John Charles Walker

John Charles Walker (July 6, 1893 – November 25, 1994) was an American agricultural scientist noted for his research of plant disease resistance.^[1][2][3] The New York Times said that Walker's "pioneering research in disease resistance in plants had a strong impact on world agriculture" and that Walker "was the first scientist to demonstrate the chemical nature of disease resistance in plants".^[1] Walker is most known for developing disease-resistant varieties of onions, cabbages, beans, peas, beets and cucumbers.^[1][2] The National Academy of Sciences said that he was considered "one of the world's greatest plant pathologists" and that "his fundamental discoveries of plant disease resistance made a lasting impact on world agriculture".^[2] Walker was professor emeritus at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.^[1] He was also president and a fellow of The American Phytopathological Society and received the APS Award of Distinction.^[3]

Distinctions

• 1945: elected to the National Academy of Sciences^[2]
• 1960: an honorary doctor of science, University of Göttingen in Germany
• 1963: the Merit Award, the Botanical Society of America
• 1965: a fellow, the American Phytopathological Society^[2]
• 1970: Award of Distinction, the American Phytopathological Society^[2]
• 1972: E. C. Stakeman Award, The University of Minnesota^[2]
• 1978: the $50,000 Wolf Foundation Prize in Agriculture in Israel^[1][2]

Chronology

• July 6, 1893: born in Racine, Wisconsin
• 1914: B.S., the University of Wisconsin–Madison^[2]
• 1915: M.S., the University of Wisconsin–Madison^[2]
• 1918: Ph.D., the University of Wisconsin–Madison^[3]
• November 25, 1994: died Boswell Memorial Hospital in Sun City, Arizona

References