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Duich named Penn State distinguished alumnus

Joseph M. Duich, Ph.D., professor emeritus of turfgrass science in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences, is the recipient of the 2008 Distinguished Alumni Award, the university's highest award for an individual.

As a faculty member in agronomy at Penn State from 1955 to 1991, Duich developed turfgrass species for use on golf courses and athletic fields. While in graduate school, he worked with his advisor, H.B. Musser, on the development of Penncross bentgrass, which was released in 1954. Today Penncross is the most widely used bentgrass on golf courses around the world.

Among other Penn turf varieties that Duich developed are Pennfine perennial ryegrass, Pennstar Kentucky bluegrass, Pennlinks, Penneagle, six Penn A and G series bentgrasses, and Seaside II.

Duich donated his patent royalties from the sale of these turfgrass varieties to Penn State, which established an endowment in his name. Today, the Joseph M. Duich Turfgrass Endowment stands at nearly $2.5 million, interest income from which is the major source of support for Penn State's Joseph Valentine Turfgrass Research Center, which Duich helped establish.

Throughout his 36 years teaching at Penn State, Duich taught eight turf courses, mentored 21 master's and doctoral students, and formed the Musser International Turfgrass Foundation in honor of his mentor. This foundation annually presents its Award of Excellence and $20,000 to a qualified doctoral candidate to help pay for the student's continued study in turfgrass science.

In addition to breeding turfgrass, Duich is credited with writing more than 100 technical publications on topics such as turfgrass weed and disease control, nitrogen fertilization, putting-green speed management, species competition, renovation, soil modification and seed priming.

Duich has been honored with 15 awards for his dedication to the science and business of agronomy. In recognition of his lifelong devotion to improving the game of golf by breeding new turfgrasses, the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America selected Duich to receive the 2006 Old Tom Morris Award - its most prestigious honor. 

Dow names two new sales representatives

Dow AgroSciences has named two new members to its turf and ornamental sales team. Marney Dorsey and Justin Stewart are resources to distributors and customers in the lawn care, golf and nursery industries.

Dorsey is the sales representative for the turf and ornamental market in Ohio, eastern Michigan, western Pennsylvania and western West Virginia. She joined the company in 2007 as a sales trainee and will Kylee Swyers, who has been promoted to the U.S. Northern Crops marketing communications position.

Justin Stewart will be responsible for sales in Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi and Kentucky. He has more than 10 years of experience in golf course maintenance, including three as assistant superintendent and one as a head superintendent.

Watertronics makes five staff changes

Watertronics Inc., manufacturer of electronically controlled irrigation pumping systems, has announced five key staff changes and additions.

John Swindle was promoted to national sales and marketing manager. He has been with the company for four years and will now oversee branding initiatives and sales objectives for golf and landscape markets.

Rick Heidvogel returned to the company as national sales manager for the landscape market. Heidvogel has almost 20 years of experience in the irrigation industry and is now responsible for growing sales in sports complexes, parks, and commercial and residential applications.

Ken Stone was hired as Mid-south regional sales manager. Stone has more than 30 years of experience in the irrigation and landscape industry and is now responsible for the golf, landscape and municipal markets in the Midwest and South.

John Van Der Cruyssen was hired as Atlantic region sales manager. He will focus on the eastern U.S. to promote products and increase sales to the golf and landscape markets.

Greg Salisbury was hired for technical sales. He has 20 years of experience servicing, designing, manufacturing and selling irrigation pump systems.

Arysta LifeScience announces two hirings

Arysta LifeScience North America turf & ornamentals business has hired Michael Maravich as Marketing and Product Manager, Turf and Ornamentals.

He will be responsible for marketing and product management functions for current and future fungicide, insecticide and herbicide products. Maravich was previously with Lesco/John Deere Landscapes. Before that he was golf course construction supervisor at the Bruce Co. of Wisconsin.

The company has also hired Michael Owen as its new turf and ornamental territory sales manager from Virginia to Florida and surrounding southeastern states.

Owen has nearly 15 years of broad sales and technical experience in both the golf and lawn care turf industry, most recently as a lawn and landscape market manager for Bayer Environmental Science.