In Memoriam

Charles William Crum

Charles William (Bill) Crum of DeKalb, IL, a member of ASA and CSSA for 36 years, passed away on 29 Dec. 2022 at the age of 88. Raised in Rupert, WV, he was the son of a coal miner and the youngest of seven children. The first in his family to attend college, he started at Glenville State College, married Ella Mary Hamrick, and graduated from the University of West Virginia with a B.S. in Agricultural Education and an M.S. in Plant Breeding. In 1964, he was awarded a Ph.D. in Genetics and Statistics from North Carolina State University.

Crum started his career with DeKalb AgResearch, Inc. as a corn breeder. He developed 40 commercial hybrids and was quickly recognized for his breeding and personal skills. He was promoted to Associate Director of Corn Research and worked in DeKalb’s International Division assisting the company’s breeding and testing efforts around the globe. While there, he established DeKalb’s International Technical Services. Crum and his team advised local staff how to develop and evaluate the best products for their markets. Not satisfied with one crop, he took a special interest in sunflowers and incorporated the species into his area of responsibility.

Bill achieved the level of Vice-President of DeKalb Genetics. In addition to ASA and CSSA, he was active in the American Seed Trade Association as well as their international equivalents and numerous committees and societies around the world. His work left an imprint in 34 countries.

Crum retired in 2000 after 36 years of service for the same company. He can be credited with contributing in areas he never envisioned when he started. In retirement, he stayed active consulting, breeding roses, and golfing. He and his wife attended the Westminster Presbyterian Church in DeKalb.

He is survived by his second wife, Mira; his three children; and four grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Ella Mary; his parents; and his six siblings.

Martha Davis

Martha Davis, a 19-year member of ASA, passed away on 28 Jan. 2023 at the age of 87. She was born 25 June 1935 in Eldorado, OK and was raised in DeQueen, AR. After graduating from high school, she attended the University of Central Arkansas where she received her B.S. in Education with a major in English and a minor in Spanish. After three years of teaching in the public school system, she enrolled in graduate school at the University of Arkansas–Fayetteville and completed her M.A. in English. Following a year of teaching at Murray State University, she returned to the University of Arkansas and completed her Ph.D. in Comparative World Literature.

Dr. Davis joined the faculty of the University of Arkansas in the Crop, Soil, and Environmental Sciences Department in 1979. She loved teaching courses in Scientific Writing, Scientific Presentations, Agronomy Orientation, and Senior Colloquium. She was active in ASA’s Education and Extension Section and served for 9 years as an Associate Editor for Natural Sciences Education. In addition to making presentations at the Annual Meeting, she authored refereed journal papers and authored two editions of her book entitled, Scientific Papers and Presentations. She assisted a countless number of graduate students by editing their theses and dissertations, reviewing posters, and critiquing oral presentations.

As one of her students remarked, “She always made us better than we thought we could be.” Davis also helped her faculty colleagues by reviewing and editing numerous manuscripts and grant proposals. She retired in 2004.

Davis loved spending time outdoors, especially gardening, and she was also renowned for preparing wonderful meals for family and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Aaron Davis. Survivors include two daughters, Jody Davis and Marion Davis Dunagan, and one granddaughter, Sara Dunagan.