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AMERICAN POTATO JOURNAL

[Vol. 45

A R T H U R H. H A W K I N S H O N O R E D It is a distinct honor and privilege for me to present my good friend Dr. Arthur Hawkins to the Potato Association of America for Honorary l.ife Membership.

19681

TURNQUIST: ARTHUR H A W K I N S HONORED

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Dr. Hawkins was born in McKeesport, Pennsylvania, but his interest in agriculture started from the time that he lived and worked on his father's farm in New Jersey. He later attended Rutgers University where he earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in 1933, his Master of Science Degree in 1936 and his Doctor of Philosophy Degree in 1943. His major interests during his academic career were in the fields of agronomy, soils, and plant physiology. During the period 1936-1943 he served as Assistant Agronomist for the Maine Agricultural Experiment Station where he conducted experiments on absorption of major nutrients by potatoes. As a soil scientist for U S D A he studied the fertility status of Aroostook County potato soils from 1943-1948. In 1948 he become Professor of Agronomy and Potato Specialist at the University of Connecticut where he is presently employed. In January of this year Dr. Hawkins was honored by the Connecticut potato growers at a testimonial dinner for 20 years of dedicated and faithful service to the industry, The administration of the College of Agriculture and the growers spoke with high commendation of his efforts, his capabilities and his congeniality at the time the honor was bestowed upon him. Art is considered one of the foremost authorities on potato fertilization in the eastern part of the United States. He has worked and published extensively on source, rate, and placement of fertilizers for potatoes. He developed one of the first belt attachments for accurate distribution and placement of weighed quantities of fertilizers in experimental plots. His was the prototype for most of the present models. He is also engaged in research with chemical weed control, seed spacing and variety testing. As a member of the Potato Association of America he has been extremely active and has served in many capacities since the days when it was just a small organization. He became a director in 1948, vice president in 1952 and president in 1954. He helped in launching the first Potato Handbook in 1956 and was instrumental in developing sustaining memberships in our organization. In addition to the Potato Association of America he belongs to the American Society of Agronomy, Soil Science Society of America and Sigma Xi. Art and his charming wife Ada have been very active at our annual meetings during the past several years. His quick wit and dry humor together with his smiling face and hearty handshake are attributes we all enjoy in Art Hawkins. He is well deserving of the Potato Association's highest honor. Mr. President, I am pleased to present Dr. Arthur H. Hawkins to the Potato Association of America for Honorary Life Membership.

--Orrin C. Turnquist