Annette Dehalt
Richard Lehman introduced me to ecology in the 70's when I was a young exchange student from Germany. I got to study parrot calls and tree distribution and ecotones in the Mexican rain forest with him, and I was hooked for life! I absolutely adored him as a teacher, and to this day I would call him one of the most influential people in my life - and I know I'm not the only one who does so. I now teach ecology to young people myself... Many years after my exchange experience, I had a chance to speak to Richard by phone, and reminisce about my meaningful experience in his field ecology class, as well as about my general culture shock in small town Texas. To my great surprise and amusement Richard shared that I had provided quite a culture shock to him as well when I was first introduced to him - and did my (then, in Germany) customary little curtsy. \Geez