Dr. Conrad Link died 12 Sept. 2008 at the age of 96. An honorary member of MNLA, he joined the faculty of the University of Maryland in 1948. Born in Fredonia, NY, he obtained his BS, MS, and PhD degrees at Ohio State University. He taught one year at Pennsylvania State University before accepting a position at the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens. In 1948 he accepted a position at the University of Maryland where he remained until his retirement in 1982.
During his tenure at the University of Maryland, he taught plant propagation, greenhouse crop production, and nursery plant production. He served as advisor to more than 2000 undergraduate students, and was major advisor to 41 students obtaining MS degrees and 15 doctoral students.
His research included breeding of poinsettia and kalanchoe, nutrition of greenhouse cut roses and carnations, and atmospheric enrichment of carbon dioxide in greenhouses in cut roses and carnation production.
Dr. Link is the one who initiated the Maryland Nurseryman's Day held at the University of Maryland in College Park. He organized and conducted these day-long training programs from 1955 until 1982. Until the Center of Education was built, the programs were held in Holzapfel Hall and at the Student Union. The programs brought in outside speakers and also allowed University of Maryland researchers to present their research findings.
The American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS) just recognized Dr. Link as having celebrated 75 years of membership. Dr. Link was honored as a Fellow in 1971 for his dedicated service to the horticulture industry and to ASHS. Shortly after his retirement from the University of Maryland he became the first archivist/historian of the Society. This was no simple task because he organized 85 years of documents that the Society had accumulated.
For those of us who worked with Dr. Link, we had a tremendous respect for this man. He was never one to jump to conclusions; he was always a gentleman, a scholar, and always had an open-door policy. He always wore a shirt and tie when classes were in session.
I was honored by his family when they asked me to represent the University of Maryland at his memorial service. Dr. Link leaves behind a wonderful wife of 59 years, Katheleen Barber Link; daughters Helen and Leora; and son, the Rev. Conrad O. Link. There are also nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Frank GouinProfessor Emeritus AGNR–Plant Science & Landscape Architecture University of Maryland, College Park
