Dr. Harold (Hal) Willson was involved in Integrated Pest Management for field crops as State Entomologist for The Ohio State University since 1983. Dr. Willson died January 23 at St. Luke’s Hospital in Maumee from complications of a stroke at age 59.

Hal had an active research and extension program to benefit Ohio’s farmers in corn, soybean, wheat and alfalfa insect control techniques as well as stored grain pest management. Hal was a regular contributor to this newsletter where he shared updates on insect problems occurring across the state and best management practices to control those pest problems. He loved to get into the fields and get his hands dirty.

Dr. Willson was born in California and had degrees from University California in Riverside, University of California at Davis and Humboldt State University. His interest in international work began by serving in the Peace Corps in India during the 1960’s. He met his wife Sally during his Peace Corps service. They had two children. His international work extended into his career at OSU and took him to places as diverse as South Africa, Switzerland, Columbia, Germany, Eritrea, Uganda and the Ukraine.

Prior to coming to OSU he was at Cornell University in Ithaca and the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station.

Hal got a great deal of pleasure working with farmers whether they were from Ohio or Uganda. He had a great love of international work and thus a memorial has been established to send his collection of entomology journals to Kampala, Uganda. Contribution can be made “H.R. Willson-Uganda Fund” c/o Steinhaus Financial Group 7650 Rivers Edge Drive, Columbus, OH 43235.