Memorable Milestones the American Phytopathological Society Centennial Collection
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1908 Memorable Milestones The American Phytopathological Society Centennial Collection Includes: The 100-Year History of APS by R. James Cook APS Centennial Oral History Project by Darin M. Eastburn APS Member Tributes: Past to Present 2008 Memorable Milestones The American Phytopathological Society Centennial Collection Includes: The 100-Year History of APS, by R. James Cook APS Centennial Oral History Project, by Darin M. Eastburn APS Member Tributes: Past to Present Reference in this publication to a trademark, proprietary product, or company name is intended for explicit description only and does not imply approval or recommendation to the exclusion of others that may be suitable. © 2008 by The American Phytopathological Society All rights reserved. No portion of this book, including the accompanying videos, may be reproduced in any form, including photocopy, microfilm, information storage and retrieval system, computer database, or software, or by any means, including electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher. Printed in the United States of America. The American Phytopathological Society 3340 Pilot Knob Road St. Paul, Minnesota 55121 U.S.A. Preface APS Centennial People move forward into the future Planning Committee out of the way they comprehend the past. — Norman Mailer Chair Cleora J. D’Arcy Committee Members It was the future that was on the minds of the 54 people who met in December of 1908 Richard Bélanger to create “The American Phytopathological Society.” These scientists envisioned a Society Molly Cline that would be “of invaluable aid in promoting the future development of this important Rose Gergerich and rapidly growing subject.” Paul Peterson Erin Rosskopf However, it was the past that captured the imagination of the members of the APS Kurtis L. Schroeder Centennial Planning Committee as we reflected upon and planned the commemoration Luis Sequeira of this 100-year-milestone event. As scientists, we build upon the work of those who Erik Stromberg have come before us, so an understanding of the history of one’s own field is imperative. Allison Tally Our past can be seen as a series of discoveries or events, but the people behind each Project Leaders of these steps of progress are also important. Life experiences and character can play Richard Bélanger surprisingly critical roles in discovery. Narrative accounts of the past can help us Grosse Île Tour understand this human side of scientific progress. Carolee Bull, Julius Fajardo, and Anne Vidaver The founding members of our Society have left us an invaluable legacy. As APS members, Centennial Special Session: we are contributing to the continuation of that legacy. R. James Cook, an APS member “Optimizing Opportunities for for 50 years, spent months researching APS’s impressive past. His treatise, “The 100-Year Everyone in Plant Pathology” History of APS,” published here, is an important contribution to our centennial record. It also will serve as a valuable reference for future members of APS. Stella Coakley Historical T-shirt Display The Oral History DVDs included here capture this moment in our history through R. James Cook the voices of our membership. Created over a three-year period under the leadership “The 100-Year History of APS” and of Darin Eastburn, a member for more than 25 years, the enclosed DVDs feature Centennial Special Session: interviews with six prominent plant pathologists and numerous members’ perspectives “100 Years of The American on their experiences as scientists and as APS members. Phytopathological Society” Darin M. Eastburn To mark our centennial year, we also have included a current list of the entire APS Oral History DVDs membership, along with a salute to APS awardees and leaders who have served our Society over the past 100 years. Rose Gergerich Historical Displays The vision of our founding members has become a reality. Today, APS is a vibrant, Tim Paulitz flourishing Society whose members have made significant and far-reaching advances in Centennial Calendar plant pathology. Our Society truly does have a “history of excellence” and a “future of promise.” Deb Samac Science Museum of Minnesota Cleora J. D’Arcy Display APS Centennial Planning Committee Chair David Schmale July 2008 Centennial Special Session: “The Future of Plant Pathology” Kurtis L. Schroeder Centennial Timeline and Pioneering Plant Pathologists Display Erik Stromberg Centennial Special Session: “Plant Pathology in 1908/2008” APS Centennial Sponsors Thank you to the following sponsors, whose generous contributions have made the APS Centennial Celebration a truly spectacular event. Special thanks to the initial Centennial sponsors, signified below with an asterisk, who ensured that special Centennial projects, such as this book, were made possible through their early contributions. Gold BASF Corporation* Bayer CropScience* Cornell University* Dow AgroSciences* Dupont Ag & Nutrition* Monsanto* North Carolina State University* The Ohio State University The Pennsylvania State University Syngenta Crop Protection Inc.* University of California-Davis University of Minnesota Silver Purdue University Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University* Bronze APS North Central Division APS Northeastern Division* APS Potomac Division BAAR Scientific LLC Kansas State University Pioneer HiBred Intl. Inc.* University of Nebraska Washington State University Supporting APS Pacific Division APS Southern Division BioWorks Inc. Florida Phytopathological Society University of Delaware Contents The 100-Year History of APS R. James Cook Introduction ................................................................................................................. 8 Leadership in the Promotion of Excellence in Plant Pathology ................................... 10 Public Perception of APS—and of Plant Pathologists .................................................. 20 National Service and Outreach ................................................................................... 22 International Service and Outreach ............................................................................ 30 Industry Relations and Private Practice ........................................................................ 35 Infrastructure, Professional Management, and Governance ......................................... 39 Acknowledgments ...................................................................................................... 51 Literature Cited .......................................................................................................... 51 APS Centennial Oral History Project Darin M. Eastburn Introduction ................................................................................................................ 54 DVD Table of Contents ............................................................................................. 56 DVD Disc 1 & Disc 2 APS Member Tributes: Past to Present APS Charter Members ................................................................................................ 59 APS Leadership .......................................................................................................... 61 APS Awardees ............................................................................................................. 64 APS Annual Meetings ................................................................................................. 69 APS Centennial Members ........................................................................................... 70 APS Sustaining Associates ......................................................................................... 124 The 100-Year History of APS R. James Cook Department of Plant Pathology Washington State University, Pullman The 100-Year History of APS R. James Cook Department of Plant Pathology Washington State University, Pullman Introduction he American Phytopathological Society (APS) is arguably among the most robust, service-oriented, and successful scientific societies in the world, whether measured by the quality and number of its journal and nonjournal publications, public service and outreach, leadership among its scientific-society peer group, success of its annual meetings, international leadership and service, member services, member volunteerism, or financial health. With now more than 5,000 members, it may well be the most successful of all professional scientific societies of similar size in the United States if not the world. It is my honor and privilege to be invited to tell the 100-year success story of APS, from its humble yet visionary beginnings through our centenary celebration. Like any historical narrative, the story of APS is a story of the accomplishments of ordinary people—members who took their turns as leaders, many as extraordinary leaders. This story could well fill the pages of a large book, and even what I intended as a “brief” review when taking on this project has turned out longer than I had envisioned. Nevertheless, and with apologies to the many whose contributions and leadership have not been chronicled, I have attempted here to 1) follow the development of a select few themes that seem to characterize and even distinguish APS among its peer group of professional scientific societies; 2) describe some of the struggles and interesting sojourns, such as the publication of abstracts of papers and posters presented at annual meetings, or the perceived lack of public image; and 3) personalize where appropriate