John G. Diefenbaker, University Chancellor, making presentation of an honourary Doctor of Laws degree to Harold Moss at spring Convocation held at Centennial Auditorium. Norman K. Cram, University Registrar, prepares to hood recipient.

Bio/Historical Note: Harold Charles Moss, an internationally recognized soils specialist, was born in Wales on 11 March 1899. He emigrated with his family to Canada in 1908, settling on a farm near Strasbourg. Following army service in the First World War, he obtained his Associate in Agriculture diploma from the University of Saskatchewan in 1920, and his BSA in 1924. Moss received his MSc at the University of Alberta in 1932, specializing in soil science. Harold Moss began his career as land inspector for the CPR Lands Department, travelling by horseback. In 1927 he joined the Saskatchewan Soil Survey as an employee of the Canada Department of Agriculture. As senior pedologist Moss built a distinguished career, becoming a recognized authority on the structure and agricultural potential of Prairie soils. He helped design soil classification systems on both a national and international basis. The survey maps and reports he prepared have contributed greatly to the basic soils information used today by agrologists, engineers, foresters and others. After retirement from the federal service, Moss continued as a research associate within the Saskatchewan Institute of Pedology. His work, initiated with Dr. John Mitchell on the ratings of Saskatchewan soils, still provides the physical base for assessment and taxation of rural lands in the province. He continued work on revisions of soil ratings for both dryland and irrigated crop production. He wrote important reference works such as the bulletin, "A Guide to Understanding Saskatchewan Soil," and a book, "History of the Saskatchewan Soil Survey." Moss was a member of the soil science societies of Canada, Britain and the United States. He was an honourary life member of the Saskatchewan Agricultural Graduates Association, the Agricultural Institute of Canada and the Canadian Society of Soil Science. In 1970 he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree by the U of S. Moss died on 12 June 1986.