Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture
Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences
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Patrick Fenn, 1947-2007
Patrick Fenn, professor of plant pathology, of Lincoln, died Sunday, Jan. 28, at the University of Arkansas Medical Center in Little Rock. He was 59. Dr. Fenn was born July 19, 1947, at Syracuse, N.Y. He is survived by his wife, Mary, of the home; a son, David Fenn, of Farmington; and a daughter, Elizabeth Fenn, of Nevada. Dr. Fenn had a B.S. degree in biological science from Syracuse University and a Ph.D. degree in plant pathology from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. He began his professional career as a postdoctoral research fellow in the Department of Plant Pathology and Agricultural Entomology, University of Sydney, Australia (1975-1977). He was a research associate, USDA Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory and Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin (1978-1979). In 1979, he was appointed assistant professor in the UA Department of Plant Pathology and rose to the ranks of associate professor in 1984 and professor in 2006. During the early years of his career in Arkansas, Dr. Fenn conducted research in forest pathology, investigating the relationship between drought stress and fungal colonization (Hypoxylon spp.) in oak forest. In the mid-1980s, Dr. Fenn’s research focus shifted to fruit crop diseases and seed quality issues in soybean. His work on Phomopsis seed decay of soybeans, a major limiting factor in production of quality soybean seed and grains, made significant contributions in producing high quality soybean seed and grains. He and his graduate students discovered three independent dominant genes that conditioned resistance to this important disease in soybeans. Dr. Fenn’s contribution to the graduate teaching program in Plant Pathology has been in the areas of disease physiology and biochemistry, and in fungal biology. He was responsible for teaching the molecular and biochemical concepts of disease and concepts related to advances in gene-for-gene theory. Students have commented on Dr. Fenn’s openness, breadth of knowledge and willingness to consider different opinions. Dr. Fenn actively served the American Phytopathological Society (APS). He has been a member of the Standardization of Common Names Committee, the Post-harvest and Mycotoxicology Committee, and the Seed Pathology Committee. He served on the Forest Pathology Committee and was the chairman of this committee in 1985-86. His major contribution to the APS was as Feature Editor of the journal of Plant Disease for five years (1984-1988). From 1990-1991, he was a Senior Editor for APS Press where he dealt with publication decisions, policy matters, and edited three books for publication by APS Press. A memorial service was held Feb. 1 at Beard's Funeral Home. The family requests that memorials may be made to the American Heart Association or the Diabetes Foundation. |
