John Stout

John Stout, a dedicated geologist, computer pioneer and AI enthusiast, passed away at 92 years old on 28 March 2024 at Brookdale Nursing Facility. John was born in Pampa, Texas and grew up in Altus, Oklahoma and Austin, Texas. He was the oldest of three boys to Cornelia and Ivan Stout. From a fun-loving family, John enjoyed a good laugh and a grand tale; details did not matter. A bit of sarcasm didn’t hurt either. John was first introduced to the geospatial world through his uncle’s business in aerial photography. 

At 22, John married his high school sweetheart, Joan Potter, on March 27, 1954. Prior to their wedding John had joined the US Army during the Korean conflict. Shortly after their wedding, they went to live in Georgia as John was stationed at Ft. Benning. After five months he was stationed in Japan, managing the Spectrographic Laboratory at the Tokyo Ordnance Depot and working with Japanese geologists to catalog ore samples. 

After his military service, John embarked on a path of academic and professional growth that would define his career. With his new wife’s unwavering contribution by typing his thesis on a, now vintage, manual Royal typewriter, he earned a Master of Science in Geological Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines. This was a testament to his unwavering dedication to his studies. 

His fieldwork in the scenic landscapes of Southern Colorado further enriched his undergraduate degrees in Physics and Geophysics, solidifying his expertise in the intersection of physics, geology, and technology. During the summer of field studies his brother Max helped him. At the end of a long, hot southern Colorado summer of camping John, returned to Golden filled with excitement, and embraced his geological studies. Max, on the other hand, decided to avoid that heat and went on to become a lawyer in Austin. 

John pioneered computer and geographic information systems technology and had a keen interest in AI. His life was a constant exploration of the wonders that unfolded at the intersection of physics, geology, and technology, a testament to his insatiable curiosity and innovative spirit. 

John's dedication to the Colorado School of Mines was unwavering. Not only did he earn his master’s degree from the institution, but he also returned years later as an adjunct professor, sharing his knowledge and passion for GIS and GPS. 

Prior to this, he spent three decades in the oil and gas industry, culminating in a position at Petroleum Information. He used his computer skills to help design and build their digital petroleum database and library. 

His career then took him and Joan to San Francisco, where he worked at Lawrence Livermore Lab, one of the premier scientific laboratories in the world. He was the system administrator for one the first super computers graphically drawing world weather maps. Which we can now see on the Weather Channel. 

He was a proud veteran who supported numerous causes and functions throughout his retirement. 

He is preceded in death by his beloved wife, Joan Potter Stout who passed away July 2023. He is survived by his children, Hope Rogers of Christchurch, New Zealand and Peter Stout, of Houston, Texas and grandchildren Brennan, Colin and Trevor Stout. 

A double interment for John and Joan will be held at Ft. Logan. 

Please share memories of John and condolences with his family by signing the online guestbook below.