LEGENDS
Legend status recognizes retired faculty who have contributed to the success and reputation of the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, previously Department of Agronomy. Our first class standing today was built on their great contributions in teaching, research, and outreach.
alvin Kezer
When the Department of Agronomy at the Colorado Agricultural College was established in 1909 as a separate administrative unit, Alvin Kezer was appointed as its first Department Head. He was a Charter Member of the American Society of Agronomy in 1907 and was highly regarded professionally among his peers. Mr. Kezer served as department Head for 47 years, a remarkable record. He was justifiably proud of his contributions in building the framework for the successful Department that is ours today.
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David W. "Scotty" Robertson
David “Scotty” Robertson served the people of Colorado, the nation, and the world in many ways. He was: Head of the Department for 13 years; the first scientist in the Department to hold a Ph.D.; the first person in Colorado to be elected a Fellow in the American Society of Agronomy; and the first Coloradoan to serve as President of that Society. He conducted early research on a broad range of topics including alfalfa, sudangrass, sorghums, soybeans, pasture and forage crops, wheat, barley, rye, corn, sugar beets, field beans, among others. The main thrust of Dr. Robertson’s research efforts was barley genetics and in the following forty years published over 100 papers. He was selected and elected to maintain the world’s barley genetic stocks, and to serve as overall coordinator for genetic linkage studies in barley.
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Warren "RED" Leonard
Warren Leonard, known as “Red” by most everyone, was a long-time champion crops and genetics teacher in the Department. He taught several courses in crop production and genetics including the introductory course in genetics. His research resulted in papers on barley genetics, corn, sorghum, sunflowers, flax, buckwheat, applied statistics, and world food problems. Dr. Leonard was recognized professionally in numerous ways, but especially for his dedication to student teaching and advising. Many returning alumni have declared that Dr. Red Leonard was the person who motivated them to continue their careers in agronomy, crops and plant breeding. Dr. Leonard possessed a unique talent in writing and speaking. Many students throughout the world received instruction from three major textbooks authored and co-authored by him, “Principles of Field Production,” “Cereal Crops,” and “Field Plot Techniques.”
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Robert S. Whitney
Robert Whitney was “Mr. Colorado State” all the way, born in Fort Collins and lived his entire life except for military duty and graduate student leaves. Upon completion of his B.S. degree from the Colorado Agricultural College in 1934, Bob joined the Department of Agronomy faculty. It was the beginning of a long and effective career in teaching, research, extension, administration, and service. He was an international authority on the management of irrigated soils. His early research on the use and management of animal wastes for increased crop production was reemphasized during the times of increased concern for pollution control. In 1959 he was named Head of the CSU Agronomy Department and served until 1975.
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William G. Stewart
William Stewart was a Colorado boy born in the San Luis Valley in 1914. He first served as a County Extension Agent in Washington and Montrose Counties and in 1951 moved to Fort Collins as Assistant State Extension Agronomist and Manager of the Certified Seed Program. In 1959, he became Extension Agronomy Coordinator. He became heavily involved with the milling and baking quality of wheat and these efforts led to the first focused wheat research program at CSU, which subsequently led to the extensive wheat research program we have today. This is just one of many programs that Bill Stewart initiated and developed during his tenure. He was “Mr. Enthusiasm” for sure!
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Robert E. Danielson
Bob Danielson graduated from Colorado A & M College in 1948. When Bob completed his Ph.D. in 1955, he returned to Colorado State University as Assistant Professor of Agronomy. In those early days, he taught Introductory Soils, Soil Fertility, and Soil Microbiology. Later on he specialized in Soils Physics and Irrigation Science. He served as Major Professor for 14 Ph.D. and 29 M.S. students; the highest number of M.S. students among all Agronomy Faculty. With all the evidence of Dr. Danielson’s obvious successes and contributions, he once wrote to a colleague, “It’s not easy to come up with anything that I have been unique in. I have enjoyed teaching and advising, and my most pleasing experiences have been when students expressed satisfaction with my relation to them.” Bob Danielson was a modest giant!
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Willard L. Lindsay
Willard Lindsay began his career at Colorado State University in 1960 and taught soil fertility and researched micronutrient deficiencies in Colorado soils. The major thrust of his career was to provide stimulating instruction to graduate students, and to participate with them in scholarly research. He served as Major Professor for 30 Ph.D. graduates, the largest number in Agronomy Department history, and 11 M.S. graduates. Dr. Lindsay made classic contributions in many areas of soil chemistry; one of which was development of the DTPA micronutrient soil test which became a world standard. Dr. Lindsay’s most significant contribution was the textbook Chemical Equilibria in Soil. This book has been used in many universities around the world. In 1989, he was promoted to the rank of University Distinguished Professor, the highest recognition bestowed on any CSU faculty.
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Takumi Tsuchiya
Takumi “Tak” Tsuchiya is recognized for his outstanding contributions to plant genetics and cytogenetics through basic scientific research, graduate education, and professional service. He came to CSU in 1968 to conduct research on barley genetics and cytogenetics and to manage the World Genetics Stock Center, a position previously held by Dr. David “Scotty” Robertson. During his 43-year career Tak established an international reputation working with barley, triticale, sugar beet, and other plant species. He contributed significantly to the education of primarily graduate students. His unique way of teaching his courses, by use of original scientific papers, and by his dedication to educating and training students, resulted in highly active and productive Ph.D. and M.S. 
students. In 1991, Dr. Tsuchiya was promoted to the rank of University Distinguished Professor, the highest recognition bestowed on any CSU faculty.
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Wayne F. Keim
During Wayne Keim’s 45-year career he made major contributions in teaching, research and administration at Cornell, Iowa State, Purdue, and Colorado State. Throughout his career Wayne has championed students. He personally motivated many young people to choose careers in scientific agriculture. In 1975 he was named Department Head, and he immediately began retooling the Department so it could move into an elite leadership position in soil and plant science teaching and research. Wayne served during the decade when enrollment and faculty member numbers reached all-time highs. Using his great people skills, Wayne was able to make significant additions to the Agronomy faculty. He brought esprit de corps to the Department by encouraging both old and new faculty members to excel in their professions. Dr. Wayne Keim is truly a legend in so many ways.
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Jack R. Fenwick
Jack Fenwick joined the faculty of Agronomy at CSU as Assistant Professor and Coordinator of the Resident Instruction program in 1976. He provided effective teaching leadership in the Department and College and served as the Department’s key undergraduate student advisor. Jack taught the General Crops course for more than three decades and was co-creator of two innovative, highly successful, team-taught senior level classes in Crop and Soil Management Systems. In addition, he has been the “sparkplug” for a super successful Agronomy Club. As if this wasn’t enough to keep him busy, Jack effectively represented the Department on the College Curriculum Committee for over 25 years. Dr. Jack Fenwick has touched the lives of more students in the modern history of the Department than any other faculty member; he is the epitome of the legend status.
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James S. Quick
Jim Quick distinguished himself in the field of plant breeding and genetics. In 1981 he joined Colorado State University as Professor and Leader of the Wheat Investigations project. In the next 23 years he made significant contributions in several areas: hard red winter wheat breeding and improved methodology, and herbicide tolerance. Jim and his associates released more than 30 new wheat cultivars and several improved germplasm lines. He is especially proud to have served as major professor for 23 Ph.D. and M.S. candidates during his career. Dr. Quick also served as the Soil and Crop Sciences Department Head from 1996 to 2003, and under his leadership a major renovation of the Plant Science building was completed as well as renovations in Shepardson Hall to accommodate the Colorado Seed Laboratory and the Colorado Seed Growers Association.
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