The year was 1989, and the southeastern coast of the United States – specifically Savannah, Ga. – was faced with the impending landfall of Hurricane Hugo. Dan Good, a geography professor revered on campus for his geographical knowledge and also known as the “unofficial” weatherman of Statesboro and Georgia Southern University, was summoned to former President Nicholas Henry’s office to assist worried officials with an important decision: Should the Eagles play in their first televised football game under the threat of a hurricane?

Good gave the go-ahead after studying weather data, with the opinion that the hurricane force winds wouldn’t descend on Statesboro. The Eagles played, scoring a victory, while Hugo detoured, making landfall in Charleston, S.C. In fact, the only unpleasant outcome for spectators was dealing with four inches of rain during the “Hugo Bowl” in Allen E. Paulson Stadium.

Good’s lifelong fascination with geography began during his travels around the world with the U.S. Navy during World War II. “After that, I had a desire to view and study new places,” he said.

The Pennsylvania native received his master’s and doctorate degrees in geography from the University of Tennessee before joining the faculty of Georgia Southern in 1969 as the first full-time geographer on campus. “I got in on the ground level of geography,” he said. “In fact, I was the only professor for 10 years until the campus was reorganized.”

For a brief period of time after his arrival in Statesboro, Good was named an honorary deputy sheriff of Bulloch County. When he wasn’t teaching in the classroom, Good hunted prison escapees with his bloodhound. “It was too dangerous, so I quit in 1975,” he said, after capturing two armed fugitives from Sylvania. His reward? “A bag of dog food from the sheriff!” he laughed.

Good left this risky pastime to return to the safe occupation of academia, and shortly afterward, he assisted with the development of the geography department in 1980. Seven years later, the first Bachelor of Science degree was awarded in the program.

Good’s distinguished and successful career impacted many aspects of the University, namely his creation of the Georgia Southern Weather Station and partnership with the National Weather Service to launch a local station in 2000, which put Georgia Southern on the climatological map.

“A career can be called a success if one can look back and say ‘I made a difference.’ Most educators have made a difference,” said Good, “and professors can inspire and motivate their students to do things.” Through the years, Good has been recognized many times for his contributions to students and the field of geography, receiving the University Award for Excellence in Instruction and the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences’ Ruffin Cup, as well as being named one of Georgia Southern’s Top Ten Professors six times. Good’s national awards include the National Council for Geographic Education Distinguished Teaching Award and the Association of American Geographer’s Outstanding Teacher Recognition. He also received a Fullbright-Hays Fellowship for research and teaching three times, which took him to sites in Tanzania and Africa. “I think it was very important to take advantage of these opportunities,” said Good, “and they kept me enthusiastic about life and teaching.”

Good’s geographical skills were put to the test once more before former President Bruce Grube presided over his first graduation ceremony. “President Grube wanted to have his first Georgia Southern graduation outside. It was so hot, and I collected all of the weather data and sent it to his office every ten minutes. They decided to move the graduation time back to 9 a.m. because of the heat!” he laughed.

Today, the professor emeritus maintains a very busy lifestyle since his retirement seven years ago, and his enthusiasm for travel hasn’t slowed down one bit. These days he’s not traveling to Tanzania, but to Tennessee, Sapelo Island or even McIntosh County. “I can’t just sit and rock!” he laughed. “I still have a curiosity about me

— Mary Beth Spence