Roland Lee Guthrie, 1928-2013 Roland L. Guthrie, award-winning teacher and manager of the Arboretum for 34 years, passed away on December 11, 2013. Survived by Madge, his wife of 59 years, and their three sons, he is also fondly remembered by many others whose lives he touched. Two separate tours of duty with the U.S. Army, in occupied Japan and cold war Germany, interrupted Roland’s education. He earned BS and MS degrees from WVU in 1953, then spent several years at the Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest (Clermont, KY) before returning to WVU in 1959 to teach, earn his PhD, and run the Core Arboretum. He joined Earl L. Core’s strong plant biology team that included Herald Bennett, Roy Clarkson, Charles Baer, Jesse Clovis, and Betty Bartholomew. While his title changed from Assistant to Director to Curator, Roland managed the Arboretum through periods of controversy, growth, and development from 1959 until his 1993 retirement. “Dr. Guthrie” also gained renown as a superb teacher highly regarded by colleagues and students alike. Roland knew his material well and taught with a professorial voice that could fill a large hall, seemingly without effort. Not one to pander, he became popular with students by virtue of his good humor, by treating students with respect, and by making clear that he liked them and expected them to succeed. Roland’s achievements outside of teaching included a research paper still highly regarded today, and a key role in founding the West Virginia chapter of The Nature Conservancy (TNC). In particular, Roland helped acquire Cranesville Swamp, a biologically important site and TNC’s first preserve in the state. Formal recognition of Roland’s distinguished teaching and service came in the form of many awards from WVU and honorary societies. A celebration of the Arboretum’s 50th anniversary in 1998 included renaming the Arboretum’s former “Circular Trail” as the “Guthrie Loop” in Roland’s honor. He was voted into the West Virginia Agriculture and Forestry Hall of Fame in 1999.
Posted on: Wed, 12 Mar 2014 18:33:06 +0000
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