Sooner Spotlight Elroy Rice

SOONER SPOTLIGHT ELROY RICE lelopathy . It's a word Oklahoma, OU and University of Rice's ninth book, Biological Con- most ofuscan't even wrap Chicago alumnus whose accomplish- trol of Weeds and Plant Diseases, our tongues around, not ments were recognized in June with was published by the University of to mention define . But two University of Chicago honors : Oklahoma Press. Professionals from for semi-retired University of Okla- the Medical and Biological Sciences as far away as New Zealand and Ahoma professor Elroy Rice, this ex- Alumni Association Distinguished India seek his counsel, and Rice con otic-sounding word has tinues to lecture in such helped define a vigor- nations as Spain, where ous and distinguished he will share his knowl- career that spans half a edge with the Interna- century . tional Society of Allel- Rice, a David Ross opathy next fall . Boyd professor emeritus "Professor Rice's work of botany who joined has had a tremendous OU's faculty in 1948, is global impact, stimulat- the acknowledged world ing research in hundreds expert in allelopathy, of laboratories," Univer- which has beencolorfully sity of Chicago officials described as "the war of said when presenting the plants ." Plainly Rice with his recent stated, allelopathy is sur- awards. "His leadership vival of the fittest-the has transformed cutting- study ofhow some plants edge research into envi- release chemicals to kill ronmental solutions in off insects and othercom- countries around the petitors so they can world." gobble up nutrients inthe "Many plant scientists soil . are still trained much Today, allelopathy is like they were 100 years all the rage among scien- ago," Rice explains . tists who are seeking "Most scientists still natural pesticides and don't know that you can herbicides . But when apply such microorgan- Rice literally wrote the isms as algae and fungi book on allelopathy in to plants for the biologi- the early 1970s, he was cal control of weeds and among only a handful of plant diseases . Synthetic researchers who be- chemicals have done lieved in the future of more harm than good, in the study. the long run . Allelo- "Dr. Rice was way pathic chemicals arejust University ofOklahoma professor emeritus of botany Elroy Rice, ahead of his time," says as effective as synthetic apioneer in thefield of allelopathy, was honored by the University Leonard Beevers, chair- chemicals-or more so- of Chicago in June with the Medical and Biological Sciences man of the OU depart- and they're ready to go Alumni Association Distinguished Service Award and the ment of botany and mi- today. Professional Achievement Citation. crobiology. "Some of his "The U.S . Department concepts are very appli of Agriculture has the cable today. He was talking about Service Award and the Professional mission ofsustainable agriculture, and natural pest control before almost Achievement Citation . they could use our knowledge of allel- anyone else." Rice's formal retirement from OU opathy . I just know that we either Nine books and 100 scientific ar- academic life came in 1981, but he have to accept allelopathy or we're ticles later, Rice still is leading the maintains a carrel in the Bizzell Me- never going to have sustainable agri- way toward a fuller understanding of morial Library where he spends half culture . That's why I keep active ." the applications and effects of allel- days keeping up on botany litera- But sustainable agriculture is not opathy. ture . Rice still receives many letters the only impetus that keeps Rice at "I've been trying to retire, but from high school and college stu- work. it's impossible," says Rice, a 78- dents who are conducting research "It is a real challenge to try to pass year-old University of Central in the field he pioneered . This spring, information on to students," he says. 1995 SUMMER 31 taking one of the professor's courses him- self. He later co-authored a book with Rice titled A History ofthe Department of Botany and Microbiol- ogy at the University of' Oklahoma : The First Hundred Years. "When I used to go lecture, people always asked me who was taking my classes. I'd say, `the president oftheuniversity,' and they never believed me." Rice studied under Cross as an OU master's student in botany and later was hired by Cross via Western Union tele- gram in 1948 after com- pleting his doctorate at Chicago . During the decades that followed at OU, Rice earned many teaching awards andhad the honor of directing 30 doctoral candidates, who became During his 43-year classroom career, Elroy Rice, right, supervised the work 30 doctoral close to him and his wife, candidates, whom he and his wife, Esther, consider to be `just like family ." Esther . "They're just like your family . My doctoral stu- "The only way the world can develop is with undergraduate and graduate students still send us Christmas cards ev- through education-it is absolutely dents. Many sought to learn about ery year and come see us when they can . the only way ." Rice's use ofthe "inquiry method," which You run into some awfully, awfully fine And if education is the key to devel- combines lectures, laboratory experi- people . Theyare the ones who aregoing opment, enthusiasm is the key to edu- ments and discussion in the classroom . to make the world better." cation . "The students learn just the way a Rice rememberswithout regret pass- "Enthusiasm is the heart of it, and scientist does, by doing, instead of hav- ing up numerous offers to serve as an it comes from enjoying what you're ing someone talk at you," he says . administrator both at OU and other Most of to- universities around the nation in favor day's OUbotany/ of teaching his graduate students . And "When I was teaching, I was doing microbiology fac- although he still gets inquiries from ulty use this students wanting to study with him and what I really wanted to do, and that's method, includ- knowsthat current OU President David all you can expect out of life." ing chairman L. Boren is welcoming many retired OU Beevers, who at- professors back to the classroom, Rice tended Rice's says those are invitations he will now doing. I always made it clear to my classes and continues to "pass down decline infavor ofadding further knowl- students that I thought going to school the tradition" each day. edge to the study of allelopathy. was one of the most important things Another educator who learned the "I taught for 43 years andloved every they were doing," Rice says. Rice tradition firsthand was OU Presi- minute of it, but I'm doing what I want Rice's enthusiasm and progressive dent Emeritus George Lynn Cross. Not to do right now," he says . "When I was teaching methods garnered the admi- wanting to abandon the classroom teaching, I was doing what I really ration of his fellow professors, many competely during his presidency, Cross wanted to do, and that's all you can of whom chose to attend his botany offered to teach a section of Rice's plant expect out oflife ." courses and take tests side by side kingdom course but insisted upon first Anne Barajas 32 SOONER MAGAZINE.

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