serving as a technician under Dr. Jud Kenworthy. Her career trajectory saw her later collaborating with Dr. Peter Hanson on the Status and Trends Program. In 1986, she pursued a Ph.D. at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, conducting her dissertation research at the UNC-Institute of Marine Science in Morehead City, NC. Her research concentrated on the recovery and restoration of salt marshes. After completing her doctorate, Dr.

Dr. Dave Peters was born in Danville, Pennsylvania, but spent his formative years in South Dakota. He developed a deep fascination with aquatic life, particularly fish. Dave embarked on an academic journey that would shape his future as a prominent fish biologist. He attended Utah State University, where he completed his undergraduate studies in Fish Biology. He honed his understanding of fish ecosystems. Dave continued his graduate education at North Carolina State University in Raleigh. While working towards his graduate degrees, he worked for the U.S.

• Doug was born and raised in Carteret County, North Carolina.  Growing up, Doug worked on menhaden boats with his Uncle Wiley and on charter boats in Morehead City.
• Doug attended East Carolina University in Greenville, NC.
• Doug was hired as a fisheries technician at the Beaufort Laboratory in 1965. 
• He was originally employed by the Lab’s Menhaden Program to tag and sample Atlantic menhaden at fish factories on Long Island (NY) and at Port Monmouth (NJ) and Cape Charles and Reedville (VA).

Dr. Doug Wolfe, a highly accomplished scientist, dedicated several years of his career to the Beaufort Laboratory, making significant contributions as a Chemist/Fishery Biologist. Born and raised in Ohio, he nurtured a deep fascination for the natural world from a young age. Doug pursued his academic aspirations at Ohio State University, where he obtained a Bachelor's degree in Zoology and later a Graduate degree in Biochemistry. In 1964, Doug joined the Beaufort Lab.

Dr. Gordon Thayer, a renowned Fishery Biologist, has made substantial contributions to the field of fisheries research and management. He obtained a Master's degree from the University of Delaware and later pursued his Ph.D. at North Carolina State University. In 1968, Gordon joined the Beaufort Lab, where he dedicated over three decades to the study of fisheries. Gordon was instrumental in establishing the Seagrass Program at the Beaufort Laboratory in the late 1960s, contributing to the preservation and conservation of seagrass habitats. Dr.

Stan, a native of Kansas City, Missouri, developed an interest in the natural world from an early age. This passion led him to pursue higher education, and in 1962, he received his Bachelor's degree from the University of Missouri. Stan continued his academic journey and obtained his Master's degree from the University of Delaware in 1964. In 1965, Stan came to work for the Beaufort Laboratory, where he made significant contributions to the field of marine ecology. Initially employed with the Menhaden Program, he played a crucial role in managing fishery-dependent data collection.

• Born in Beaufort, NC; raised on Pivers Island (site of the Beaufort Laboratory)
• Herb’s father, Dr. Herbert Prythrech, was Director of the Beaufort Laboratory, 1933-1949
• Graduated from East Carolina University and also served in the US Army
• Worked for the NMFS, formerly the U.S. Bureau of Commercial Fisheries, as a port agent and fishery reporting specialist in TX, SC, GA, and Miami; retired from NMFS in 1994