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IN MEMORIAM: DAVID DUGANDavid R. Dugan, nurseryman, Extension Specialist and industry leader, passed away on February 28, 2010 at age 93. He was one of the founders of the IPPS in 1951 and remained a member until his death. He served as President of the Eastern Region of IPPS in 1968-69 and was named a Fellow in 1990. He received the prestigious IPPS Eastern Region Award of Merit in 1991. A nursery icon, Dave remained a leader in his trade and in his community throughout his life, helping many to get their start.Brian Gilson, who grew up with Dave’s sons, remembers that "Dave always lived by the ‘to seek and to share’ IPPS motto. He was always ready to help with whatever advice he could give and also help with his time for the good of the industry. His dedication to his profession was great and so too is our loss." While earning his BS degree at The Ohio State University, Dave worked for the USDA Soil Conservation Service and served as a page in the Ohio Senate. Later, he earned a Bronze Star in WWII serving with the Navy Seabees in China. Dave worked as a Lake County Deputy Nursery Inspector and a Cornell University Extension Specialist before joining the family business, Dugan Nurseries, Inc., as president, in 1956. The wholesale nursery, consisting of more than 200 acres in Lake County, Ohio, was founded by his father and uncle in 1919, and continued in operation until 1992. Specialties were trees, shrubs and other woody ornamentals. In addition to his service to IPPS, Dave served as president of Lake County Nurserymen’s Association, Ohio Nurserymen’s Association, Lake County Farm Bureau, and as chairman of the Lake County Soil Conservation District and the OSU Horticultural Council. Dave was a member of the Alpha Gamma Rho agriculture fraternity and received honors from Pi Alpha Xi (national floriculture honor society) and Gamma Sigma Delta (agriculture honor society). Dave was recognized with the OSU College of Agriculture Centennial Alumni Award, and the title ‘Mr. ONA’ for his years of service and dedication to the state nursery association. In retirement, Dave was active in the Judson Park Retirement Community, Cleveland, Ohio, where he served as a trustee, developed a plant solarium, designed and provided plantings for the grounds, chaired the Resident Life Committee and initiated horticultural therapy group efforts. Dave is survived by his wife, Irma and three children, as well as many grandchildren and great grandchildren.
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