AHS - Press Releases October 10, 2008

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American Horticultural Society Press Releases

American Horticultural Society
at George Washington’s River Farm
7931 East Boulevard Drive
Alexandria, VA 22308-1300
Tel: 703-768-5700
Fax: 703-768-8700
Website: http://www.ahs.org

America Mourns Loss of Horticultural Legend Dr. Marc Cathey

Alexandria, VA - October 10, 2008

An internationally renowned horticulturist whose career spanned more than half a century, Dr. Henry Marcellus Cathey died October 8 following a long struggle with Parkinson’s disease. He was 79 years old. Dr. Cathey served two terms as president of the American Horticultural Society (AHS) and was a longtime member of the organization’s Board of Directors. He began his career as a researcher for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), then served as the director of the U.S. National Arboretum for a decade. He was an author and speaker, a frequent guest on national television shows, and hosted a radio show for many years. In his career-long quest to help home gardeners, he played a leading role in development of two important maps widely used as guides to plant selection. He received numerous awards and honors from a broad spectrum of U.S. and international horticultural and floricultural groups.

“Dr. Cathey was a leading figure in the American horticulture industry for most of his career,” says AHS President Emeritus Katy Moss Warner. “He was brilliant in every sense of the word, incredibly smart, a bright shining light, and a man of remarkable professional and personal accomplishments. His passionate belief that plants and gardens are critical to human well-being is reflected in his signature line, ‘Green is the color of hope.’ He will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and colleagues.”

Dr. Cathey combined scientific brilliance with a colorful personality and a zest for life. His ground-breaking research on how to use artificial lighting to control bloom time for plants is still benefiting commercial horticulturists and gardeners. He was generous in sharing his knowledge and passion for horticulture and became a mentor for hundreds of people, many of whom have gone on to become leaders in horticulture and floriculture today. Among his peers and friends he was well known for his sartorial splendor, love of movies and music, and fondness for the color purple. A devoted family man, he had a soft spot for children, especially his four granddaughters, who called him Beau-Beau.

Dr. Cathey’s involvement with the American Horticultural Society began in 1959. He sat on the AHS Board for 18 years and was also president of the organization twice, from 1974 to 1978, and 1993 to 1997. After his second term, he stayed on as AHS president emeritus until 2005. The many contributions to American horticulture Dr. Cathey made while with the AHS included serving as editor-in-chief of the second edition of The American Horticultural Society A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, published in 2004. He also conceived and developed the AHS Plant Heat Zone Map, published in 1997, which helps gardeners select plants based on their heat tolerance. Always ahead of his time, he anticipated the current “green” trend by introducing the SmartGarden program, which focuses on earth-friendly gardening, in 2000.

Dr. Cathey received his bachelor’s degree in floriculture from North Carolina State University in 1950, then went on to earn his master’s and doctorate in horticulture from Cornell University. In 1956 Dr. Cathey became a research horticulturist at the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service in Beltsville, Maryland, where he worked for 24 years. During his term as director of the U.S. National Arboretum, starting in 1981, his notable accomplishments included the installation of the National Capital Columns in 1990, and the publication of the current version of the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, released in 1990.

Dr. Cathey is survived by his wife, Mary, two children, and four grandchildren. Memorial services are being arranged for Dr. Cathey in both North Carolina and Washington, D.C. At the request of his family, memorials in Dr. Cathey’s honor may be sent to the American Horticultural Society, the Davidson College Presbyterian Church, or the Residence Assistance Fund at the Pines of Davidson.

Editors: Photographs, interviews, and a complete biography are available. Please contact Viveka Neveln at (703) 768-5700, ext. 120 or vneveln@ahs.org.

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The American Horticultural Society (AHS), founded in 1922, is an educational, non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization that recognizes and promotes excellence in American horticulture. One of the oldest and most prestigious gardening organizations, AHS is dedicated to making America a nation of gardeners, a land of gardens. Its mission is to open the eyes of all Americans to the vital connection between people and plants, to inspire all Americans to become responsible caretakers of the Earth, to celebrate America's diversity through the art and science of horticulture; and to lead this effort by sharing the Society's unique national resources with all Americans.

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