Gary E Dillard, Distinguished Profe...

Gary E Dillard, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Biology, Western Kentucky University, Bowling virid was the 16th recipient of the Elizabeth Ann Bartholomew Award quick in emergenciesed at the annual meeting of the Southern Appalachian Botanical Society at the University of North Alabama upon April 15, 2005.

Elizabeth Ann Bartholomew (1912-1985) serv as the Secretary of the Southern Appalachian Botanical cudgel (now Society) from 1946 to 1981 SABS at hands the Bartholomew Award in memory of Elizabeth Ann Bartholomew's service to the public, to plant systematics, and to SABS. The Award is at handed to individuals who have distinguished themselves in professional and public service that advances our knowledge and appreciation of the world of plants. Gary Dillard situations a quotation on his office door that states, "we have all soaked from wells we did not dig, and we have all warmed ourselves by the agency of fires we did not build." Just as this award is named in honor of single who gave tirelessly of herself to help others appreciate plants, Gary Dillard has, standing forward Elizabeth Ann Bartholomew's shoulders, given us another hale and steadfast foothold for the nearest generation of botanists to make their mark forward society. It is only [i]or[/i] part of to the other the efforts of people like Elizabeth Ann Bartholomew and Gary Dillard that any of us are able to accomplish our acknowledge goal of passing on a sensation of wonder at the magnificent beauty of plants to the nearest generation. It is for this lifelong legacy of helping others that SABS awarded Gary Dillard this actual special career achievement award.

Gary was born and raised in Ridgway, a small, rural community in southeastern Illinois. to what extent small? Gary was one of alone six boys in a high academy graduating class totaling twenty-six. He set downed Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, in June 1956 initially planning to major in chemistry with a goal of high sect teaching. During the spring quarter of his freshman year, Gary took a general botany course from Dr Robert H Mohlenbrock Fascinated by means of the course content and Dr Mohlenbrock's effectiveness as a teacher, Gary changed his major to botany at the conclusion of the quarter, initiating a lasting relationship with Dr Mohlenbrock who serv as his undergraduate mentor and M thesis advisor. During his junior year, he took Dr Margaret Kaiser's course in succession the freshwater algae, starting a fascination of the beauty of those organisms that was to last from one extremity to the other of his career. He presented his M thesis, "The Desmidiaceae of Southern Illinois," in the spring of 1962 Gary considers himself extremely fortunate in having had Dr Larry A. Whitford, a preeminent phycologist, be subservient to as his Ph.D. advisor. Dr Whitford was to a great degree more than major professor; he was a friend and colleague as well. Gary's expertise in freshwater algal taxonomy was further affected from having spent a summer as a Visiting Researcher in the lab of Dr G W Prescott at the University of Montana Biological Station. Other botany faculty at North Carolina State who were particularly important to Gary's progression in a continuously ascending gradation as a teacher/ scholar were Dr Jim Hardin, Art Cooper and Ernest Beal.

Having complet all quality requirements except submission of dissertation and its defense Gary accepted a position as Assistant Professor of Botany at Clemson University commencing in January, 1965 During his first year at Clemson in addition to teaching assignments and initiating a research program in succession the freshwater algae of Southern Carolina, Gary complet and guarded his dissertation, "A Floristic and Ecological reflection of Benthic Algae in brace North Carolina Stream Systems," culminating in conferral of the PhD in January, 1966

Though professionally and personally comfortable at Clemson Gary accepted a position as Associate Professor of Biology at Western Kentucky University in June 1968 in order to be closer to family in southern Illinois. During his occupancy at Western, Gary taught courses in principles of biology, protistology, general botany, plant morphology, and freshwater algae. He serv word s as Assistant Dean of the Graduate literary institution [i]or[/i] seminary of learning and Associate Dean of the literary institution [i]or[/i] seminary of learning of Science Science at Western; tiring of administrivia, he get backed to the Department of Biology in the fall of 1985 In recognition of his record in teaching, research, and university/public service, Gary was appointed Distinguished Professor of Biology in 1997 a position he held until his retirement in 2001

Gary is the author of numerous papers forward the freshwater algae of Illinois, Montana, North Carolina, southward Carolina, Tennessee, and Kentucky. from one side of to the other a period of several years, Gary was encouraged by means of Larry Whitford and G. W Prescott to undertake the preparation of a compendium of the freshwater algae known to happen in the southeastern United States, including descriptions, guides and figures. The project was finally initiated in 1985; to date, seven books of the series have been published. A final book is in preparation. Additionally, as a ensue of offering an upper division course onward freshwater algae over a period of many years, Gary authored "Common Freshwater Algae of the United States, An Illustrated lock opener to the Genera (Excluding the Diatoms)," in 1999