Departmental News

Posted:  Oct 24, 2022 - 10:00am

Dr. Joseph F. Powell, 58, passed away peacefully on Oct 18, 2022 in Louisville, KY.

Joe was a lover of knowledge. From a young age he was an avid reader and curious about anything related to science and exploration. Many of his childhood Sunday mornings were spent in anticipation of the weekly Star Trek episode as he dreamed of “boldly going” to strange new worlds. His love of science never waned, so it's no surprise that his life led him to a career as an anthropologist, “seeking out new life and new civilizations, and boldly going where no man has gone before.”

Joseph obtained his PhD from Texas A&M University in 1995 and took a position at University of New Mexico (UNM) as an Associate Professor of Anthropology and Curator of Osteology. He also served for a period as part-time curator of the Maxwell Museum of Anthropology at UNM. Joe’s specialties included skeletal biology, dental anthropology, people of the world, and forensics. He was one of the lead scientists for the U.S. Federal government in the investigation of the “Kennewick Man” skeleton. Joe was diagnosed with brain cancer in 1999 and was tenacious in his fight against the disease. Although he was left hemiplegic and impaired after brain surgery, he went on to publish his first book in 2005, The First Americans, which explores how 9000-12000 year old skeletal remains in the Americas have changed our understanding of who originally entered the Americas at the end of the last Ice Age.

An avid movie fan, Joe was able to live out his “Indiana Jones” dreams and participated in several anthropological digs during his career, including excavations in Brazil and a trip to Egypt in conjunction with the British Museum. In addition to his work in anthropology, Joe loved music and was a skilled musician, playing the piano, guitar, and banjo. He began a bluegrass band in his youth and never lost his love of Appalachian music. Joe loved a good beer, a good story, and if asked about his work he’d be happy to lecture you on the dentition of Paleoindians until you begged him to stop… or begged him for more. He was loved by his students, his fellow faculty members, and his family. He will be sorely missed on this earth, but we take comfort in knowing he’s running with his dog Wolfie among the Texas Bluebonnets in heaven (and likely both still digging up bones!).

He is survived by his mother Phyllis Watson, step-father Chet Watson, sister Melissa Powell (Rob Lanier), step-mother Betty Powell, and step-brother Eric Watson (Amanda). He is preceded in death by his father Von Powell and his beloved dog Wolfie.

Donations in his memory can be made to the Joseph Powell Anthropology Endowment Fund through the University of New Mexico

Visitation will be held from 2-3pm, followed by a memorial service to celebrate Joe’s life at 3pm on Sunday, November 6th at Highland Baptist Church, 1101 Cherokee Road, Louisville, KY. A coffee reception will follow the service

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