Abstract

A few months ago, the illustrious Swiss geologist, Edouard Reymond, Ph.D. at the University of Geneva and linked to Colombia for many years, during which he continuously developed very important professional activities in the official and private sectors passed away in Bogota.

In 1939 the undersigned had the good fortune to select Dr. Reymond from among a group of highly qualified professionals who had enrolled in the League of Nations for to emigrate from the "hell" that Europe had become at that time because of the Nazi invasion.

Although Dr. Reymond was a citizen of a neutral country, he had to leave the Belgian Congo, where he worked in the copper mines, to take refuge in Belgium.

Dr. Reymond agreed to join the recently created National Geological Service of the Ministry of National Economy, which had vacancies due to a lack of geologists. The number of professionals who graduated in that profession was very scarce in the country. Thus, without causing any expense nor claiming any privilege for his status as a foreign expert, Dr. Reymond worked for many years in the Service with the interest and camaraderie of one of our own.

Dr. Reymond's first mission was to study the economic possibilities of the Nevado del Ruiz. Then came other equally important ones such as those of the Atlantic and Magdalena coals and the Natagaima copper, as well as the study of the limestone deposits of El Palacio, in La Calera, where later the Samper Cement Factory developed its main limestone mines.

Afterward, Dr. Reymond joined the Instituto de Fomento Industrial (IFI), where he devoted himself to the detailed exploration of the coal deposits of El Cerrejón, executing a detailed drilling plan and the construction of many exploration tunnels. Afterward, he joined Acerías Paz del Río S.A. where he collaborated in the detailed study of the iron deposits in the south of Paz del Río and the coal deposits in Samacá, Tópaga, and Matayeguas. After that, he worked for the Shell Company of Colombia in oil exploration in various sites in Colombia for several years. However, the last 25 years were spent working with Cementos Samper in the detailed prospecting of the Palacio limestones and other investigated deposits for the company's expansions.

A tireless worker, even when he was over 80 years old, we found him walking alone in the moors dedicated to field studies. Honest and responsible, with a very discreet and modest temperament and a great spirit of collaboration, he put his knowledge and experience at the service of this country, which he always considered as his second homeland.

Let these letters serve to render to the memory of our colleague and friend the testimony of our admiration, appreciation, and gratitude.

September 1986