James Blair Kendrick

Background

James Blair Kendrick Jr. was born on October 21, 1920, in Lafayette, Tennessee, into a family closely associated with the University of California and plant pathology. His father, James Blair Kendrick Sr., was a prominent plant pathologist at the Davis campus, and his brother Edgar also became a plant pathologist. Kendrick initially considered medicine but, influenced by his father's scientific example and his own interest in botany, chose plant pathology as his profession. He was married to Evelyn Kendrick and maintained close family ties with his mother Violet, his brother Ed, and his sister Elizabeth.

Education

Kendrick earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1942. After serving for two years in the United States Army during World War II, he pursued doctoral study in plant pathology at the University of Wisconsin and received a Doctor of Philosophy degree in 1947. His education connected his early interest in botanical science with the research career in plant pathology that he subsequently developed at the University of California.

Career

Kendrick began his University of California career in 1947 as a junior plant pathologist at the Citrus Experiment Station in Riverside. His research at Riverside concentrated on diseases of vegetable crops, including lima bean, pepper, cantaloupe, watermelon, celery, cauliflower, spinach, potato, and tomato. He focused particularly on soilborne pathogens such as Rhizoctonia, Pythium, and Fusarium, investigating pathogen populations in agricultural soils and their relationship to disease production. During the 1950s he conducted extensive studies of organic soil fungicides, testing more than 4,000 chemicals and examining their activity, structure, and modes of action. With John Middleton and Ellis Darley, he also helped initiate research into air-pollution injury to crops in Southern California. In 1961 he became a professor of plant pathology at the University of California, Riverside, and from 1963 to 1968 he chaired the department. In 1968 he moved into statewide administration as vice president of the University of California's Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, later described as Agriculture and Natural Resources, while continuing to engage with agricultural research, extension, environmental quality, food policy, and national agricultural issues. He served as vice president for Agriculture and Natural Resources until 1986, when he retired from the university. His career combined laboratory research on plant disease with leadership of California's agricultural research and cooperative-extension programs.

Achievements

• Conducted influential research on diseases of vegetable crops, including diseases affecting lima bean, pepper, cantaloupe, watermelon, celery, cauliflower, spinach, potato, and tomato.

• Advanced the study of soilborne plant pathogens, including Rhizoctonia, Pythium, and Fusarium, and investigated pathogen populations in agricultural soils in relation to disease development.

• Tested more than 4,000 organic chemicals during the 1950s for activity against soilborne plant pathogens and studied their fungicidal action and structure.

• Helped initiate major research programs on air-pollution injury to agricultural crops in Southern California.

• Combined plant pathology research with statewide leadership of agricultural research, cooperative extension, and natural-resources programs at the University of California.

Works

• article

  • Air pollution damage to agricultural crops

    (Co-authored with John Middleton; published in Lasca Leave...)

    1955

• oral history

  • From Plant Pathologist to Vice President for Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California, 1947–1986

    (Oral history based on Kendrick's interview with Ann Lage ...)

    1989

Views

Kendrick advocated strong public support for agricultural research and cooperative extension, while also urging scientists to establish priorities, evaluate the public consequences of technology, and address consumer, environmental, population, food, and nutrition concerns.

Membership

Kendrick participated extensively in professional and agricultural organizations. He was a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and chaired Section O in 1978. He served on the editorial board of the journal of the American Phytopathological Society from 1965 to 1968 and as an at-large councilor from 1968 to 1970. He served on the council of the International Society for Plant Pathology from 1968 to 1973 and held leadership responsibilities in the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges, including chairing its agriculture division in 1972–1973 and serving on its executive committee from 1974 to 1976. He also chaired the Western Association of State Agricultural Experiment Station Directors in 1975 and belonged to the American Institute of Biological Sciences, the California Chamber of Commerce agricultural committee, Phi Beta Kappa, and Sigma Xi.

• Fellow; chairman of Section O in 1978.

  American Association for the Advancement of Science , United States

• Member of the journal editorial board from 1965 to 1968 and at-large councilor from 1968 to 1970.

  American Phytopathological Society , United States

  1965 - 1970

• Served on the society council.

  International Society for Plant Pathology

  1968 - 1973

• American Institute of Biological Sciences , United States

• Served on the agricultural committee.

  California Chamber of Commerce , United States

  1968

• Chairman of the agriculture division in 1972–1973 and member of the executive committee from 1974 to 1976.

  National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges , United States

  1972 - 1976

• Chairman in 1975.

  Western Association of State Agricultural Experiment Station Directors , United States

  1975

• Phi Beta Kappa , United States

• Sigma Xi , United States

Personality

Kendrick was described by professional colleagues as warm, open, witty, intellectually broad, and strongly committed to public service. His combination of scientific knowledge, administrative ability, and concern for agriculture and the public helped earn the loyalty and affection of colleagues and staff.

Quotes from others about the person

• Colleagues L. G. Weathers and G. A. Zentmyer characterized Kendrick as one of the most respected plant pathologists of his generation and emphasized his ability to combine fundamental research with practical service to agriculture and the public.

Interests

• Agricultural policy, environmental quality, food and nutrition policy, public agricultural research, and cooperative extension.

Connections

Kendrick's professional and family life was deeply connected with the University of California and with plant pathology. His father, James Blair Kendrick Sr., was a University of California plant pathologist, and his brother Edgar L. Kendrick also pursued the field. Kendrick was married to Evelyn, who shared and supported his extensive university and professional responsibilities. He was survived by his son Douglas, daughter Janet, mother Violet, brother Ed, sister Elizabeth, and two grandchildren.

Father:

James Blair Kendrick

Plant pathologist associated with the University of California Davis campus.

Mother:

Violet

Wife:

Evelyn Kendrick

Son:

Douglas Kendrick

Daughter:

Janet Kendrick

Brother:

Edgar L. Kendrick

Plant pathologist.

Sister:

Elizabeth Kendrick

References

• James B. Kendrick, Jr., 1920–1989 Memorial article by L. G. Weathers and G. A. Zentmyer describing Kendrick's life, research on vegetable diseases and soilborne pathogens, University of California career, administrative leadership, professional service, and family.
  1990
• From plant pathologist to Vice President for Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California, 1947–1986 University of California oral-history volume documenting Kendrick's early life, family, education, research at the Riverside Citrus Experiment Station, community involvement, agricultural extension work, and administrative leadership.
  1989