CORVALLIS - H. Ronald Cameron of Portland is one of 41 men and women honored as Diamond Pioneers Tuesday, Oct. 14, by the Oregon State University College of Agricultural Sciences.

Cameron was cited for his research and teaching in the OSU Department of Botany and Plant Pathology. He joined the department in 1955, retiring in 1987. He and his wife now live in northwest Portland, where they operate two retail chocolate stores.

As an OSU plant pathologist, Cameron played a key role in the early research on the causes and control of eastern filbert blight in the state's hazelnut orchards. He also managed the indexing and clearing of imported grape stocks for many years.

Cameron was an active member of the American Phytopathological Society and Sigma Xi, science honorary. He is also a past president of the OSU faculty senate.

He and the others added to the College's Diamond Pioneer Registry were guests at a luncheon hosted by Dean Thayne Dutson in the CH2M HILL Alumni Center in Corvallis. Guest speaker was John V. Byrne, OSU president emeritus and a fellow member of the 2003 Diamond Pioneers.

This year is the 20th anniversary of the Diamond Pioneer Registry, which honors those 75 and older for their contributions to agriculture, OSU and their communities. The award, begun when the college observed its 75th anniversary, has been given to 746 persons, including this year's group.

Others honored are Virginia Tubbs, Adams; Fred Warner, Baker City; Kenneth Beebe, Central Point; Don B. Anderson, Cornelius; Alfred Haunold, John V. Byrne, Charles Leach, William McGuire, H. Joe Myers, Burdette Peterson, Roger Peterson and Dale Weber, Corvallis.v Peter Jensen, Halsey; Vincent D. Dobbin and Glen Grossen, Hillsboro; Ralph Hart, Island City; Arlene Oliver, John Day; Andrew Greeley, Jordan Valley; Harold Youngberg, Keizer; James Elings and James Kerns, Klamath Falls; John Shipley and Donald Thompson, Moro; Keith Gressley, Isao Kameshige and William Panike, Ontario.v Robert Ramig and Virgil Rupp, Pendleton; David Lowry, Phoenix; Len Forster and Floyd Smith, Shedd; Don Grabe, Sisters; John R. Thienes and Eldon Wagenblast, The Dalles; Carl Froude and Beverly Froude, Tigard; Carl and Irene Bosch, Tillamook; John Bishop, Vale; and Everett Metzentine, Wamic.

Source: 

Loretta Austin, 541-737-5813

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