William Walden Rubey was an American geologist. Bill was born in Moberly, Missouri, on December 19, 1898. He attended the University of Missouri, and in 1920 he graduated with an A.B. degree. During the same year he married Susan Elsie Manovill, and joined the U.S. Geological Survey. He performed his graduate studies at Johns Hopkins University and Yale University. Bill Rubey received many honors. He was a member of the National Academy of Sciences, received the National Medal of Science from President Johnson in 1966, was president of the Geological Society of America in 1949-50, and received that society's highest honor, the Penrose Medal, in 1963. He received the honorary degree of D.Sc. He died of cancer in Santa Monica, California. During his career he made multiple contributions to the science of geology, including studies of the hydrology of streams, the geology of western Wyoming, seismic energy, mountain building from overthrust faulting, the growth of continents, the origins of the Earth's atmosphere and oceans, and the evolution of terrestrial planets.