In the 1940s, Donald N. Maynard ’54 (CANR), a “poor country kid” from Portland, Conn., could not have imagined that he’d go on to become an internationally recognized author and expert on horticulture.
“I didn’t have a clue about what I wanted to do, but I was always active in the local 4-H fairs, which were a great place to socialize with other kids and talk about all kinds of things related to agriculture,” he recalls.
Fast-forward to the present, where Maynard’s spirit of sharing knowledge about his chosen field lives on through the Donald N. Maynard Endowed Lecture in Plant Science. Maynard, now a professor emeritus of horticultural science at the University of Florida, has also endowed an undergraduate scholarship for students in UConn’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, and is a member of the Charles Lewis Beach Society, which recognizes those who provide for UConn through their wills and other planned gifts.
“The lecture series is a way to expose faculty and staff to other points of view,” he says. “It’s also a chance to give UConn exposure to national leaders in plant science and horticulture.”
The author of the world’s most widely used vegetable production book, Knott’s Handbook for Vegetable Growers, Maynard is also the president of Florida’s Sun Coast Chapter of the UConn Alumni Association, the 2000 recipient of a Distinguished Alumni Award and, along with his wife, Gail, a University of Kentucky alumna, an avid UConn athletics fan. Although he was not active with UConn earlier in his life, he since found a desire to give back to his alma mater.
“I was too busy building my career to become involved in many things related to UConn, but as I approached retirement, I realized how much I owed the University,” he says. “When I was a student at UConn, I received a scholarship myself and it was very helpful, so this is my time to give something back.”
Maynard recently met the first two recipients of his scholarship and has great hope for the future of agriculture, despite major challenges ahead.
“I hope my scholarship’s recipients stay in plant science as a career. It’s a great time to be a horticulturist. The field is changing, production has gotten bigger and more corporate, but there’s still a good future for the field,” he says. “Look at the recent concerns about food safety. I think agriculture is where the good stuff is. There’s always going to be a need for healthy fruits and vegetables.”
To support the Maynard Lecture Series or Scholarship, please contact Amy Chesmer, director of development, at 860.486.1763.
