Ralph Sonny Clary, Meteorite Hunter And Philanthropist, Makes Important Donation To British School Kids
by Logical Lizard on Aug. 24, 2009, under Hope For Humanity, Meteorite Science, TechnologyWhen a plea from a British school teacher was posted to an international science listserve, Nevada meteorite hunter Ralph “Sonny” Clary made the educator’s seemingly impossible request come true.
In May of 2009, Matthew Smith a teacher in Liverpool, England sent an email to an online forum devoted to meteorites. With a very small acquisitions budget, Mr. Smith was hoping to acquire a few space rocks, to assist with presentations for his students. Sonny Clary, a highly experienced meteorite hunter based in Nevada had just the thing.
Meteorite hunter Ralph "Sonny" Clary takes a compass bearing during a desert expedition
In 2007 Sonny made an extraordinary discovery on an ancient dry lake bed in the American Southwest. While scouting for possible hunting locations he came across a debris field of stone meteorite fragments. He collected numerous pieces and donated representative samples to academia, so the new meteorite could be studied and classified.
After reading Mr. Smith’s request, Sonny packed up more than 90 of the meteorites he’d found, and shipped them to the UK—as a cosmic gift.
More than 90 space rocks donated to a British school by Sonny arrive in the UK
When asked how much the meteorites were worth, Sonny replied: “I feel the true value of these meteorites is being lucky enough to hunt for and find them, and being able to share that excitement with the students by donating to their school and allowing them to experience holding and owning a rock from the asteroid belt. This may help spark the next generation of meteorite enthusiasts.”
He is modest indeed. In total, the meteorite specimens that Sonny donated weighed about five pounds. A conservative estimate would put their retail value at $2,000.
Sonny (left) and his great friend, the late Professor Jim Kriegh planning a desert expedition
Mr. Smith will be writing an article about Sonny’s generous donation for an upcoming issue of Meteorite magazine. The quarterly science journal is published by the Arkansas Center for Space and Planetary Sciences in Fayetteville, but the editorial team, Nancy and Dr. Larry Lebofsky, are Tucson residents.
English school kids showing off their new space rocks
Looking at the photographs of the enthralled English schoolchildren holding their new meteorites reminded me of something Alexis R. Faust, educator and executive director of the Flandrau Science Center said to me during a recent visit: “It gives you a different perspective on the world when you see it through the eyes of children. It’s rejuvenating.”
The author, looking very haggard (above left) and Sonny after a particularly grueling expedition. Sonny is an expert camper and outdoorsman and I've learned a lot from him.
Sonny Clary is a great example of how one individual can get a classrom full of children excited about science. Those look like some happy kids to me, and I can only imagine how amazed I would have been—when I was a school boy in England back in the 1970s—if an American adventurer had mailed me a space rock.
My compliments to Sonny.
August 25th, 2009 on 9:21 am
What a generous man and how nice he has found his bliss.
August 25th, 2009 on 10:39 pm
I couldn’t agree with you more. Thanks!
August 25th, 2009 on 10:09 pm
This is great! It’s very kind and thoughful of Sonny to have done this. It helps the Meteorite community by showing that we are interested in science and helping others to understand the rare world of meteorites and that there are a lot of great and helpful people in our community like Sonny. I wish him all the best and the British students.
August 25th, 2009 on 10:42 pm
Thank you for commenting. Sonny is a tremendously generous guy, and this is by no means the only donation he’s made. I received a lot of good feedback about this story, and I am quite sure we’ll be visiting with Sonny again in the future to find out what he’s been up to. And, he has been invited to appear as a guest star on our TV show “Meteorite Men.” That is really going to be fun! Thank you for reading.
August 26th, 2009 on 6:02 am
What a worthless gesture!!!!! Big deal and not worthy of newsprint.
August 26th, 2009 on 9:09 am
Gerald: You’re obviouly a bit dense, so I’ll point out that this is an online publication, and therefore no “newsprint” is involved. That term refers to an inexpensive form of of paper made from wood pulp.
I assume, from your tone, that you are well versed in what constitues worthy gestures. Have you done anything to help schoolchildren in other countries recently? Please enlighten us.
August 26th, 2009 on 7:40 am
Sonny is a fine and very generous man. He works as a EMT and puts his life on the line in doing just that. And in his spare time, which is not much, he is an avid meteorite hunter. He has had amazing success, and has demonstrated a keen eye in spotting these elusive stones in very remote places. And I know, I have hunted with him in the past. Many hours and most of the time nothing found. 5 lbs and 90 pieces represents a lot of “spare time” on his part.
That he donated these meteorites to an education is noble indeed. That more meteorite hunters would do the same to encourage students.
And look at those UK students. Happy and properly dressed for school. Wish such were the norm here in the U.S.
Steve Schoner
August 26th, 2009 on 9:12 am
Dear Steve: How nice to hear from you. Thank you for reading the Logical Lizard. You are a remarkable meteorite hunter yourself, and have inspired many people (inlcuding my assistant actually!). I appreciate your comments very much and I will pass them along to Sonny. Thank you for writing — LL
August 26th, 2009 on 10:02 am
This is a wonderful story! I have given several talks about meteorites to schools, my astronomical society, Rotary and Probus clubs (covering all ages!), but what a delight it must be to give out samples. The look on kids faces when they can touch a rock from “out there” that is 4.5 billion years old is amazing. Well done and congratulations! Angus Self. Edinburgh. Scotland.