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MEMORIAM IN RUTH SCHOTT REMEMBERING O’BRIEN 1921-2012 L Lehman Roy Department of Sciences Life A&M University-Corpus Christi Texas 6300 Ocean Unit 5802 Dr., Corpus Texas 78412-5802, U.S.A. Christi, campus on of Herbarium the Ruth O’Brien located Ruth O’Brien, native plant specialist and curator of the bom Texas A&M passed away on December 26, 2012. Ruth was October 13, 1921, University-Corpus Christi, 1943 from the University of in Sioux She her Bachelor of Science degree in Bacteriology in City, Iowa. received 1949 where she became interested in the native Minnesota. Her family relocated to Corpus Christi, Texas in and taxonomy that led her to complete a Master’s flora of Texas. was deep-rooted interest in native plants this It A TAMU-CC) gradu- (now in 1980. year after of Science degree in Biology from Corpus Christi State University and became curator in 1983. ating, she founded the university herbarium its bmsh community because they were so adaptive to the area’s She was mesquite of plants interested in the was pay back her debt to many and her mission to environments. Ruth had a thirst for knowledge, said that life Native Plant the herbarium. Recently, society through teaching and devoting her time and expertise to “her” Donovan Tammy Stewart Correll Lehman and White with the Roy Society of Texas presented Ruth, Dr. L. book Texas Texas their Plants of the Memorial Award of native flora of for writing in the field for scientific two endangered and wrote recovery plans for local Webb County Coastal Bend. She was also co-author of Plants of Bot i. Res. Inst Teas 7(1):6n -612.2013 612 plant species for the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Most of her s spent at the herbarium identifying ti - - - - plants, answering questions dergraduate students in plant projects. She was a member of numerous societies and volunteered many years of service. Most notably were the Museum Botanical Research Institute of Texas, Native Plant Society of Texas, Corpus Christi of Natural His- tory, Corpus Christi Botanical Gardens, Daughters of the American Revolution and American Association of Women. University Through the years, Ruth and her husband, Joe, donated funds to improve the herbarium and, in 2008, started the Joseph A. and Ruth O’Brien Endowed Herbarium Internship. The couple also S. TAMU-CC served on the University President’s Council for 18 years and was inducted into the Endowed Scholarship Council in October 2009. Museum Ruth completed 50 years of volunteer service for the Corpus Christi of Natural History. In rec- museum named ognition, the a wing after her which houses an extensive botanical and shell collection. Dur- museum ing her residence at the she donated her time as a docent, auxiliary board member and honor- officer, Museum’s ary curator of the herbarium. In addition, she volunteered for over 30 years the herbarium on the at scientist. Just late last year, I stopped by the university herbarium and there Ruth was, at the age of 91 working , with graduate students on plant She was amazing! identifications. consider myself fortunate to have worked alongside Ruth for these past 22 years. She was a talented tax- I onomist that was able to explain to students the difficult details that are necessary to be successful in plant identifications. She had an eager intellect, a kind heart, and a wonderful sense of humor. She and her students, colleagues friends. much is with affection, admiration and honor that write these few words Ruth. It I for