William Clark Ashby
In Botany at SIUC from 1960 to 1992
William Clark Ashby was born on July 6, 1922 in Duluth Minnesota.
He attended George Washington University in Washington D.C.
from
1940-1942 and subsequently received an A.A. degree in Pre-government.
Apparently finding governmental work not to his liking, he
changed fields and returned to the Midwest where he attended
the University of Chicago from 1945 to 1947 when he received a
B.S. in Botany. More traveling took him to the west coast
where
he was a laboratory instructor in Genetics at the University of California
Berkeley in 1949. Back to the Midwest, he earned a Ph.D. in
Botany in 1950 from the University of Chicago. From 1950 to 1953 he
worked as a Plant Physiologist with the USDA Forest Service, California
Forest and Range Experimental Station. During this time he
was
also a Research Fellow with the California Institute of
Technology. In 1954 and 1955 his work took him to Sydney
University, Australia as a Fulbright Research Scholar. From
1955
to 1960 he served as an Assistant Professor at the University
of
Chicago and for one year as an Instructor at the Chicago
Teacher's
College. Dr. Ashby was then recruited by Southern Illinois
University and he joined the faculty in 1960 as an Associate
Professor in the Botany Department. He was promoted to the
rank
of Professor in 1969. His association with the Argonne
National
Laboratories continued as he was a Resident Research
Associate in
1966 as well as 1970-71. After 32 years of service to SIUC,
Dr.
Ashby retired August 31, 1992. Although now retired and
emeritus,
he has remained extremely active in both research and teaching.
For the latter, he and his wife Rhoda traveled to Japan and
he
their taught biology at SIUC-Niigata in Nakajo in 1992 and 1994.
Dr. Ashby was awarded the College of Science Outstanding
Researcher Award in 1991, acknowledging his distinguished career as a
researcher and educator. He has published over 120 scientific
papers and several books, including "Tree Planting on mine lands in the
Midwest: A handbook" (Ashby and Vogel, 1993, Coal Research
Center, SIUC). His CV listing all professional
accomplishments
can be obtained by clicking HERE.
As stated in Saluki Science (Spring 1992), "Dr. Ashby is an authority
on tree growth, biomass production, effects of acid rain, and
especially reclamation and revitalization of disturbed lands."
His research has focused mostly upon reclamation of strip
mined
sites in Illinois and Indiana. Even after retiring, Dr. Ashby
has
worked with groups planting over 100,000 trees in strip mined
landscapes near Harrisburg, DeSoto and Pinckneyville. Aside
from
research interests, he remains active in the First Presbyterian Church
of Carbondale, is a member of a local sailing association, and enjoys
traveling within and outside the U.S.
Newspaper articles about
Dr. Ashby:
- Science fraternity sought for Southern. Daily Egyptian.
10-Jun-65.
- Botany talk scheduled in Lawson today. Daily Egyptian.
26-Oct-66.
- Unusually cool, moist spring brings unexpected growth to
area's foliage. Daily Egyptian. 19-Jul-67. John Belpedio.
- Botany instructor co-authors article for forestry journal.
Daily Egyptian. 12-Mar-68.
- Autumn colors appeal to everyone. Daily Egyptian?.
12-Nov-68. Gary Blackburn.
- Ashby to represent SIU at meeting. Daily Egyptian.
24-Apr-69.
- Trustees approve promotions. Daily Egyptian. 17-May-69.
- Prof. Ashby will take part in Argonne study program. Daily
Egyptian. ca. 1970.
- Watch your step while tip-toeing through the ivy. Daily
Egyptian. 8-Jul-70. Lauri Lowitz.
- Tree rings may solve Indiana rain mystery. Daily Egyptian.
1-Oct-78.
- Expert to discuss mine reclamation. Daily Egyptian.
8-Nov-78. Diana Penner.
- Botany professor seeks new ways to control erosion in strip
mines. Daily Egyptian 26-Oct-79.
- Wins national award. Daily Republican (Marion IL).
15-Jul-91.
- Wins national award. Daily American (West Frankford, IL).
16-Jul-91.
- Ashby knows trees, named top researcher by colleagues.
Daily Egyptian. 24-Sep-91. Teri Lynn Carlock.
- Logging editorial critique. Daily Egyptian. 26-Nov-91.
- Ecological arguments against logging phone. Daily Egyptian.
26-Nov-91.
- The retirees: William Clark Ashby. Southern Windows.
6-Mar-02. Khalid Hannah.
- Outstanding researcher: botanist W. Clark Ashby. Saluki
Science
(Newsletter of the College of Science SIU Alumni Associatio). Spring
1992.
Photo 1960 |
Photo 1965 |
Photo 1968 |
Photo 1990 |
After retirement, still at his desk! |
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