James Benton Storey, an ASHS Fellow and past president of ASHS, died Apr. 4 at the age of 81 after a lengthy illness. Born in 1928 in Avery, TX, he married Marie Cox in 1948. He went to Texas A&M University, where he received his bachelor of science and master's degrees in 1949 and 1953, respectively, in horticulture. He went on to study at the University of California in Los Angeles, where he received his PhD in botanical science/plant physiology in 1957. He was an ASHS Certified Professional Horticulturist.
Also in 1957, Dr. Storey joined the faculty of the Department of Horticultural Science at Texas A&M University, working with other researchers to release several cultivars of peach, plum, blackberry, and pecan. In 1965, he began a long career in pecan research and plant nutrition in Texas and Mexico, receiving numerous awards from state and national pecan organizations. In the 1970s, Storey worked with his graduate students to solve a zinc nutrition problem for pecan producers in western Texas and Mexico, greatly expanding the region for profitable production of pecan. During his many years at Texas A&M, he worked with nearly 40 PhD students as well as with many master's degree and undergraduate students. In the late 1980s and into the 1990s, Dr. Storey began investigating the human health benefits of pecans and worked with other food scientists and medical researchers toward using pecans as an important source of antioxidants and monounsaturated fatty acids for human nutrition.
A long-time member of ASHS, Storey was named a Fellow in 1978. He served as ASHS President in 1993-94, and Chair of the Board of Directors, 1994–95. In 1992, he was named Outstanding Graduate Educator by the Society, and in 1981 received the L.M. Ware Award for Distinguished Teaching. He also received several awards for membership recruitment.
Storey is survived by his wife, Marie, of College Station; son and daughter-in-law, Mark and Lyn Storey, of Avery, TX; daughter and son-in-law, Lisa and Mark Olivieri, of College Station, TX; and six grandchildren.
Donations in Dr. Storey's name may be made to the A&M United Methodist Church Building Fund (417 University Dr., College Station, TX 77840); or to the J. Benton Storey Endowed Scholarship in Horticulture (Texas A&M Foundation, 401 George Bush Dr., College Station, TX 77840-2811; include a note that the gift is in memory of Dr. J. Benton Storey).
