EDDINGTON – Malcolm W. Coulter died Aug. 2, 2008, at his home. He was born in 1920, the oldest son of Samuel J. Coulter and Abby Gillette Coulter of Suffield, Conn. Malcolm grew up on the family farm and attended local schools, including Suffield Academy. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Connecticut in 1942, a Master of Science degree from the University of Maine in 1948 and a Ph.D. from Syracuse University in 1966. After graduating from Connecticut, Malcolm worked briefly for the Vermont Fish and Game Department and in 1942 started graduate studies at the University of Maine. Later that year, he left school to serve with the U.S. Army in Africa and Italy. In 1944 he was awarded a Bronze Star for his meritorious service in Italy. After three years of military service, Malcolm returned to the University of Maine to complete his graduate studies. In 1948 he became the assistant leader of the Maine Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit and instructor in wildlife management at the University of Maine, Orono. Throughout the next 34 years, he conducted research on birds and mammals throughout Maine, and published approximately 70 scientific papers, book chapters and several extension bulletins featuring Maine wildlife. Malcolm taught courses in wildlife ecology and supervised at least two graduate students each year. In addition, he advised a large number of undergraduate students. Throughout the years, he was promoted to professor and served as the associate director of the School of Forest Resources, having the lead responsibility for the wildlife program. Later he served as the first chairperson for the newly created Department of Wildlife. In 1974 the governor of Maine appointed Malcolm to the state’s Land Use Regulation Commission. This commission is responsible for regulating many of the activities occurring in the state’s unorganized townships. He was elected chairperson of the commission for the last half of his three-year term. Malcolm served as an officer in several professional and civic organizations, including Northeast
MALCOLM W. COULTER
