Robert Belcher, a former biology professor at Eastern Michigan University from 1956-80, died Jan. 8. He was 89.
Belcher was an authority on various plants of the Senecio family of plants, especially those native to Australia. He was the foremost published authority on this plant species, which is the most widespread on Earth. Belcher also was very instrumental in the conservation movement in Michigan and in the establishment of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Park.
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In the 1970s, Belcher and his wife, Ruby, spent several months in New Zealand and Australia, collecting Senecios , one of largest geera in the sunflower family, and other plants housed in the EMU herbarium, said Gary Hannan, an EMU biology professor.
"Early in his research career, he was very active in a budding conservation movement," recalled Howard Booth, an EMU professor of biology. "He was a key contributor of scientific data to Senator Hart when building a case for establishing Sleeping Bear Dunes as a National Park."
Booth, who was a student in Belcher's bacteriology class before later becoming a colleague, said Belcher gave him his first job, as a graduate assistant in the biology department.
"The first summer, he sent me up to Fish Lake to do an initial survey and build some hiking trails on a 240-acre piece of property he had purchased from EMU," Booth said. "This was the next step in his vision of developing a bological field station. He not only had negotiated a very good price for the land, but put a substantial piece of his own money into making this deal happen. Several years later, thanks to a large grant from the Kresge Foundation, of which Bob was a major author, we have a dormitory, dining/teaching building and a director's house."
"While I knew Bob as an exceptional colleague with a warm smile and quick
wit, he was also an avid and enthusiastic researcher," said Glenn Walker, another EMU professor of biology. "And this was 'back in the day' (mid-1970's) when research was less valued in our department."
Survivors include one son, Harold Belcher, of Ypsilanti; one daughter, Anna M. Prentice of Cayuga, Texas; and two grandchildren.
Contributions in his memory may be made to the First Baptist Church of Ypsilanti, 110 W. Cross St., Ypsilanti 48197.
Vernon H. Jones, an administrator in the College of Education at EMU from 1968-78, died Jan. 12. He was 92.
From 1968 until his retirement, Jones was director of pre-student teaching and admissions in EMU's College of Education. During his EMU tenure, Jones was awarded an Honorary Alumnus Award and a Distinguished Service citation.
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Jones was a World War II veteran and served in the 2nd Armored Division in Europe and Africa. He served with Gen. Patton at the Battle of the Bulge.
Jones received his master's degree in educational administration from the University of Iowa and his bachelor's degree in education from State University of New York in Fredonia.
Before coming to EMU, Jones was appointed principal of Lincoln Elementary School in 1957. He served as the superintendent of Lincoln Schools in Ypsilanti from 1961-1968, when EMU dissolved its contractual arrangement with the district.
During an interview near the time of his retirement, Jones said, "When I first came to Eastern, we had to provide for the full certification of teachers in Michigan. At that time, a lot of teachers only had provisional certificates. The tremendous population increase in students during the 1960s and providing for the additional education of our graduates were some of the problems we faced."
Jones was a member of Phi Delta Kappa at the University of Iowa, the Michigan Education Association, the Masonic Lodge and Stoney Creek United Methodist Church in Ypsilanti. He was a former Boy Scout scoutmaster and was an avid camper and outdoor enthusiast.
Survivors include his wife, Violet Cornell, of Portland, N.Y.; two sons, Brian V. Jones, of Lawrence, Kansas, and Stephen A. Jones, of Detroit; two daughters, Judy K. Taylor, of Ypsilanti, and Cindy Johnson, of Lawrence, Kansas; and five grandchildren.
Memorials in his name may be made to Eastern Michigan University's College of Education and may be sent to Warren-McElwain Mortuary, 120 W. 13th St., Lawrence, Kansas 66044. Condolences may be sent to www.warrenmcelwain.com under the subject line "Jones."
