1998 HISTORIAN REPORT
DIVISION C-5 TURFGRASS SCIENCE

Presented at the C-5 Turfgrass Science Annual Membership Meeting
Tuesday, October 20, 1998, 4:15 p.m.
Baltimore, Maryland

  1. CONGRATULATIONS FOR NATIONAL HONORS TO C-5 MEMBERS:
    1. Dr. R.E. Schmidt, Virginia Polytechnic and State University - 1997 Fellow of the American Society of Agronomy
    2. Dr. G.H. Snyder, University of Florida - 1997 Fellow of the American Society of Agronomy.
    3. Dr. K J. Karnok, University of Georgia - 1997 Fred V. Grau Turfgrass Science Award of Crop Science Society of America.
    4. Dr. K J. Karnok, Universiq of Georgia - Crop Science Teaching Award of Crop Science Socieq of America.
    5. Dr. R.E. Gaussoin, University of Nebraska - 1997 Co-recipient of a Certificate of Excellence in the ASA Education Materials Contest.
    6. Dr. B.J. Johnson, University of Georgia - 1998 Green Section Award of USGA.
    7. Dr. K.J. Karnok, University of Georgia - 1997 Fellow of AAAS.
    8. Dr. K.J. Karnok, University of Georgia - 1997 Ensminger Interstate Distinguished Teacher Award of NACTA .
    9. Dr. J.B Beard, International Sports Turf Institute - 1998 William H. Daniel Founders Award of the Sports Turf Managers Association.
  2. CONGRATULATIONS FOR REGIONAL HONORS TO C-5 MEMBERS:
    1. Dr. K J. Kamok, University of Georgia - 1997 Southern Region Excellence in Teaching Award of the USDA.
    2. Dr. J.R. Watson, The Toro Company - 1998 Outstanding Alumni Award of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Texas A&M University
  3. BEST WISHES TO A RETIRING C-5 MEMBER:
    1. James R. Watson, was born December 24, 1920, in Leesville, Louisiana. In 1941 he enrolled at Texas A&M University, and in 1943 was called into military service. He served as a bombardier with the 8th Air Force during World War II. He was awarded the Air medal with clusters and the Purple Heart and Silver Star for action over Berlin in 1945. He then returned to college, received a BSc in Agronomy at Texas A&M University in 1947, and a Ph.D. at Pennsylvania State University in 1950.

      Following graduation, Dr. Watson was appointed Assistant Professor in the Department of Agronomy at Texas A&M University, where he taught courses in soil and pasture management and conducted turfgrass research. He joined the Toro Company in 1952 as Director of Agronomy. He rose to the position of Vice President, Customer Relations and Agronomist with The Toro Company. Dr. Watson's work encompassed the areas of equipment development and evaluation, customer relations and agronomic consultation.

      Dr. Watson conducted early research on: adaptability of turfgrass species/cultivars; fertilization practices; snow mold prevention; and techniques for the winter protection. He has authored over 400 popular articles on turfgrass cultural practices and water conservation.

      Honors received include the 1979 Fellow of the American Society of Agronomy and the Crop Science Society of America; the 1976 United States Golf Association Green Section Award; the 1977 Agronomic Service Award by the American Society of Agronomy; the 1983 Distinguished Service Award from the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America; the 1987 Crop Science Society of America Fred V. Grau Turfgrass Science Award; the 1989 Minnesota Golf Course Superintendents Association Distinguished Service Award; the 1991 Harry Gill Memorial Award of the Sports Turf Managers Association; the 1994 Donald Ross Award of the Golf Architects Society of America; and the 1995 Old Tom Morris Award of the Golf Course Superintendents Society of America.

      Dr. Watson was a co-organizer of the International Turfgrass Research Conference and has served on the Board ~f Directors of the International Turfgrass Society since 1979, and was elected President in 1989. In 1982, he was appointed to the United States Golf Association Turfgrass Research Committee, and in 1983 was appointed Adjunct Professor in the Department of Horticultural Science and Landscape Architecture at the University of Minnesota. In 1985, Dr. Watson was elected Director to the Boards of the Freshwater Foundation of Mound, Minnesota, and the National Golf Foundation. In 1988 he was elected to the Board of the Sports Turf Managers Association. The Landscape Architecture Foundation appointed Dr. Watson to its Board of Directors in 1989 and to its Executive Board as Vice President of Research in 1991. He also served as agronomic coordinator for the nine 1994 World Cup Venues.

      Dr. Watson has enhance communications between the business community and the research and academic arenas of the turfgrass industry. His unique perspective has allowed the diverse elements of this industry to gain greater understanding of the roles and challenges of each segment. He has been especially effective in those areas associated with the education and practice of turfgrass related enterprises.

  4. IN MEMORY OF THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO TURFGRASS SCIENCE:
    1. John Farnsworth Cornman, 84, died on January 6, 1998, in Ithaca, New York. He was born in Shelby, Ohio on January 22, 1913, and graduated from Watkins Glen High School, New York in 1929. He received a BSc in Floriculture/Ornamental Horticulture in 1936, a Master of Science in Agriculture in 1939, and a PhD in 1947, all at Cornell University.

      He was employed as a Horticulturalist for the United States Golf Association Green Section in 1939, and then returned to Cornell University as an Instructor in Ornamental Horticulture in 1940. Subsequently in 1943 he entered military service with the US Naval Air Training Command, Bureau of Aeronautics as an Agronomist advising on dust abatement and erosion control.

      Dr. Cornman returned to Cornell University in 1946, and was promoted to Assistant Professor in 1947, Associate Professor in 1950, and Professor in 1957, a total of 37 years service to Cornell University. He taught courses in plant materials and turfgrass management until 1961, when turfgrass management became his full time responsibility. Included were the teaching, research and extension programs state-wide.

      Dr. John Cornman was one of the original members of the Cornell turfgrass team, with research emphasis in weed control, especially crabgrass and Veronica. He established a research and demonstration turf facilities on Long Island and on the Ithaca campus. He organized and directed the Cornell Turfgrass Conference for 26 years, and served as editor of the New York State Turfgrass Association Bulletin for 20 years. He was honored by the New York State Turfgrass Association in 1979 with a Citation of Merit.

    2. James A. Simmons, 75, retired Director of Product Development with The Scotts Company died at his home in Marysville, Ohio, on July 21, 1997. Jim Simmons was born in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, on October 28, 1922. He grew up on what is now considered the oldest, continuous family farm in Rhode Island. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II in the Pacific Theater where he was assigned to a destroyer. He earned a BSc in Agriculture from the University of Rhode Island in 1949 and a Master of Science in Agronomy from the University of Rhode Island in 1951.

      In 1953, Jim Simmons joined the Research Division of the O.M. Scott and Sons Company in Marysville, Ohio. He had responsibility for directing Product Development with The Scotts Company for most of his career until he retired in 1983. He continued as a consultant to The Scotts Company until April of 1997. In his role as Product Development Director for The Scotts Company Jim Simmons was responsible for a number of key pioneering developments by his group. Included were the first selective granular crabgrass control product; the first granular fertilizer/broadleaved weed control product; and the first patented seeded Kentucky bluegrass cultivar.

      Mr. Simmons was an industry representative to the American Society of Agronomy for a number of years, and was elected Chair of Division C-5 Turfgrass in 1968. He was active in the Marysville, Ohio community Parks and Recreation program and was recognized for his contributions in being give the City of Marysville "Quality of Life" Award in 1996 and the Elks "Outstanding Citizen" Award in 1996.

  5. SUMMARY-BY-YEAR OF DIVISION C-5 CHAIRS, ASA BOARD REPS, AND NUMBER OF C-5 TURFGRASS SCIENCE PAPER PRESENTATIONS
    Year Elected C-5 Chair State Elected ASA Board Rep. Number of Papers Presented
    1955 J.R. Watson Minnesota 15
    1956 C.G. Wilson Wisconsin 16
    1957 G.C. Nutter Florida 16
    1958 W.W. Huff'ine Oklahoma 22
    1959 H.B. Musser Pennsylvania 17
    1960 R.E. Engel New Jersey 11
    1961 V.B. Youngner California E.C. Roberts 22
    1962 R.R. Davis* Ohio E.C. Roberts 14
    1963 F.V. Juska Maryland E.C. Roberts 36
    1964 N.R. Goetze* Oregon W.H. Daniel 24
    1965 E.C. Roberts Iowa W.H. Daniel 25
    1966 J.B Beard Michigan W.H. Daniel 32
    1967 C.Y. Ward* Mississippi R.R. Davis* 34
    1968 J.A. Simmons Ohio R.R. Davis* 25
    1969 R.E. Schmidt Virginia R.R. Davis* 25
    1970 W.B. Gilbert North Carolina J.B Beard 33
    1971 G.C. Horn Florida J.B Beard 29
    1972 R.W. Miller Ohio J.B Beard 33
    1973 P.E. Rieke Michigan W.W. Huffine 41
    1974 L.M. Callahan Tennessee W.W. Huffine 38
    1975 J.F. Shoulders Virginia W.W. Huffine 40
    1976 A.E. Dudeck Florida K.T. Payne 31
    1977 J.H. Dunn Missouri K.T. Payne 32
    1978 W.R. Kneebone Arizona K.T. Payne 45
    1979 A.J. Powell, Jr. Kentucky P.E. Rieke 41
    1980 D.B. White Minnesota P.E. Rieke 40
    1981 A.J. Turgeon Illinois P.E. Rieke 44
    1982 R.W. Duell New Jersey J.H. Dunn 56
    1983 R.C. Shearrnan Nebraska J.H. Dunn 59
    1984 D.P. Martin Ohio J.H. Dunn 72
    1985 R.N. Carrow Georgia A.E. Dudeck 55
    1986 D.V. Waddington Pennsylvania A.E. Dudeck 62
    1987 B.J. Johnson Georgia A.E. Dudeck 69
    1988   T.P. Riordan Nebraska R.C. Shearman 81
    1989 N.E. Christians Iowa R.C. Shearman 107
    1990 T.L. Watschke Pennsylvania R.C. Shearman 115
    1991 W.A. Meyer Oregon R.N. Carrow 113
    1992 J.M. DiPaola North Carolina R.N. Carrow 102
    1993 A.M. Petrovic New York R.N. Carrow 84
    1994 K.J. Karnok Georgia N.E. Christians 101
    1995 J.V. Krans Mississippi N.E. Christians 114
    1996 C.S. Throssell Indiana N.E. Christians 97
    1997 R.J. Hull Rhode Island T.P. Riordan 124
    1998 G.H. Snyder Florida T.P. Riordan 151
    1999 L.A. Brilrnan Oregon T.P. Riordan
    2000 J.L. Nus Kansas

    *Part-time turfgrass responsibilities, along with other crops.

    Note: From 1946 to 1951 - Turfgrass research papers were presented within Section V, Special Crops, of the Crop Science Division, American Society of Agronomy. There were a total paper number of 6 in 1946, 16 in 1947, 17 in 1948, 12 in 1949, 10 in 1950, and 7 in 1951. In 1952 Division XI of the American Society of Agronomy included a session on Turfgrass Management. The year, chair, and number of papers was as follows: 1952 - R.R. Davis - 7; 1953 - M.H. Ferguson - 6; and 1954 - W.H. Daniel - 6.

    * * * * *

    Elected Society Officers from C-5:

    CSSA President 1956 G.O. Mott (first President)
    CSSA President 1960 H.B. Sprague
    CSSA President 1974 R.R. Davis
    CSSA President 1986 J.B Beard
    CSSA President 1995 R.C. Shearman
    ASA President 1914 C.V. Piper
    ASA President 1962 G.W. Burton
    ASA President 1970 R.E. Blaser
    ASA President 1990 A.A. Baltensperger
  6. SUMMARY OF C-5 TURFGRASS SCIENCE MEMBERS WHO ARE RECIPIENTS OF THE FELLOW AWARD FROM ONE OF THE TRI-SOCIETIES

    (1925 TO 1997)

    Year Recipient State CSSA ASA SSSA
    1925 C.V. Piper* Maryland X
    1949 G.W. Burton* Georgia X X
    1951 H.R. Albrecht* Pennsylvania X X
    1953 R.E. Blaser* Virginia X X X
    1955 G.O. Mott* Indiana X X
    1958 D.G. Sturkie* Alabama X X
    1963 W.H. Daniel Indiana X X
    1966 E.C. Holt* Texas X X
    1966 F.V. Juska Maryland X
    1967 R.R. Davis* Ohio X X
    1967 K.~. Payne* Michigan X X
    1968 V.B. Youngner California X
    1969 R.E. Engel New Jersey X
    1969 F.V. Grau Maryland X X X
    1969 W.W. Huffme Oklahoma X X
    1969 C.Y. Ward* Mississippi X X
    1971 J.B Beard Michigan X X
    1971 E.C. Roberts Iowa X X
    1977 J.F. Shoulders Virginia X X
    1979 J.R. Watson Minnesota X X
    1979 L.N. Wise* Mississippi X
    1980 A.A. Baltensperger* New Mexico X X
    1984 C.R. Funk New Jersey X X
    1986 M.H. Niehaus* Colorado X X(89)
    1986 P.E. Rieke Michigan X
    1986 R.E. Schmidt Virginia X X(97)
    1986 D.V. Waddington Pennsylvania X
    1988 B.J. Johnson Georgia X(89) X
    1988 R.C. Shearman Nebraska X(89) X
    1988 A.J. Turgeon Pennsylvania X X(89)
    1991 T. L. Watschke Pennsylvania X(92) X
    1992 R.R. Duncan Georgia X X
    1993 R.N. Carrow Georgia X
    1993 W.A. Meyer Oregon X X(94)
    1994 T.P. Riordan Nebraska X(95) X
    1994 D.B. White Minnesota X
    1995 N.E. Christians Iowa X(97) X
    1995 K.J. Karnok Georgia X X
    1995 A.J. Powell, Jr. Kentucky X
    1997 G.H. Snyder FloridaX X

    *Part-time turfgrass responsibilities, usually with other crops.

    Society Award Recipients from C-5:

    • CSSA Crop Science Research Award 1991 J.B Beard

    • CSSA Genetics and Plant Breeding Award for Industry 1991 W.A. Meyer

    • CSSA Crop Science Teaching Award 1997 K.J. Karnok

    • CSSA Fred V. Grau Turfgrass Science Award:

    1987 J.R. Watson 1993 D.V. Waddington
    1988 J.B Beard 1994 W.A. Meyer
    1989 J.J. Murray 1995 B.J. Johnson
    1990 C.R. Funk 1996 T.P. Riordan
    1991 G.W. Burton 1997 K.J. Karnok
    1992 R.C. Shearman

    • ASA Agronomic Resident Education Award 1994 K.J. Karnok

    • ASA Agronomic Service Award 1973 W.H. Daniel, 1977 J.R. Watson

  7. 1991 DIVISION C-5 TURFGRASS MEETING
    A total of 151 volunteer papers are to be presented during the 1998 C-5 Turfgrass Science sessions in Baltimore, Maryland. Included are 56 poster papers and 95 oral papers; plus 20 symposia papers.

Respectfully submitted

James B Beard

C-5 Historian