April-September 1995 113 I.
114 Journal of Sugar Beet Research Vol 32 Nos. 2 & 3 Honorary Membership Mr. Bloomquist started his career in the sugarbeet industry in 1955 when hired as a regional manager for Western Beet Sugar Producers. He became Executive Secretary of the Red River Valley Sugar Beet Growers Association in 1961. He organized farmers to form a cooperative that in turn bought the sugar company and began operating it in 1973. He became Director of Public Affairs for the new co-op and later became Vice President of Public Affairs. He was the ALDRICH BWOMQUIST company's chief lobbyist through the 1970's and 1980's. In 1990 he was named President and CEO of American Crystal. Al has achieved an unparalleled reputation as a resourceful and articulate spokesman for the sugar industry. Mr. Bloomquist graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College with a B.A. in English and History. He and his wife, Meredith live in Moorhead, Minnesota. Al is credited with saving the sugarbeet industry in the Red River Valley and helping Minnesota achieve the status as the largest producer of sugar in the U.S. He is the originator of the idea for the Sugarbeet Research Center at North Dakota State University and facilitated the development of the Research and Education Board. Al received the Dyer Award in 1977 as "The Sugar Man of the Year,' for significant and meritorious service, the highest honor the sugar industry can bestow. AI's other accomplishments include, being the original publisher of the "Sugarbeet Grower" and recipient of the Siehl Prize for Excellence in Agriculture, which is given to individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to agriculture and the alleviation of world hunger.
April-September 19'j5 Awards 115 Laurent Weickmans retired as Secretary General ofthe International Institute for Beet Research (IIRB) in 1995. He held that position since 1977. Mr. Weickmans attended college at the College Royal Marie-Therese, Herve, Belgium and at the Agricultural College at Gembloux, Belgium, receiving a degree in Agricultural Engineering in 1953. He worked for various different agricultural oriented business in Europe and Africa before joining the IIRB. Throughout this tenure with IIRB, LAURENT WEICKMANS Mr. Weickmans has been very active in sugarbeet research in Europe, and has been a member of the ASSBT. He has worked faithfully to improve cooperation, communication and interaction between the ASSBT and the IIRB. Mr. Weickmans has organized each of the IlRB summer and winter congresses over the past 18 years and has always encouraged and worked for involvement from the ASSBT. During that time he has also lead the European delegation to the Biennial ASSBT meetings. In 1993, Mr. Weickmans have the keynote address at the ASSBT meeting. Meritorious Service Award ROGER W. HILL Mr. Hill, a native of Lingle, Wyoming, graduated from the University of Wyoming in 1961, with a Bachelor of Science in Animal Production. He served for two years as Assistant County Agricultural Agent for Laramie, Wyoming, prior to joining Holly Sugar Corporation's Agricultural Department as an Agriculturalist in Worland, Wyoming in 1963. From 1964 to 1969, Mr. Hill served as an Agriculturist for Holly Sugar in Worland and Riverton, Wyoming, and Grand Junction, Colorado. In 1969, he was promoted to Assistant Eastern Agricultural Manager and transferred to corporate headquarters in Colorado Springs. In 1970 he was made Agricultural Manager in Worland, Wyoming, and in 1973 transferred to Brawley, California in the same position. In 1977, Mr. Hill was promoted to General Manager of the
116 Journal of Sugar Beet Research Vol 32 Nos. 2 & 3 Corporation's Cane Refining Division in Santa Ana, California. In 1979 he was promoted to General Agricultural Manager and returned to Colorado Springs. Mr. Hill was elected Vice President Agriculture by the Board of Directors in 1981 and promoted to Senior Vice President - Agriculture in 1984. He was elected a Director of Holly in 1986. In 1987 he was promoted to the newly created position of Executive Vice President. In 1988 Mr. Hill was named to be President and Chief Executive Officer, the position he currently holds. Mr. Hill has served on many industry committees through his career and was President of the ASSBT in 1989-90. AKIO SUZUKI Dr. Suzuki completed his Ph. D. in Plant Genetics and Statistics at North Carolina State University in 1967. Shortly thereafter, he began his work in sugarbeets, as a Plant Breeder with Great Western Research Center in Longmont, Colorado. He was promoted to Senior Plant Breeder in 1976. Dr. Suzuki devoted much time and attention to improvement of germplasm with monogerm seed characteristic, and searched for alternate sources of genetic or cytoplasmic male sterility. He successfully developed germplasm that contributed high yield ability and increased sugar content, good root shape and disease resistance, particularly resistance to curly top virus 3.nd fusarium root rot. Dr. Suzuki helped develop sophisticated statistical procedures to sort out significant differences among sugarbeet varieties and germplasm, including the application of the balanced lattice experimental design. Dr. Suzuki has supported the principles and goals of the Society by his willingness and ability to participate as speaker, session chairman and chairman of Plant Breeder's Forum. In 1985, he changed career goals from an active geneticist to Manager for Seedex, a sugar beet seed subsidiary of Mitsui & Company, Inc. He is now Senior Vice President and Director of Seed Operations in Longmont, Colorado. Dr. Suzuki is a Director of the Beet Sugar Development Foundation and a Director of West Coast Beet Seed Company. Dr. Suzuki is currently serving as President of West Coast Beet Seed Company. JAMES SCHULKE Dr. Schulke received a Bachelor of Science degree from Iowa State and his Masters and Ph.D. in Agronomy and Genetics from
April-September 1995 Awards 117 U.C. Davis. In 1963 he began his career in sugarbeet breeding and research with Spreckels Sugar Company at Salinas, California. From 1964 to 1988, Dr. Schulke was the sole plant breeder for Spreckels Sugar Company, with the responsibility for development ofvarieties to fit the various climates, planting/ harvest seasons and extreme disease and insect pressures which area abundant in the Western United States. Dr. Schulke has been a leader in the development of bolting, Curly Top and Erwinia resistance. In the past eight years, Dr. Schulke has developed over 20 commercial varieties with Rhizomania resistance and his work in this area has maintained the California grower's confidence in our ability to overcome a problem which could have devastated the industry. Dr. Schulke is a member ofthe American Society ofagronomy and the American Society of Sugar Beet Technologists, where he has presented papers over the years, been a section leader at several biennial meetings and has chaired the Plant Breeding Section. DUANE M. MELLING Mr. Melling was the founding strength and first President of Betaseed, Inc. and served as President until his retirement in 1990. During Mr. Melling's tenure with Betaseed, accomplishment include; pioneering the independent sugarbeet seed industry in the United States and Canada, pioneering the adaptation of European germplasm to North American growing areas and leading in the development and promotion ofhigh sugar varieties to the benefit ofsugarbeet processors and growers. Mr. Melling became an active Director of the Beet Sugar Development Foundation in 1979. He has been a member of the ASSBT and IIRB since 1972, until his retirement in 1990. JOHN KOLBERG Mr. Kolberg is a 30 year veteran of the beet sugar 'industry, beginning his career with Spreckels Sugar Company in 1965. For the first 20 years, he worked at various positions and locations in factory operations and in 1985 was named Vice President of Operations for Spreckels Sugar Company. 10hn 1 s contribution to Spreckels Sugar Company has contributed significantly to the continued success ofthe company. His leadership and direction have contributed to the growth and success of is subordinates and peers, providing them with a model of professionalism, dedication and achievement.
118 Journal of Sugar Beet Research Vol 32 Nos. 2 & 3 Mr. Kolberg has been actively involved in the development of the North American Beet Sugar Industry. From 1983 to 1992 he was an instructor at the McGinnis Institute of Beet Sugar Technology. He served as the Vice President of the Beet Sugar Development Foundation from 1988 to 1990 and President of the BSDF from 1991 to 1992. He was the Chairman of the Process Project Committee from 1992 to 1994. John also served as the Operations Program Chairman for the 1987 General Meeting of the ASSBT. J. R. STANDER Dr. Stander is a plant breeder for Betaseed, Inc. at the company's Western Research Center in Kimberly, Idaho, where he is research manager. He received a B.S. and a M.S. in plant science from Utah State University. In 1973, he received his Ph.D. from Cornell University in plant breeding. Dr. Stander began his career in sugarbeet research with work for his Masters degree thesis which was conducted under a grant from the Beet Sugar Development Foundation. He continued his sugarbeet research for his Ph.D. program. At Betaseed, Dr. Stander has been responsible for the development of commercial hybrids with curly top resistance and that have adaptation to the western U.S. He has developed numerous parental lines and hybrids that have added materially to the returns of growers and processors. Dr. Stander has been an active participant in ASSBT. He has served as a member of the Nominations Committee, is currently serving as a member of the Awards Committee and as Chairman of the Genetics/Germplasm Section. He has also been a member of the Crops Advisory Committee for sugarbeet germplasm and genetic resources, since the committee's inception, and was an invited speaker at the 1993 World Beta Network Conference. In addition he has been appointed a member of the Sugarbeet Subcommittee of the Crop Registration Committee by the Crop Science Society of America. He serves on the BSDF committee that monitors the industry wide curly top nursery. LASZLO TOTH Dr. Toth has worked in the Beet Sugar Industry for 36 years, the last 27 in the U.S. During that time he has made numerous contributions, including design and installation of projects, publications and patents.
April September 1995 Awards 119 Dr. Toth has served as an instructor at the McGinnis Institute of Beet for 21 years. this he has touched the lives of hundreds of students and enhanced the base of every company in the For the past nine years, Dr. Toth has served as member of the Technical Committee to the Association. The committee's role to make comments to the FDA on issues and to lobby for to render them more tolerable to the lnrln"tru (in Research on a computer based program for the beet sugar process. He has authored many papers, and has three credit. LARRY SMITH Dr. Smith has been involved all aspects of vu''''-'-,'vh in Minnesota and North Dakota. He is res1pecrea as an on every cultural nr~l('tt('p" across United States. Since Dr. Smith has been dent of the of Minnesota As an he has been ex(;eptlonaijy,,,',,."".ari'nit> research on the Northwest of on-station and off-station scientists. Dr. Smith has with staff from "'''''"...,,'' QU,OrH ""'>"'ht>,c>!' company in the U.S. and Canada. He has hosted visitors from around the world who are interested in and research. Dr. Smith has served on the International...n,[J<:I't' hp'''t Institute trade show committee for more than 10 years. He has been a member ofthe cy",,, ha.,,t Research and Education Board of Minnesota and North Dakota for 12 years. that he has the and evaluate the results of and extension programs. Dr. Smith has been a session section and serves on the Board of Directors of the ASSBT. He has authored or co-authored 24 papers at ASSBT biennial 1981. LYNN L. HOEFERT Dr. Hoefert received a B.S. and M.S. from Montana and her Ph.D. from the of Hoefert was in 1966 Research
120 Journal of Sugar Beet Research Vol 32 Nos. 2 & 3 work with anatomical and structural C"" r... rl"''''''',tc' and diseases. Her work in and continued in where she conducted C'l1'"J'.lr'l'"\p,Or research until forced a serious illness to retire in 1992. Dr. Hoefert conducted research on many a':>~jvvl':> structure, to establish fine details that 5U1,UUJllvv to research workers in other fields. She was rec:ogm2:ea world-wide for her in electron and virus ultrastructure. Detailed of many viruses and their effects on both beets and alternate hosts formed core of Dr. research. Dr. Hoefert's work also included a detailed is achieved. "TlI~l""<:>T",.rt <:>'~Tn;''''''' in biennial U"V""~U"F> of the where she PH!se:nted a number of papers. LARRY GHOLSON Dr. Gholson received his l1n,rlt'''''nr<>rlll from the U.S. Merchant Marine in from California and his Ph.D. from Iowa State Univer "''''1-'''''''''''''-'''''"'''''' in coordinated pest management Y\rr,rll1f't>r education and relations. Dr. Gholson also was involved with C"HY... rl"\'::'''c1" Or!1:anlzatlO,ns. He was a Director Vice President of the )p"t>lrlrlrnpl,t Foundation. A consistent of,nrlllc't,." he form and served Review Committee. Dr. Gholson was an active member and of the ASSBT. He authored several papers at the General LVl(;etllllgs. LJ"'''IJ''''''' his death in Dr. Gholson's Award.
April-September 1995 Awards 121 CHARLES W. MASSENGALE Charles W. was hired by :SPl~eclcels :SPI'ectcels California as a Mechanic -th...r.lll1,h the ranks in the Instrument Of()mote:Q to the ofmechanical Assis :spr'eck:eis. Charles has filled the PO~Ht1l::ms Assistant Plant and Plant.L.H"}",.u.L...L. He has been to at three California fac :So:rec.kels. Woodland and Mendota. Charles retired on December 1992 and was in an enj~mleermg consultant years of service Charles has contributed to the successful and mechanical inof the factories with which he has been associated. LESTER L. ULRICKSEN Lester Ulricksen his career with '-'I.n...'..." 11n.C\tt'f'l<;' II" as a school student some extra money the summer. He what turned out to be a career on 7, 1953 at the 1"",...tn.." 1,1'I"'1"n,<> as a laborer. Within a year he became a 1"\""nt'>r'c - a two-man crew - before his elghte'enl~h n"rtt,n<;,u master mechanic followed another to chief instrument technician in 1977. Effective November 1, he was elevated to...n",...,,,,n from which he retired on December gerler~lt10ill of his FRANCIS J. GURLEY first calup.,ugn, his
122 Journal of Sugar Beet Research Vol 32 Nos. 2 & 3 The beginning of his second campaign saw Francis work as a tare chemist until he moved to the main lab where he progressed through different positions including quality bench, sample carrier, bench chemist and finished his second campaign as a lab benchman. He was moved to the warehouse as a sugar loader until he left the company, July 13, 1951. His departure was short-lived, however, as he returned to Spreckels on September 12, 1951 as a lab relief. From there, he became a student sugar boiler, which ultimately lead his to what he feels was the most rewarding job he had in Spreckels, that of sugar boiler. He held this job until 1963, when he was promoted to sugar end.fqrem.~q~ In 1972, he was promoted to beet end foreman. Francis kept that position until 1975, when he was named general foreman. His latest promotion was that of shift superintendent in 1977. He has served in that capacity for the past 17 years. JOHN E. COOLEY John Cooley earned his B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Michigan State University in 1949 and immediately started his career as a Sugar Tramp. After two campaigns as a Foremen at Michigan Sugar Company's Carrollton Factor.y, he interrupted his career with a four-year hitch in the Air Force. John resumed his sugar career in 1955 at Spreckels Sugar Company as a Junior Engineer. In the next 34 years, John was relocated seven times as he moved up through the management ranks at four factories and the Company headquarters. He was Factory Manager at three of those factories and Production Manager, located in the head office. John retired from Spreckels in 1985 but not from the sugar industry. John joined PPG Mazer in 1989, where he continues to represent his company's products and services to the sugar industry. CALVIN WAYNE WELTY Calvin (Babe) Welty started working for West Coast Beet Seed Company during the summer of 1953, sewing sacks on the combine at the age of 14. By the time he was 16, he was working the entire summer. When Babe graduated from high school, he started as a fulltime employee. In 1964, he was promoted to Warehouse Foreman in charge of seed cleaning, shipping and inventory, where he is responsible for up to 1,000 or more seed lots per year. He is also responsible for the rouging crews in the stock seed productions, by far one of the most critical jobs performed in the production of sugarbeet seed. Since 1964, Babe has been directly responsible for
April-September 1995 Awards 123 the cleaning and shipping ofover 238,000,000 pounds ofsugarbeet seed. It is highly unlikely that any grower in the U.S. has planted all or any part of his sugarbeet crop that has not been handled by Calvin. DANIEL D. LESSER Daniel Lesser began his career in the sugar industry in 1953, as Battery Foreman for Great Western Sugar Company at Longmont, Colorado. He continued at that location until 1968 and reached the position of Sugar End Foreman. In 1968, he transferred to Brighton, Colorado as Shift Superintendent. In 1975, he accepted the position of Shift Superintendent, at Scottsbluff, Nebraska, in 1977 he was named Factory Manager, in Lovell, Wyoming. From 1981 to 1985, he served as Western District Manager in Ft. Morgan, Colorado. Since 1985, he as been Factory Manager in Lovell, Wyoming for Western Sugar Company. Dan is a graduate of both the Beet End and the Sugar End of the McGinnis Institute of Beet Sugar Technology. He has received numerous civic awards, including 'Wyoming Boss of the Year", in 1983 and has been an active participant in his community's affairs throughout his career. MERL ROBERTSON Merl Robertson began his career in 1953 as a Lab Assistant in Rocky Ford, Colorado, with American Crystal Sugar Company. From Lab Assistant, he moved in the position of Research Field Assistant. Later, Merl was in charge of Maintenance at the Research Station in Rocky Ford. In 1976, Merl moved to Moorhead, assisting on the construction of the Research Center and worked on the Beet Freezing Projects. Since that time, Merl was in charge ofmaintenance at the Research Center and also had duties related to safety. He retired in 1993 from the Research Center, then worked on pilers and in packaging area until May, 1995. WILLIS E. CLEMENSON Willis Clemenson began his career in 1952 with American Crystal Sugar Company at the Moorhead factory. He held many different jobs throughout the factory and the sacking station. In 1975 he became Pulp Dryer Fireman, and in 1988 took the job of Limerock Shovel Operator. This is the position he held when he retired in 1995.
124 Journal of Sugar Beet Research Vol 32 Nos. 2 & 3 PETER BERGEN breeder. Peter received his Ph.D. in breeder until 1976. In on his research r'a'",'nip'r-:ltn,p LH V,..., with others in the Canada stint with the same sugar company, known as Peter served several terms as a Director of the ASSBT and was a Director of the BSDF for ten years. He has been a member of several and technical societies well as the IIRB. Peter received the Meritorious Service Award from the ASSBT in 1987 and was made an Member of the Alberta Beet Growers Board in 1994. JAMES E. DUFFUS Dr. Duffus is a Research Plant atnolo:glst for the USDA/ARS in California. He has contributed over 40 years of service to the beet sugar at this location. He has authored more than 250 scientific and has numerous invitational papers at National and International His conin the field of virus research. He transmitted and virus vector interactions. Dr. Duffus and his coworkers were the first to describe over 20 unrecorded virus diseases. He has received numerous awards Fellow of the American Society, two USDA..."'''''''''..'''''.. Service Scientist of the Year for the Western of the USDA and the Meritorious Service Award from the ASSBT. JOHN S. MCFARLANE Dr. McFarlane was a native of Montana. He was a 1938 gra.duate of Montana and received his doctorate from the of Wisconsin in 1943. In 1947, he staff of the USDAIARS in Salinas. He disease
April-September 1995 Awards 125 resistant germplasm that was used by sugar beet breeders around the world. Among his accomplishments were the development ofcurly top resistance, nonbolting parental lines such as the very widely used C562 and C563 and hybrid cultivars including, US H6, US H7, US H9 and US HID. US H7 was one of the first monogerm sugar beet hybrids. He served as the Investigations Leader for the USDA/ARS's national sugar beet research program, Research Leader for sugar beet research at Salinas, and Station Coordinator until his retirement. He received the Meritorious Service Award from the ASSBT, was made a Fellow ofthe American Association for the Advancement ofscience and was awarded the "Silver Sugar Beet" by the California Beet Growers Association. After retiring in 1982, he did consulting work in Chile, Pakistan and the Mediterranean region. IN MEMORY OF Richard A. McGinnis - Retired chemist In 1985, retired chemist Richard Adams McGinnis was named "Sugar Man of the Year" by the sugar industry. Dr. McGinnis, a resident of San Rafael, died July 7 after a long illness. He was 91. Dr. McGinnis was born in Douglas, Ariz. He graduated from the University of California at Berkeley in 1935 with a chemistry degree. He had a 35-year career as a chemist with Spreckels Sugar in San Francisco. Between 1972 to 1986 he was a teacher and administrator for the Beet Sugar Foundation in Fort Collins, Colo. In addition, he was an author and editor of various technical journals. He also authored and edited "Beet Sugar Technology", a reference book internationally acclaimed in the industry. Dr. McGinnis was honored in 1989 with the' 'Savitsky Award" for his achievements in sugar technology. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in San Rafael. Dr. McGinnis enjoyed photography. Over the years he won California State Fair awards for various photos. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Olive P. McGinnis ofsan Rafael; two daughters, Helen McGinnis of Edwards, Miss and Theresa Harris of Carnation, Wash; two sons, Richard P., McGinnis ofedwards, Miss and James McGinnis of Summerville, Mass; a brother, George C. McGinnis of San Luis Obispo; and two grandsons.