Harold Cones came to the department in 1968 and served as its chairman from fall 1980 - spring 2008.  His main out-of-school interest is shortwave radio and vintage radio restoration and he writes and publishes extensively in that hobby and scholarly press.  He also enjoys woodworking, gardening, walking and folk musical tradition and is a confirmed Parrothead.  He is an educational and environmental consultant to The Mariners’ Museum, an adjunct faculty member at VCU as a regular instructor in the International Elderhostel Program and is an onboard naturalist and lecturer for several east coast cruise lines.  He and his wife Linda have two grown daughters.

TEACHING AREAS
Environmental Science, Oceanography, Marine Biology, Nature Photography

Drs. Harold Cones and Ron Mollick take approximately 24 students to the Duke University Marine Lab in Beaufort, North Carolina each spring for three days of trawling, dredging, and mud flat work.

Dr. Cones was selected to receive the Maryville College Alumni Citation for “significantly benefiting society and thereby bringing honor to his alma mater.”  He was honored at a ceremony in October 2002 for this prestigious award.

Dr. Cones is the trip planner and naturalist on a variety of ecotours, including such titles as "Maritime Canada and Prince Edward Island," "Jefferson's Wine Country," "The Historic Port Cities of Savannah, Charleston and Beaufort," "Virginia's Western Fronties," "The Outer Banks" and "Colis Huntington: Railroads, Coal and Beautiful Scenery."

Dr. Cones also serves as the naturalist on the Elderhostel Afloat eight day cruise of the Chesapeake Bay and leads a number of tours for other organizations.  Dr. Cones also serves as an onboard naturalist and lecturer for American Cruise Lines and American Canadian Caribbean Lines trips in Chesapeake Bay and the East Coast Inland Waterway.

Dr. Cones's book, “Mariners’ Museum Park: The Making of an Urban Oasis,” chronicles the early development of the park, between 1929 and 1935, and the development of the Noland Trail in the early 1990’s.  A new history book, "Newport News, A Vintage Postcard Tour" was released in April 2006.  Dr. Cones has five history of technology books released.  See details under Books/Publications.