James E. Slosson, 84; geologist helped establish seismic panel
James E. Slosson, a former state geologist who helped establish the California Seismic Safety Commission, which provides guidelines for reducing earthquake hazards, has died. He was 84.
Slosson died of congestive heart failure April 28 at Encino-Tarzana Regional Medical Center, his daughter-in-law, Lynn Slosson, said Friday. He was a longtime resident of Sherman Oaks.
While serving as state geologist from 1973 to 1975, Slosson was part of a team that developed basic procedures for promoting seismic safety. The state commission was established in 1975. He remained a member for eight years.
The commission now has 20 members, including engineers, architects and emergency preparedness experts as well as geologists. Their office reviews plans for construction, conducts hearings on seismic safety and investigates damage from quakes. They also advise legislators on earthquake-related issues.
“Jim was a troubleshooter. He wanted good safety policies that protect the public,” said Richard McCarthy, executive director of the Sacramento-based commission.
“His great concern was informing the public not only about earthquake safety but about landslides, flooding and other natural hazards,” McCarthy said.
He was on the geology faculty at Los Angeles Valley College for nine years and became chairman of the geology department before retiring in 1984.
For a number of years Slosson was the geologist for Modoc and Lassen counties after he bought a cabin in the area in the early 1950s.
Born April 12, 1923, in Van Nuys, Slosson was a track star at Van Nuys High School and later at USC, where he enrolled in the early 1940s. He dropped out to serve in the Army during World War II but returned in 1946, graduating in 1949. He also earned a doctorate in geology from the school in 1958.
Slosson was assistant coach of the USC track team from the mid-1950s until 1962. During that time he also became a geology consultant. In his long career he worked with the U.S. Geological Survey and California’s Department of Water Resources. He was a fellow of the Geological Society of America, among many other organizations.
Slosson married Nancy Jane Samuel in 1947. They had two children, Bonnie and Thomas.
Slosson’s wife died one day before he did, also of congestive heart failure.
Besides his two children, he is survived by a brother and two grandchildren.
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