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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, was recently selected by the university's board of trustees to receive the 2008 Distinguished Alumni Award, the university's highest award for an individual.

As a faculty member 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.

ASGCA elects eight regular members

Eight associate members of the American Society of Golf Course Architects have successfully completed all requirements and were elected regular members at the group’s recent annual meeting in Scotland

Attaining regular membership in ASGCA were

• Paul Albanese, principal, Albanese & Lutzke Golf Course Architecture
• Rick Baril, senior partner, von Hagge, Smelek and Baril Golf Course Architects
• Grant Haserot, lead designer, Schmidt-Curley Design Inc.
• Greg Martin, president, Martin Design Partnership Ltd.
• Scot Sherman, senior design associate, Bobby Weed Design
• Mike Smelek, senior partner, von Hagge, Smelek and Baril Golf Course Architects
• Brit Stenson, director of design, IMG Golf Course Design
• Jason Straka, golf course architect, Hurdzan/Fry Golf Course Design Inc.

Associate members of ASGCA have each designed at least five 18-hole golf courses and have practiced golf course architecture for a minimum of eight years, though the average member has more than 20 years experience and dozens of golf courses to his or her credit. Regular membership in ASGCA is earned after a member has been an Associate member in good standing for at least three years and has designed and seen through to opening two additional 18-hole golf courses.

Cleary welcomes Perdoma, promotes Cunningham

Cleary Chemical Co. has named Pedro Perdoma director of research and regulatory affairs.   He will be responsible for all aspects of product research as well as Federal regulatory affairs concerning the turf and ornamental industry.

Most recently, Perdoma was the Morris County, N.J., agricultural agent for Rutgers University Cooperative Extension, where he was responsible for commercial turf, nursery and greenhouse production as well as bilingual horticultural training.

The company has promoted Bill Cunningham to director of marketing. He began his career at Cleary Chemical in 2005 as sales coordinator where he was responsible for managing all daily activities of the Cleary sales force across the country.

In his new role, he will manage all outside marketing efforts including directing all advertising efforts with outside agencies, gathering, assessing, developing and tracking industry information.