Ronald L. Phillips: pioneer, scholar, mentor, and gentleman.

Dr. Phillips’ early interest in agriculture was sparked by his parents’ work with a seed corn company in Indiana. He began his scientific career at Purdue University, completing a Bachelor of Science degree in 1961, and a Master of Science in 1963 under the supervision of Wayne F. Keim. He earned a Doctorate of Philosophy in 1966 from the University of Minnesota working on cytogenetics under the mentorship of Charles Burnham, one of the founding fathers of modern maize genetics and cytogenetics. He then studied Neurospora genetics in the laboratory of Adrian Srb at Cornell University as an NIH postdoctoral trainee. He returned to the University of Minnesota as a research associate in 1967, and joined the Faculty of the Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics as an Assistant Professor in 1968. He was promoted to Associate Professor in 1972, Full Professor in 1976, was named Regents Professor in 1993 following his election to the National Academy of Science in 1991, and was chosen as the McKnight Presidential Chair in Genomics in 1999. He received many awards during his career including selection as a Fellow in the American Society of Agronomy, the Crop Science Society of America, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. In addition, he was awarded the DeKalb Genetics Crop Science Society of America distinguished career award, an honorary Doctorate degree from Purdue University, the 2007 Wolf Prize in Agriculture, and the IAS Medal of Honour in Science from the University of Bologna in 2010. He served in various capacities for numerous national and international organizations, including service on the International Rice Research Institute Board of Trustees. Dr. Phillips is known for his scientific insight, honesty, integrity, and compassion. The respect that he has engendered is exemplified by the fact that many of the students, post-doctoral associates, and Maydica 54 (2009): 365-373