People
Dr. James A. Foret, an early member and supporter of the Society for Louisiana Irises, died on November 4, 2000. Dr. Foret graduated from the University of Southwestern Louisiana in 1943 with a degree in horticulture, and, as a student in 1941, he wrote one of the first articles published by the Society. The article was printed and mailed to the membership as Bulletin No.2.
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Samuel Yongue Caldwell (1904-2000), one of the pioneering leaders in the American Iris Society, died in his hometown of Nashville, Tennessee, on February 19, 2000. He will be remembered primarily for his work with Lycoris, but his horticultural passions ranged far and wide, including Louisiana irises.
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Read more: Samuel Yongue Caldwell -- In Memoriam by Tom Dillard
We regret the loss of another or our fine iris hybridizers from California with the death of Ben Hager in the first week of May. Ben became interested in the Louisiana irises when he first worked for Milliken Iris Gardens in Southern California. They were one of the first large commercial gardens to offer what was then a new type of irises. - Parent Category: People
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Bettye Qualls Shaver - 1926-1999 One remembers her amid welcoming brightness. Bettye Shaver of Sherwood, Arkansas, met the world with a gold butterfly pinned to her shoulder, and sent good will before her, everywhere she went. Candy and giggling tagged along, and her iris friends knew adventure was never far behind.
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Read more: Bettye Qualls Shaver -- In Memoriam by Celia Storey
by M. D. Faith*
Henry Rowlan 1920-1999), two-time winner of the Mary Swords DeBaillon Medal and a past president of SLI, passed away September 4, 1999, in Little Rock, Arkansas. A celebrated hybridizer and a friend to iris lovers everywhere, Henry also served his country well and with honor. Born November 17, 1920, he was in the prime age bracket to serve in World War II and the Korean War, which he did with distinction in the Army Air Force. He won the Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters while accumulating more than 13,000 flying hours as an aerial engineer, the European Theater Medal with two bronze stars, and the World War II Victory Medal. - Parent Category: People
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The Society for Louisiana Irises lost a dedicated and productive member with the death September 13, 1999 of Richard Colburn Butler, Sr.(1910 - 1999) of Little Rock, Arkansas. An SLI member since the 1960s, Dick grew large numbers of Louisiana irises, shared them with individuals and organizations throughout the nation, and also tried his hand at hybridizing. - Parent Category: People
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Read more: Richard C. "Dick" Butler Sr -- In Memoriam by Tom W. Dillard
William Dean Lee (1917 – 1999)
Dean Lee, 81, died on January 6, 1999. Dean had belonged to the Society for Louisiana Irises for more than 45 years and also belonged to the American Iris Society, where he was a Life Member and a Senior Judge. He attended all the SLI meetings and often judged at the annual SLI show. He also attended many of the annual AIS conventions. - Parent Category: People
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Ila (Mrs.Stayton) Nunn of Houston, Texas died on June 18, 1998 at the age of 96. She had been an active member of the Society for Louisiana Irises and the American Iris Society for over 40 years. She also belonged to several AIS Sections and she was a contributor to the book, The World of Irises. She was part of the group in Houston that organized the Spuria Iris Society.
Ila gave numerous lectures on irises, especially Louisianas, to garden groups. She was active in the Texas Regional (R17) AlS organization and served as Vice President from 1957 to 1960. She was elected to the Board of the Society for Louisiana Irises in 1960, and Vice-President in 1962. She was awarded the SLI Service Award in 1962 for her work promoting Louisiana irises in
the American Iris Society and through the Garden Club of Houston's annual bulb mart each fall.
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