Professor Kentaro Inoue advanced plant biology and biochemistry, earning acclaim as both a pioneering scientist and an award-winning mentor devoted to his students.
Ray Valentine pioneered agricultural biotechnology, discovering ferredoxin, mapping nitrogen-fixation genes, and co-founding Calgene, creator of the first GMO food, the FLAVR SAVR tomato.
Herman Timm was a UC Davis vegetable crops specialist who advanced potato physiology and nutrition research. A Navy veteran and mentor, he served the campus and community for over three decades.
Professor Ken Tate was a UC Davis rangeland watershed expert whose 30-year career combined science, mentorship, and policy impact, advancing sustainable ranching across California and the nation.
Paul G. Smith was a UC Davis plant pathologist and pioneer in pepper genetics whose foundational work in breeding for disease resistance still shapes global tomato, spinach, and pepper crops today.
J. Neil Rutger advanced global rice genetics through semidwarf breeding, low-phytic-acid lines, and mentorship. His leadership shaped cultivars, research centers, and supported California's rice growers.
Roger J. Romani was a pomology professor whose research focused on plant cell physiology and commitment to teaching, program development, and community preservation.
D. William Rains was a professor whose research in plant physiology, nutrition, and stress tolerance advanced crop science, while his teaching and leadership shaped generations of students.
Agronomist Charles Raguse advanced rangeland and pasture management, mentored future leaders, and chronicled the history of California’s Sierra Foothill Research and Extension Center.
