BIOGRAPHY: Ralph A. Pfingsten
B.A. in Education from Wittenberg University
M.A. in Vertebrate Ecology from Kent State University
1962-90 Secondary School Science Teacher, Cleveland, Ohio
1966-2009 Biologist/Herpetologist collected 15,000 amphibian and reptile records from 84 of 88 Ohio counties and over 2/3 of Ohio’s 1300+ townships.
1985-88, Statewide survey of Hellbenders resulting in Ohio endangered status.
1988 Senior Editor, Salamanders of Ohio.
1985-2009 Research Associate, Cleveland Museum of Natural History.
2003-04 Statewide survey of Mud Salamanders resulting in threatened status.
1993, 1999, 2005 Amphibian/Reptile survey of Ravenna Arsenal.
1990-2009 Eleven different surveys of amphibians and reptiles performed for Ohio Division of Wildlife and various park districts.
2004 Author, From Rockport to West Park. The complete history of early Rockport township and the community of West Park. This work lead to the formation of the West Park Historical Society
2006 Author,The History of John Marshall High School, Cleveland, Ohio
2009 Author, The History of the Ravenna Arsenal
1980-91 Alumni Director, John Marshall High School Alumni Association.
1991-2009 Board of Directors, John Marshall High School Alumni Association.
2000-05 Board of Directors, Midwest Railway Preservation Society
1990-2009 Board of Directors, Northern Ohio Railway Museum
2005-09 Board of Directors, West Park Historical Society