Background
Chapman, Homer Dwight was born on October 4, 1898 in Darlington, Wisconsin, United States. Son of Faithful William and Nettie (Merriam) Chapman.
Chapman, Homer Dwight was born on October 4, 1898 in Darlington, Wisconsin, United States. Son of Faithful William and Nettie (Merriam) Chapman.
In 1917, Chapman graduated from Darlington High School and worked for a year doing odd jobs before attending college. He received his Bachelor of Surgery (1923), Master of Surgery (1925), and Doctor of Philosophy (1927) degrees from the University of Wisconsin.
Chapman was also former director of the University of California Citrus Experiment Station and a founding faculty member at the University of California, Riverside. He was the youngest of six children, spending much of his time as a young boy along the Pecatonica River. At age 9, the family moved to a 28-acre farm in the outskirts of Darlington where they produced several goods for sale to the town.
Chapman enrolled at the University of Wisconsin in September 1918 and was drafted into the United States Army shortly thereafter, serving in World War I until he was honorably discharged in December 1918.
Professional In 1927, Chapman joined the faculty of the University of California Citrus Experiment Station at the invitation of Doctor Walter P. Kelly and accepted the position of Assistant Chemist. He was appointed as Associate Chemist in 1938 and went on to become full Chemist and Professor in 1944.
Chapman also chaired the Department of Soils and Plant Nutrition from 1938-1961 and directed the University of California Citrus Experiment Station from 1950-1951. He was instrumental in organizing the first International Citrus Symposium that was held in 1968.
This symposium led to the formation of the International Society of Citriculture where Chapman served as Secretary from 1970-1986.
In 1981, he was recognized for his service to the organization by being awarded the Society"s first Honorary Membership. Homer Dwight Chapman died on April 4, 2005 at the age of 106. In his honor, the University of California, Riverside named the building that Chapman had worked in for many years while employed by the university, Chapman Hall.
Fellow American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Society Agronomy. Member International Society Soil Science, American Chemical Society, Soil Science Society of America, American Society Horticultural Science, Western Society Soil Science (president 1938-1939), Sigma Xi, Phi Lambda Upsilon, Gamma Alpha, Phi Sigma, Alpha Gamma Rho, Kiwanis (president 1955), Present Day, Riverside, California (president 1951-1952).
Married Daisy E. Ernst, March 10, 1925.