The Lenhart J.H. Grothe Resources award was named after alumnus, tin miner and our first recipient Lenhart Grothe. Grothe was a talented businessman who enjoyed sharing his wisdom with others. He started the Northern Exploration and Equipment Co. as a Fairbanks college student and graduated at the top of his class with a bachelor of science degree in mining engineering in 1957. Grothe, with his partner Tom Pearson, started Lost River Mining in Tin City and Nome, Alaska. Their mine in Tin City was the only operating tin mine in Alaska and the United States at the time. Grothe always said, "It doesn't matter what you do, just do what you do and do it well"; and "Nothing is more valuable than your reputation as an honest person."

Criteria for selection: The Lenhart J.H. Grothe Resources award is given posthumously to an alumnus who made significant contributions in the resource, mining or agricultural fields.

Doug Colp graduated from the University of Alaska School of Mines (now UAF) in 1940 with a bachelor of science degree in mining engineering.

In his extraordinary 75-year mining career, Doug worked all over Alaska, primarily mining placer gold, but also consulting for companies doing coal mining, hard rock mining and mineral exploration. He worked the gold fields in the 1940s and 1950s at locations such as Gold Bench, Klery Creek, Myrtle Creek and Livengood, where he was able to take his family for the season. He was also a chief engineer and superintendent for Usibelli Coal Mine in the late 1950s.

Doug created the Mineral and Petroleum Technology associates degree program at UAF and taught there for 10 years from 1965-975. He directed mineral exploration crews, often working out of helicopters in the mid-1970s and later operated placer gold mines afterwards at locations such as Slate Creek, Candle, Tofty, Eagle Creek and Ketchum Creek. Doug was well respected for his expertise and well liked for his sense of humor and dependability. He enjoyed taking on challenging projects and responsibility.

Doug was a member of Pioneers of Alaska, Alaska Yukon Pioneers and Alaska Miners Association. At the age of 95, he was still defying odds by being actively involved in his placer gold mine in the Circle District.