Roald Hilding Fryxell (February 18, 1934 – May 18, 1974) was an American educator, geologist and archaeologist. He was a Professor of Anthropology at Washington State University (WSU) and pioneer in the interdisciplinary field of geoarchaeology, with a career that involved work on monumental projects in North America and even outer space. Early life Roald H. Fryxell, or later known as “Fryx” to his friends, was born on February 18, 1934, in Moline, Illinois. His parents were Fritiof Fryxell, a renowned mountain climber, writer, and Professor of Geology, and Regina Holmén Fryxell, an organist and music teacher. Both parents were on the faculty of Augustana College in Illinois. From a young age, Roald was involved in drawing, sports, and poetry but pursued science, and later selected geology for his graduate studies. Education Fryxell graduated in 1956 with an A.B. degree in geology from Augustana College, where his parents worked. After graduating, Roald married his college sweetheart, Helen Broberg. After their honeymoon in Jackson Hole, Roald worked a short stint as the naturalist for Grand Teton National Park until starting graduate school at Washington State University (WSU). While at WSU, Roald broadened his education, taking classes in ecology, archaeology, and pedology under Rexford Daubenmire, Richard Daugherty and Henry Smith. In the summers of graduate school, 1957 and 58, Roald worked for the Bureau of Indian Affairs on the Colville Reservation. During this time Roald and Helen had two children, Jenny and Tom. While raising his family, Roald took a job as Superintendent of Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park. In September 1971 Roald returned to WSU and was hired as a Junior Geologist. Fryxell worked with his students and Richard Daugherty on the Marmes Rock Shelter at the confluence of the Palouse and Snake Rivers. The site was found to be 10,000 to 12,000 years old and therefore a monumental find in North America. In 1971 Fryxell completed his Ph.D. at the University of Idaho. Career Dr. Fryxell, known as "Fryx" by his friends, later became professor of anthropology specializing in geochronology at Washington State University. He was noted for his interdisciplinary work in geoarchaeology. During the 1960s Fryxell worked with two members of the U.S. Geological Survey under a National Science Foundation grant to study an archeological site named Hueyatlaco, at the north shore of the Valsequillo Reservoir, in the state of Puebla, Mexico. They discovered stone tools that they dated