George Lawrence Good died unexpectedly the morning of 24 Dec. 2007. Born 14 Dec. 1940, in Cincinnati OH, he studied horticulture at The Ohio State University. Encouraged by one of his professors, Dr. Robert O. Miller, he entered graduate studies with Dr. Harold B. Tukey, Jr., at Cornell University where he, in 1968, joined the faculty of Floriculture and Ornamental Horticulture.
In collaboration with colleagues and students, George pioneered in studies of woody plant root-zone hardiness, over-wintering of container nursery stock, and weed and fertilizer management practices for woody plant production and landscape care. His outreach was extensive, including vanguard training of pesticide applicators in ornamental horticulture, and he was enormously valued by nursery and landscape industry members and Cooperative Extension field staff. His courses in nursery management and landscape management were well subscribed, and he served as faculty advisor to the undergraduate Hortus Forum club. He chaired the Department of Floriculture and Ornamental Horticulture from 1988 to 1997 and directed the Cornell Pesticide Management Education Program from 1998 to 2005.
Among many recognitions he was named an Outstanding Alumnus of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at Ohio State in 2001; he was recognized in 1980 as Outstanding Professor by Ho-Nun-De-Kah, a student honorary society in Cornell's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences; Cornell horticulture students planted one of his favorite trees, a red maple, on campus in his honor; and the New York State and national nursery, landscape, arboriculture, and turfgrass associations recognized him on at least 12 different occasions, including the Nursery Extension Award of the American Association of Nurserymen in collaboration with the American Society for Horticultural Science. He retired and was appointed Professor Emeritus in 2006, but continued some research and extension activities.
George was universally liked and respected, and will especially be remembered for his knowledge, compassion, integrity, humility, enthusiasm, and humor.
