Background
Radford was born in Augusta, Georgia to Albert and Eloise Moseley Radford, one of nine children.
Radford was born in Augusta, Georgia to Albert and Eloise Moseley Radford, one of nine children.
He was educated at Junior College of Augusta, Furman University (Bachelor of Science, 1939) and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (Doctor of Philosophy, 1948).
He was best known for his work as senior author of Manual of the Vascular Flora of the Carolinas, the definitive flora for North Carolina and South Carolina. Albert was Professor of Botany at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for forty years and director of the University of North Carolina Herbarium for 23 years. Professionally, he served as President of the Elisha Mitchell Scientific Society and of the Southern Appalachian Botanical Club.
Besides his academic work in botany, he was active in conservation of natural areas in the Southeastern United States.
Among his students was ethnobotanist James A. Duke.
He served in the 51st Engineer Combat Battalion of the United States Army during World World War II and saw action in North Africa and Europe, including the Battle of the Bulge, for which his battalion was awarded the Croix de Guerre. One of his most significant accomplishments was the discovery of an unusual plant community which has since become protected as Steven"s Creek Heritage Preserve.
