Southern Division APS Outstanding Plant Pathologist Award
2009

Dr. John R. Hartman
University of Kentucky

John Richard Hartman was born on May 2, 1943 in Bellerose, NY, but was raised from an early age in Manitowoc, WI, where the family farmed.  Ever since, John has always had “one foot in the furrow”, providing an invaluable perspective and practical outlook to all he would learn and accomplish in science.  His training was, initially, “basic”.  He received a B.S. in Biochemistry from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, in 1966.  The call of his roots (if you’ll excuse the pun), however, held strong, and he became intrigued by plant pathology, receiving his M.S. (1970) and Ph.D. (1971) in the discipline, both degrees also from Wisconsin.

            Trained, particularly, in bacteriology, John took the final step reflecting acknowledgment of his farming heritage by seeking employment as an Extension Specialist at the University of Kentucky (U.K.).  The institution made the wisest of decisions to hire him as Assistant Extension Professor, in 1971. For the next 30 years and more, U.K. would reap the benefits of John’s very considerable talents. In 1975, John was promoted to Associate Extension Professor and, in 1982, to Extension Professor, the position he has held since.         

            John has proved himself a devoted servant to Kentucky’s plant producers.  He is a master of the principles of plant pathology, and an expert diagnostician, skills he uses whether advising growers, instructing county agents, teaching students or prompting colleagues.  His understanding of the complexities of host-pathogen interactions, with the myriad environmental factors and production practices that bear upon the outcomes, reflect a profound wisdom.  John sees the “big picture” and understands the consequences of actions taken or neglected.  Personally, he has given countless presentations, training sessions and workshops for County Extension Agents, producers, managers, and homeowners.  Ever mindful to advance his own knowledge, John took advantage of sabbatical leaves in California (1980-1981), England (1988-1989) and France (1996-1997) to expand and hone his own skills while simultaneously advancing the knowledge base of his hosts who, in turn, tapped his expertise.

            For over 20 years, John’s role as Extension Program Leader in the department has been vital, and has relieved the Chair’s shoulders of a considerable burden.  His self-effacing, quiet manner proved key to this responsibility for, through his example and leadership, John has been the essential catalyst for the department’s Extension endeavors.  He is d’Artagnan to the other three “musketeers”.  There is unusual synergy in the group, as noted by a CSRS review panel in 1992, which commended the Extension faculty for “how closely they work together for the improvement of the entire extension program”.  In addition, they remarked that the unit represented “one of the most cohesive and well delivered programs in the country”.  John has, for years, orchestrated a weekly teleconference between the Plant Pathology Extension personnel in Lexington and Princeton, in Western Kentucky.  Not only does this ensure that all stay abreast of the latest plant disease issues across the Commonwealth but also, of equal import, it builds camaraderie that makes all players feel valued and involved. 

            John believes it essential to underpin all of his Extension recommendations with sound science.  Consequently, throughout his long career, John has pursued basic and applied research endeavors relevant to his commodity responsibilities.  He has garnered in excess of $800,000 for his research activities, no mean achievement.  Apart from using information in the scientific literature, John has generated a great deal of data locally from substantial research activities which he has either undertaken himself, or directed.  John has published his findings widely and, moreover, has made some thirty national and international invited presentations.  These, however, matter less to John than knowing that they information he delivers to local agent workshops and growers’ meetings is on solid grounds.

            Since 1976, John has been a key instructor in the department.  John has provided an essential avenue to practical plant pathology for, almost without exception, every graduate student in the department for the past 30 years.  Even though summers are heavy with Extension and research activities, John has taken students on countless field trips and farm visits all across the Commonwealth.  Allied to the experience he ensures they gain in diagnostics, John has filled an essential need in helping round-out the students’ education.

            Apart from important service to APS and the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) over many years, John has served twice on CSRS Comprehensive Review Panels, for the Department of Plant Pathology at the University of Arkansas and for the Department of Botany and Plant Pathology at Purdue.  His expertise has also been utilized through membership of regional IPM grants panels.  Such service reflects highly upon his standing with his peers, nationally.

            All in all, John Hartman’s contributions to plant pathology have been far-reaching and of superior quality.  Cumulatively, they reflect a stellar career, one for which no reward was sought.  Satisfaction came from serving, and serving so well.  Not surprisingly, though, recognition has come, as in his Outstanding Specialist Award from the Association of Kentucky Extension Specialists and the Gold Leaf Award from the Kentucky Chapter of the ISA, as well as in his accolade as an APS Fellow in 2006.  A most fitting capstone, however, would be recognition by his fellow Southern plant pathologists through the Outstanding Plant Pathologist Award.  Few others can merit the honor more.