Recognition of our distinguished
Emeritus Faculty
University of Minnesota
Department of Plant Pathology
July 26th, 2008
Richard Zeyen
Professor of Plant Pathology Dr.
Richard Zeyen has retired after a career noteworthy for his contributions to
the discipline of plant pathology, the Department of Plant Pathology and the College of Agriculture. For more than 30 years he
directed the Minnesota Electron Optics Facility while serving as a faculty
member of the Plant Pathology Department. He taught a variety of courses
ranging from Introductory Plant Pathology to portions of the Ph. D. core
curriculum. He was best known for his course “The Physiology and Molecular
Biology of Plant Microbe Interactions”. In addition to administrative and
teaching responsibilities, Richard maintained a wide ranging research
program. Research efforts included
epidemiology and resistance to rusts and virus diseases of maize and the
physiological and molecular aspects of the barley powdery mildew disease
system, particularly plant defense responses to the pathogen. His research was
conducted in both local and international collaborations. In the 1990’s Richard’s
research focus shifted to applications of resistance responses to genetic
engineering of fungal disease resistance. Throughout his career Richard advised
graduate students, many of whom have gone on to careers in plant pathology
research.
Richard’s
efforts outside of teaching and research have been critical to the Plant
Pathology Department’s current prominence and future viability. He was deeply
involved in faculty governance at all levels from departmental to
university-wide committees. During the 1980’s he was instrumental in activities
that led to the construction of Borlaug Hall and he represented the department
in all phases of its planning and design. His efforts as a forceful advocate
for the Plant Pathology Library resulted in its incorporation into the Borlaug
Hall facility and its continued operation as a unique, independent library
dedicated to plant pathology. More recently, he has led efforts to maintain and
promote the legacy of the Department of Plant Pathology. These activities
include promoting the
Department of Plant Pathology endowment, acting as co-chair to organize the
Department’s centennial celebration, and organizing the archival preservation
of departmental historical materials. He is also collaborating with Clemson University historian in documenting the
life of E.C. Stakman.
(By: James Kurle)*
Emeritus Faculty
Neil Anderson received both his M.S. (1957) and his Ph.D. (1960) in
plant pathology from the University
of Minnesota. Appointed
as Professor in 1959, his major research emphasis was on genetics of plant
pathogens. Neil was the department head from 1993 to 1996. He retired in 1998.
Ernest E. Banttari received both his M.S. (1959) and Ph.D. (1962)
in plant pathology from the University
of Minnesota. He was
appointed Professor in 1963, with his main area of research in virus and
mycoplasma diseases and diagnostics technology.
Ernie retired in 1997.
Howard Bissonnette received both his M.S. (1958) and Ph.D. (1964)
in plant pathology from the University
of Minnesota. He was appointed Professor in the department
in 1968; he was an extension educator in potato pathology. Howard retired in
1987.
William R. Bushnell received his Ph.D. from University of Wisconsin
(1960). As a member of the USDA Cereal Disease Laboratory, he was appointed
Adjunct Professor in the department in 1966. Bill’s main area of research was
physiology of host- parasite relationships in cereals. Bill retired in 2003.
Thor Kommedahl received both his M.S. (1947) and Ph.D. (1951) in
plant pathology from the University
of Minnesota. His major
area of research was biological control of root disease. Thor was appointed
Professor in 1953. He retired in 1990 but is still in the office nearly everyday.
Phil Larsen received his Ph.D. from University of Arizona
(1968). He was appointed Professor in 1985. Phil served as department head from
1984 until 1993. He continued his administrative duties in the College until he
retired in 2007.
Kurt Leonard received his Ph.D. from Cornell University
(1968). He served as the Head of the USDA Cereal Disease Laboratory and was
appointed Adjunct Professor in 1988. Kurt’s major area of research was in
epidemiology of cereal rust diseases. Kurt retired in 2001.
Chester J. Mirocha received
his Ph.D. from University of California, Davis
(1960). He was appointed Professor in 1963 with a research emphasis in microbial
toxins & natural products and chemistry of host-parasite relationships.
Chet retired in 1992 and is still seen from time to time in his office in
Stakman Hall.
Robert Nyvall received
both his M.S. (1966) and Ph.D. (1969) in plant pathology from the University of Minnesota. Robert was appointed
Professor in 1985 with research emphasis on diseases of cultivated wild rice
and development of mycohericides. Robert
retired in 2002.
Frank Pfleger
received his Ph.D. from Oregon
State University
(1972). Frank was appointed Professor in 1974. His major research area was
diseases of vegetable crops and ornamental plants and ecology of VA
mycorrhizae. He became head of the department in 1996 and retired in 2004.
Ward Stienstra
received his Ph.D. from Michigan
State University
(1970). His was appointed Professor in 1970 and his main area of extension education
and research was disease management of soybean, corn, turf and fruit crops.
Ward retired in 1998.
Retired Faculty
James Groth
Herb Johnson
Roger Jones
Bill Kennedy
Don McVey
Alan Roelfs
Darroll skilling
Roy Wilcoxson
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