American Rhododendron Society Awards

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Recent Gold and Silver Medals Awards

Gold and silver medals are awarded to Society members for outstanding service over a period of time to either the Society or to the genus rhododendron, or both. Gold awards are for contributions that have national or international impact. Silver awards recognize significant regional contributions. See full list of gold and silver medal awardees.

The following Gold and Silver Medals were awarded by President Ted Stecki on May 16, 2010 at the Society's conference in Ronkonkoma, New York:

Gold Medal Award: Donald Voss

For decades you have been a recognized authority on flower color, taxonomy and nomenclatural issues in the genus Rhododendron. Through your selfless volunteer efforts and willingness to share your specialized knowledge, you have benefited botanists and horticulturalists worldwide, which will have an impact for years to come.

You are a prolific author who has written for the ARS Journal and many other prestigious publications. Your meticulous attention to detail, keen intellect and analytical skills have been appreciated in many ways, as District Director, technical reviewer, curator of herbarium specimens and advisor for many plant registrations. For these and many other lasting contributions you have made to the Society's goals, the American Rhododendron Society is pleased to present the Gold Medal to Donald H Voss.

Silver Medal Award: Paul Anderson

You have served the American Rhododendron Society with distinction since you joined in 1964. You are a Life member and have served as president of the Eureka Chapter and California Chapter. You have served as District 5 Director and currently serve as chairman of the Long Range Planning Committee. You were instrumental in establishing two new chapters, Eureka and Hawaii.

You have worked untold hours toward furthering the aspirations and goals of the ARS to the benefit of every society member who has had the pleasure of attending a meeting where you have given a program, or visiting your garden.

For your years of untiring and dedicated service, the American Rhododendron Society is pleased to award the Silver Medal Paul Anderson, M. D.

Silver Medal Award: Werner Brack

You have been involved with the genus Rhododendron for 40 years having joined the ARS and the New York Chapter in 1971. Your activity in the Chapter led to your election as President. You were Director of District 7 and Treasurer of the Research Foundation.

You have been an active hybridizer producing many rhododendrons that are excelling on the East Coast and are being tried in other locations throughout North America. You have been active at Regional Conferences as a worker and as Presenter at the Hybridizer’s Round Tables.

In recognition of your contributions to the genus and the ARS, your considerable knowledge of the plants and your willingness to share all of this with those who are interested, the ARS is pleased to present the Silver Medal to Werner Brack.

Silver Medal Award: Chris Callard

For over a decade you have provided a valuable service to an international community who seek information on Vireya Rhododendrons with your website: www.vireya.net. By creating an easily accessible place to go for information on Vireyas, you have extended our knowledge and appreciation of these unique plants. You have been foremost in promoting their culture & history.

Your website provides photos, articles and summary information not readily obtainable from other sources. You have generously given your time and energy to create and maintain this website. Your efforts are enjoyed and appreciated by all who visit www.vireya.net.

For your significant contributions, the American Rhododendron Society is pleased to present the Silver Medal award to Chris Callard.

The following Gold and Silver Medals were awarded by President Fred Whitney on May 2, 2009 at the Society's conference in Everett, Washington:

Gold Medal Award: Jens Christian Birck

Your ruthless selection of hybrids and species has raised standards to lofty levels. Your rhododendron photography is unparalleled and available to one and all. Your keen, critical, hands-on observations of the genus Rhododendron question conventional wisdom. These insights you present clearly and irrefutably. You quietly and selflessly continue this pursuit of knowledge expecting nothing in return. You helped amass a world-class collection of wild collected hardy species and have promoted their use in public and private gardens for the world to enjoy. The Danish and South Swedish Rhododendron Chapters owe their formation to you.

Gold Medal Award: Mike Stewart

You have served the American Rhododendron Society with enthusiasm and distinction as a Chapter President, District Director, Western Vice President, and National President. You have been of immense value to our Society over many years working on various committees at all levels. The leadership you have generously provided will have a lasting impact on the future of the ARS.

You were instrumental in compiling and working to produce, promote and distribute the book, "Pacific Coast Rhododendron Story". You Co-chaired the ARS 50^th Anniversary convention in Portland OR that not only was a gala even but a time to honor the ARS founding members.

You are a highly sought speaker. Your love and knowledge of Rhododendrons and devotion to the ARS and its members is evident in the programs you have presented to many Pacific Northwest ARS Chapters, Western Regional Conferences, and other forums. As a nurseryman, your program presentations at retail garden centers and industry conventions have greatly increased interest in species Rhododendrons on the West Coast and beyond.

Silver Medal Award: Jean & Norman Beaudry

You are the consummate American Rhododendron Society member. You have been active members since 1975, serving the Society and its Chapters in your quiet, unassuming way. You have served in both official and behind-the-scenes capacities. You do it all, big and small, but most of all you share your expertise generously.

Your 20-year work with the Sandwich Club to identify, propagate and distribute the Dexter and Cowles hybrids is unparalleled. Your database of some 1400 of these plants with data from 1967 is an invaluable tool for future generations interested in these significant East Coast rhododendrons.

Silver Medal Award: Harry R Wright

For over two decades, you have been an ambassador for the genus Rhododendron and an avid promoter of membership and participation in the American Rhododendron Society. As founding member of the North Island Rhododendron Society, you have worked tirelessly as President and Director throughout the Chapter's history. You have been instrumental in the development of both your own "Haida Gold Gardens" with your wife Gwen, and the public "Comox Valley Rhododendron Garden", providing enjoyment to countless citizens and visitors. As a speaker, teacher, writer, propagator and hybridizer, you have ensured that rhododendrons maintain a high profile. As Director of District 1, your support of individual Chapters and encouragement of interactive sharing has emphasized both education and fellowship. You are in inspiration to all members of the American Rhododendron Society.

The following Gold and Silver Medals were awarded by President Fred Whitney on April 19, 2008 at the Society's conference in Tulsa, Oklahoma:

Gold Medal Award: Herman "Bud" Gehnrich

For more than 25 years, you have provided outstanding service to the American Rhododendron Society and its members at the local, national and international levels.

Holding the offices of District Director, Eastern Vice President and President, you have been instrumental in such important initiatives as the creation and enhancement of the Society's Website; interplay among hybridizers on both Coasts to combine the hardiness of Eastern varieties with the spectacular colors of their West Coast counterparts; and cultivation of relationships with many offshore members, through which we have enjoyed the availability of pollen, seeds and cuttings of plant material not otherwise available.

Gold Medal Award: Bob Weissman

You have served as Chairman of the Electronic Media and Digital Publications Committees, served as Webmaster and managed the Societies websites. From the hundreds of thousands of 'visits' to these sites it is clear your work has contributed to the American Rhododendron Society's goal of educating the world about Rhododendrons and their culture.

Your efforts have enabled the world to learn about the genus Rhododendron, the people involved, the research taking place, the gardens with Rhododendrons at their heart, the search for and preservation of Rhododendron habitat, and new hybridizing, care, and propagation techniques.

Silver Medal Award: Marc Colombel

Your efforts "to educate" and "to promote" the genus Rhododendron are widely recognized by your peers and support major goals in the American Rhododendron Society's mission statement. You initiated enthusiasm for Rhododendrons in France by founding the Societe Brettone du Rhododendron in 1993. Through your creative and energetic leadership the Societe now has more than 160 members involved in many impressive activities.

By authoring and publishing a book, writing ARS Journal articles and creating and maintaining an Internet Web Page in both French and English, you have provided valuable Rhododendron education internationally. You willingly volunteered to put the ARS Seed Exchange catalogue on the internet to facilitate the acquisition and distribution of Rhododendron seeds worldwide.

Silver Medal Award: John Thornton

Since the early 1980's you have been a pioneer in hybridizing Rhododendrons that tolerate the heat & humidity of the southern states while still being hardy enough for most areas where they are grown. This has resulted in a large selection of hybrids that have disease resistance, drought resistance, & resistance to "root rot", a common problem in the Deep South. You have published your results and promoted the use of these hybrids by sharing your experience in numerous speeches, sharing plants and information at several public gardens, and always being available to answer questions. The world of horticulture is much the richer for your efforts.

Silver Medal Award: June and Tim Walsh

Between the two of you, you have served at the Chapter level as president, vice president, treasurer, newsletter editor, and membership chair and at the board level as treasurer, alternate director and secretary. You have used your extraordinary leadership and organizational skills to help stage Western Regional conferences, a national ARS convention, and numerous chapter and regional events.

You have shared your love and knowledge of Rhododendrons with countless people as true ambassadors of the Society. You have encouraged interest in and disseminated knowledge about the world of Rhododendrons in your many activities, including such projects as the Humboldt Botanical Gardens.

The following Gold and Silver Medals were awarded by President Leonard Miller on April 14, 2007 at the Society's conference in San Francisco, California:

Gold Medal Award: Steve Hootman

You are one of the foremost international plant hunters of the late 20^th and early 21^st centuries, and one of the most intrepid. You have served as Co-Director of the Rhododendron Species Foundation and Botanical Garden where you played a determining role in making this garden one of the premier gardens of its kind in the world.

You have facilitated the mandate of the Foundation beyond all expectations, especially in regard to conservation, distribution, and education. You are a lecturer and educator extraordinaire on the subject of rhododendrons and have made significant contributions to ongoing scientific research on rhododendrons. You have also served as Co-Editor of the RSF yearbook "Rhododendron Species" and are among the most knowledgeable people in the world on the genus Rhododendron.

Gold Medal Award: Peter Schick

Beyond your scenic California coastal community, you are recognized worldwide for your hands-on horticultural expertise and for sharing material and data for the genus Rhododendron and species Vireya. Your enthusiasm and generous distribution of seeds, plants and cuttings have earned you the title "Johnny Appleseed" of Vireyas.

Your role in helping to create the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens is legendary. The Big Leaf rhododendrons and tender species that you planted are highlights of that 40 acre enclave. Your knowledge and advocacy of natural habitat preservation contribute significantly to the protection of the environment for native species in your area.

Silver Medal Award: Wing Fong

For more than two decades you have provided outstanding service to the American Rhododendron Society by giving unstintingly of your time, your talent, your energy and your enthusiasm. You have contributed your professional skills as a graphic artist to design and produce brochures, advertising, sale catalogs, badges, labels, displays, CD’s, photographic albums, posters, signs & more.

In addition, you have provided meaningful help and advice to the ARS Journal editor to improve the layout and design of that publication. Your work as Chairman of the ARS Program Library is another example of your on-going efforts to encourage interest in the genus Rhododendron.

Silver Medal Award: George Keen McLellan

You have served as an American Rhododendron Society chapter president, director, and committee chair; put on meetings, given talks and slide shows, written newsletter and Journal articles with photos and had garden tours.

More importantly you have taken on the long-term project of locating Eastern North American native azalea species and forms, and documenting and photographing them in their natural habitats. You have traveled from New England to Florida, along the coast and in the mountains, in often difficult locations. You have led many tours and described these plants through talks, written articles, photos, and personal interaction thus rekindling and enhancing interest in and preservation of these Rhododendron species here and throughout the world.

Silver Medal Award: Robert "Mitch" Mitchell

You are the driving force behind the Hawaii Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society. Under your guidance the Hawaii Chapter has hosted three international Vireya seminars and a national convention. Your enthusiasm, generosity, and love for Vireya Rhododendrons is infectious. You have created a worldwide network where questions, comments, photos and ideas can be shared. For many of us you opened a whole new world.

Your passion for Vireyas has taken you into hybridizing and your crosses now exceed sixty. You are a major contributor of Vireya seeds distributed widely by the Hawaii Chapter. You’ve also created two Vireya gardens. The first is your personal garden at your home in Volcano Village. The second is located at the Panaewa Rainforest Zoo and Gardens where the Vireya species section is filled with your donated plants.