James E. Welch

James Edward ''Ted'' Welch died June 17, 2000, at Sutter Davis Hospital after suffering numerous health problems. Born July 19, 1911, in San Rafael, he was 88.

He had been a part of the university and Davis community for more than 50 years. He was an emeritus professor in the department of vegetable crops, and retired from the university in 1979.

Most of his early years were spent in the San Mateo-Burlingame area, graduating from Burlingame High School and San Mateo Junior College. During this time, he spent summers working on the family peach ranch in Modesto. This led to his interest in agriculture. He then came to Davis, where he earned his bachelor's degree in 1934 and master's degree in 1935 in horticulture.

After graduation, he worked for the U.S. Soil Conservation Service in Santa Paula, where he met his future wife, Polly. Then in 1936, he accepted a research position at the University of Hawaii in the Horticulture Department.

He and Polly were married in Honolulu in 1937. Three years later they left for Cornell University, where he earned a Ph.D. in genetics. After finishing his graduate work, he accepted a position as assistant professor for the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Charleston, S.C.

In November of 1947, he and his family moved to Davis. He joined the department of vegetable crops for a teaching and research position in plant breeding, working closely with the California vegetable industry in developing improved varieties of lettuce, carrots and celery.

His research had significant economic impacts on the vegetable industry. His field research activities encompassed areas from the Tule Lake Basin in Northern California, to the Imperial Valley in the south. In 1965, the Pacific Seedmen's Association awarded him the Western Research Man of the Year, for scientific achievement.

He was a member of Phi Kappa Phi, Alpha Zeta and a lifetime member of Sigma Nu fraternity, serving as faculty adviser to the UCD chapter for 25 years.

Memberships in national scientific organizations include: American Institute of Biological Sciences, American Society of Horticulture Sciences, American Genetic Association and is a fellow of the American Association of Agricultural Sciences. He maintained an abiding devotion and concern for the future of agriculture in California.

Before the onset of poor health, he and his wife enjoyed traveling to many parts of the world. He was always concerned for the agricultural and cultural development of the areas visited. His hobby was yard work and he had a difficult adjustment when he could no longer tend to his garden for health reasons.

He was a gentle man who had an intense love and compassion for all animals and will be missed by everyone, especially by family pets.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Polly; two daughters, Nancy Welch of Idaho and Wendee Smith and her husband Doug of Davis; his son, Jim Welch and his wife Andrea of Fresno; and three grandchildren, Kent Welch, Rebecca Welch and Amanda Smith.

He was preceded in death by his parents, James and Edith Welch, and two brothers.

The family wishes to express sincere gratitude to the nursing staff at Sutter Davis Hospital. At his request, no services will be held. Family members will hold a private remembrance at a favorite family place in the Sierra. Memorial contributions may be directed to the charity of the donor's choice.

(Obituary from the "The Davis Enterprise," for the week of June 18, 2000, (Yolo County). Submitted with the permission of the "The Davis Enterprise," 315 G Street, Davis, CA 95616, <http://www.davisenterprise.com/>;. Please note: I am not related to the family listed above, and I do not have any further information on this family.)