PNL Volume 17

1985

MEMORIAL

Ardie G. Gustafson (1908 - 1984)

Ardie G. Gustafson, a well known and successful U.S. pea breeder,

died October 30, 1984, in Lewiston, Idaho. He was 75. We deem it

fitting to mark his passing in the pages of the PNL. Mr. Gustafson was

for many years a principal owner of the Western Valley Seed Company. He

sold his holdings to Crites-Moscow Growers, Inc. in 1975 but continued

on as a consultant and an independent breeder. During his career he

developed more than twenty varieties of processing type peas, many of

them used throughout the world. His variety 'Scout' was a leading pro-

cessing variety in England for many years. A number of his varieties

were notable for having multiple disease resistance.

He received an honorary doctorate from the University of Idaho in

1983 and was elected a Fellow of the Institute of Agricultural Botany,

Cambridge, England, in 1981. In 1979 Mr. Gustafson received the meri-

torious service award from the National Pea Improvement Association, a

U.S. organization whose members represent private industry and public

agencies. He received many other awards and was an active civic leader

in Lewiston where he resided for 50 years.

Mr. Gustafson is survived by his wife, Henriette, a son, and a

daughter,