Daniel J. Crawford

2011·1.8 MB·English

by  Donald H Les

Madrono, Vol. 58, No. 4, pp. 283 284, 2011
DEDICATION
DANIEL CRAWFORD
J.
TheCalifornia Botanical Societydedicatesthisvolume and morphology ofMexican Coreopsis. He quickly was
ofMadrono to Daniel J. Crawford,whoisrenowned not promoted to Associate Professor (1973) and served as
only for his studies of Coreopsis in California, western actingHeadofthe DepartmentofBotanyatWyomingin
North America, Mexico and elsewhere, but also is 1974 and 1976.
acclaimed highly as a pioneering molecular plant While at Laramie, Dan was secretary of Phytochem-
systematist and an influential botanical role model. ical Section ofthe Botanical Society ofAmerica (1975-
Dan was born in Columbus Junction, Iowa in 1942 1976) and a member ofthe education committee (1978).
and spent his early life on a farmwhere hewas intrigued He also began a systematic study of Chenopodium,
bytheinterestingassortmentofroadsideandagricultural publishing more than a half dozen papers from 1973-
weeds growing in the vicinity of his rural home. A 1977 on the cytology, flavonoid chemistry, morphology
devoted Hawkeye, he formalized his botanical training and seed protein profiles for several species. Occasion-
by pursuing three successive degrees at the University of ally, apaperwouldappearonagroup uncharacteristicof
Iowa. He received a B.A. degree in General Science in Dan's usual focus, such as his chemical and morpholog-
1964andinjusttwoyears,completedanimpressiveM.S. ical studies ofPopidus aeumiuatiis (1974) and Arceutho-
degree(1966) focusingonthe Umbelhferae ofIowa. Dan bium (1979). Such papers disclose Dan's keen scientific
continued his graduate studies under the supervision of curiosity, which surely accounts for much ofhis success.
Thomas E. Melchert and completed a Ph.D. degree in His seed protein research logically led to allozyme
botanywithinthreeyears(1969), a remarkablefeatgiven analyses, which quickly propelled him to the forefront
that his dissertation involved a complex analysis of of research in plant evolutionary systematics where he
Mexican Coreopsis, which incorporated cytological, rapidly gained recognition as a worldwide authority.
morphological and newly emerging 'chemosystematic'
Dan's first allozyme paper (on Chenopodium) appeared
approaches. in 1977, co-authored by his post-doc Hugh Wilson.
Dan began his career in the right place at the right By virtue of his novel and exceptionally perceptive
tGiimaen.naWshiilwehoatwaU.s sItouwday,inhgethoevefrllaavpopneodidwsiytshteDmaatviicds Eo.f winovrikt,atiDoann'tsorTaphiedlyOheisocalSattaitneg rUenpiuvteartsiitoyn raessualteVdisiintianng
the genus Dahlia and the two became lifelong friends,
eventually co-authoring a number ofimportant chemo- AasbssoecnicaetefrPormofWeyssoomrsihnipg,dfuorrinwghithceh1h9e77t-o1o9k78aalceaadveemiocf
systematicpapers. Their advisorT. E. Melchert, a recent
graduate of the University of Texas, had studied the year. However, in 1977, the botanist from Columbus
cytology and chemosystematics of the composite genus JunctionmovedtoColumbus, Ohio tojointhe faculty of
Thelesperma under the supervision of noted synanther- The Ohio State University permanently, where he
oEl.ogAilssttBoinlliweeLreeewTeulrln-ekrn.oTwunrnteorDaanndhbiysctohlelepalgeutehoRraalpohf pardovdaunccteidveto20fuylleaprrsofatesOsoSrUinbe1f9o8r0e. rDeatinrinsgpeinnt2a00n0.ultra-
chemosystematic studies they published in such presti-
gious journals as Nature, PNAS and Scienee. In 1966
Melchert arranged for Dan to meet with Alston and
Turner during a collecting trip to Mexico.
That meeting between the 24-year-old botanist from
Iowa and the two researchers at Austin must have been
remarkably inspiring. Motivated by his advisor who was
grappling with the precise delimitation ofvarious genera
within the Coreopsidineae, Dan found himself in the
midst of two legendary botanists whose cutting-edge
molecular research provided a tantalizing solution to
elusive systematic problems. Dan has pursued a molec-
ular approach to his systematic research ever since.
However, he never abandoned his Levis or casual
observations of country roadside flowers, but simply
added a lab coat and laboratory bench to his repertoire.
Incidentally, the lab coat remained a hallmark through-
outhiscareerandasastudent, I neversawhim inthelab
without it.
Dan's expertise immediately secured him a job as
assistant professor at the University of Wyoming,
Laramiein 1969. Itwastherethathisprolificpublication
record began with his first paper appearing in 1969 on a
new species ofCoreopsisfrom Mexico; shortly afterward
he published several additional papers from his disserta-
tion, which dealt with the cytology, flavonoid chemistry
MADRONO
284 [Vol. 58
At the Ohio State University, Danjoined forces with accompanying photo (provided byT. F. Stuessy) should
anotherB. L. TurnergraduateandemergingCompositae remind everyone that he is not simply a laboratory
researcher. Tod F. Stuessy. Dan and Tod went on to scientistbyanymeans,despitethehighlytechnicalnature
spearhead incredibly insightful research on the evolution ofhiswork.Ithinkthatthisphilosophyisonereasonwhy
of insular species by their collaborative work focusing hehasbeenabletogetalongwellwithpeopleworkingin
on the flora of the Juan Fernandez Islands. The two justaboutanyfieldofbiology. Healwayshasheldadeep
continue to collaborate and their joint research has respect for the work that others have contributed to his
yielded dozens of articles encompassing nearly a own studies and he always has valued the incorporation
thousand citations. This body of work has provided of diverse data sources in his own research. Such is
acute insight into the evolution ofnumerous genera on exemplified by his lengthy collaboration with G. J.
these islands. Dan's more recent work has involved the Anderson (University of Connecticut), who provided
Canary Islands, where he has focused on Tolpis theadditionaldimension ofbreedingsystem information
(Asteraceae) and the conservation ofthe flora. to Dan's work on theevolution ofisland plants.
Certainly one of the most amazing aspects of Dan's Dan's career has been studded with accolades, which
career has been his ability to keep pace with the newly include the presidencies of ASPT (1988) and Botanical
emerging technical developments in plant systematics. Society ofAmerica (1996). In 1997 hewas giventheAsa
He has established himself in every emerging field, Grayaward,whichrepresentsthemostprestigioushonor
transitioningsmoothlyfromflavonoidchemosystematics bestowed byASPT. Appropriately, he waspresented the
to allozyme analyses, and ultimately to various macro- Alston Award for best phytochemical paper at the 1983
molecular (DNA-based) approaches. As a result, Dan's Botanical Society meetings. He received the BSA merit
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many excellent review articles, which began in 1978 with Society as well as service on the Editorial Board of
^"Flavonoidchemistry andangiosperm evolution^ In 1985 Madrono from 1976-1981. After retiring from Ohio
hewroteareviewentitled Electrophoreticdataandplant State, Dan secured an adjunct faculty position at the
sopfecailaltoizoynm\ewdhaitcah apnrdesetnhteeird iantceormpprerteahteinons.ivTehseynatrhteiscilse University ofKansas. Hecontinuestobeextraordinarily
lhieterpaullbylihsahsebdeetnhecitbeodoka:huPnldarnetdMtoilmeesc.ulWairthiSynsftievmeatyiecasr:s porvoedruc2t0i0veraensdearccurhreanrttlicyleiss.crHedeiteadlswoitihs tiwnovoblovoedkswaintdh
Macromolecularapproaches, whichwas highlyinfluential "PlantingScience.org", which helps high school students
inAtlhatthostuigllhdheevehlaospicnogntfireilbd.uted a significant amount of beIcormeemfeammbielirarvwiviitdhlyscimeynce.arrival at The Ohio State
taxonomic literature, Dan's true interests lie in the University in 1980. When I first saw Dan miUing about
elucidation of plant speciation. Much of that interest in his lab coat he terrified me. His research was
derived from his studies in Coreopsis of closely related spectacular and the intensely cerebral level of his
species pairs such as C. basilistC. wrightii, C. giganteatC. graduate courses stunned me as well. In many ways
maritima, C. nuecensislC. nuecensoidesandvarietiesofC. I'msurethatIfeltmuchlikehedidin 1966,awestruckby
cyclocarpa. Dan has been a strong proponent of plant an encounter with one of the greatest personalities in
evolutionary study and has done much to encourage all of systematic botany. However, I soon learned that
others to pursue research in this area. In 2000, he wrote behind the serious facade of a seasoned researcher was
an article entitled: ""Plant MacromolecularSystematics in thesoul ofanabsolutelywonderfulperson, unrivaledfor
the Past 50 Years: One View"", which urged a more his compassion, thoughtfulness and inspiration. He also
thorough study of "evolutionary processes and specia- liked professional wrestling! Dan's scholarship provided
tion" using DNA data. a contagious air of "friendly academic competition"
Aside from Coreopsis and island plants, Dan has among his grad students. By his example, we all worked
studied a wide variety of other species in conjunction feverishly on our projects, each one of us wanting to
with a broad list ofcollaborators including many ofhis achieve the same level of success as scientists, and also
students and post-docs encompassing an amazing hopingto gain his seal ofapproval. Hewasthevery best
assortment of genera including Antennaria, Bidens, advisor anyone could hope for. Billie Turner (now 87)
Calamagrostis, Calliopsis, Coreocarpus, Coreopsis, recently conveyed to me these words: "Dan has always
Lenma, Mahrya, Monarda, Paeonia, Polygonella, beenoneofmyfavoriteacademicsand,whatelse,human
Sonchus, Tetramolopium, Trifolium, Trillium, Vittadinia being. A fine example for man kind." How can I say it
and Wolffiella as some examples. any better?
Dan has long been an advocate of collaborative
research, believing that molecular studies are most Donald H. Les
meaningful when coupled with more "traditional" Professor ofEcology & Evolutionary Biology
approaches,especiallyfieldwork. Hehascollectedseveral University ofConnecticut
thousand plant specimens during his career and the Storrs, CT