This
volume is dedicated to the late William V. Sliter, who for many years
spearheaded the effort to drill Shatsky Rise. Bill combined his wealth of
knowledge on Cretaceous oceanic anoxic events, planktonic foraminiferal
biostratigraphy and paleoecology, the geology of the Pacific, and the
stratigraphy of Shatsky Rise in a drilling proposal that was highly ranked for
many years, but not drilled due to concerns over recovery in chert-chalk
sections. In the year before he passed away, Bill was heavily involved in the
revision of the drilling proposal that ultimately led to scheduling of the
Shatsky Rise leg. His knowledge of the stratigraphy of the rise was crucial in
the selection of the sites that we drilled. We deeply regret that Bill was not
with us on Leg 198 to continue to share his experience, to enliven the
scientific party with his stories, humor, and trademark pranks, and to share
with us the many successes and surprises of the Shatsky Rise drilling
expedition.