Vogel

Orville Vogel, who died in 1991, spent years building an endowment at WSU for wheat research, which continues to helps scientists launch pioneering research.

By Seth Truscott, College of Agricultural, Human & Natural Resource Sciences

LIND, Wash. – Washington State University’s two leading wheat breeders will advance the state’s $1 billion wheat industry as co-recipients of the O.A. Vogel Endowed Chair in Wheat Breeding and Genetics.

Washington State University’s plant biosciences building officially will be named the Orville A. Vogel Plant Biosciences Building at a public ceremony scheduled for 3 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 15, inside the northwest entrance.

Vogel served as a USDA Agriculture Research Service scientist and a WSU faculty member from 1931 to 1972. He and his wheat breeding team developed the first commercial semi-dwarf wheat varieties and complementary production systems in the Pacific Northwest. His work with dwarf wheat varieties is widely recognized for laying the foundation for the Green Revolution in developing countries.

“Dr. Vogel, arguably WSU’s most famous scientist, brought great recognition to the university throughout … » More …