Remembrances
Bruce and Mildred Thornton
Bruce J. Thornton 1895-1992
Bruce J. Thornton, former head of the Colorado Seed Laboratory, died on November 23, 1992 in Fort Collins, Colorado. Born in Berthoud, Colorado in 1895 to pioneer parents, Mr. Thornton led a distinguished career in the fields of seed analysis, weed science and agronomy.
After Serving in World War I, Mr. Thornton attained his bachelor's and master's degrees from Colorado State University. He also did graduate studies at the University of California, Berkeley. When he returned to Colorado, he and his wife Mildred Lyon Thornton worked for the Agricultural Experiment Station. Mr. Thornton was a member of the CSU teaching faculty and was head of the Colorado Seed Laboratory from 1941 to 1962.
His scientific articles showed a thorough and precise approach to experimentation. When equipment was not available, he invented it. For his studies of low germination in sorghum, he developed a new respirometer. He designed the first dry germinator. He also co-authored the still widely used text "Weeds of Colorado" (editions in 1933, 1941, 1964, and 1974).
Mr. Thornton was active in the Association of Official Seed Analysts. AOSA made him an honorary member in recognition of his outstanding contributions. He was one of the organizers and presidents of the Western Seed Official's Association that included federal and state law enforcement personnel. In 1940, he rewrote the Colorado Seed Law. Weed control legislation was later enacted under his guidance. He was a life time member of the Colorado Seedsmen's Association, recipient of the Colorado Seed Grower's Award, and a sponsor for the Front Range Seed Analysts.
During his career he pioneered the study of weed control and led investigations of chemical and cultural weed control. In 1938, he helped organize the Western Weed Control Conference, served as its president and held other offices. The organization served as a model for three additional conferences in the United States and resulted in the formation, in 1956, of the Weed Science Society of America, including Canada. He was an honorary member of the Western Society of Weed Science and Fellow of the Weed Science Society of America.
Mr. Thornton was one of the founding members of the Colorado-Wyoming Academy of Science and was made an honorary member. He was a life fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and served on its governing council. Among the many other organizations in which he held membership are: the board of Directors of the CSU Alumni Association, CSU Athletic Council, Rotary, Masonic Lodge, CSU Men's Science Club, Foothills Unitarian Church, and Veterans of World War I. The Alumni Association gave him the CSU Alumni Award and the Henry Award for Outstanding service.
Additional biographies may be found in "Who's Who in Colorado," "Who's Who in the West," and "American Men of Science."
At the June 1993 AOSA-SCST annual meetings in Fort Collins, a book display was dedicated in his honor and the books were donated to the Colorado State University Morgan Library.
Mr. Thornton's survivors include a daughter, Barbara Frey of Lafayette, California; a son, Bruce Lyon of Fort Collins; and four grandchildren. Memorial contributions may be made to the Fort Collins Library or the Colorado State University Morgan Library.
Information about Mr. Thornton was compiled by Annette Miller, February 1993, updated January 2002.
Mildred Lyon Thornton
Mildred Lyon Thornton, former director of the Colorado Seed Laboratory, died Saturday, March 28, 1998. A memorial service was held for her at the Foothills Unitarian Church in Fort Collins, Colorado on April 4, 1998.
Mildred Lyon was born July 5, 1904 in Denver, Colorado. She earned her bachelor's degree in 1926 and a master's degree in plant physiology and seed taxonomy in 1928 from Colorado A&M (now Colorado State University) becoming the first woman to do so at C A&M. She began her life's work as a seed analyst in her sophomore year in college and was mentored by Anna Maude Lute, grass taxonomy professor and chief seed analyst at the Colorado Seed Laboratory. During her graduate studies, Mildred met fellow botany student Bruce Thornton. After graduation she left Fort Collins to work as a junior botanist at the Federal Seed Laboratory in Washington D.C. Bruce followed her east and they married there on December 16, 1929. Bruce and Mildred returned to Fort Collins where Bruce accepted a full-time job as a seed analyst at the Colorado Seed Laboratory. Mildred worked with Anna Lute researching germination and dormancy of seeds.
Mildred and Bruce had two children and for the next twenty years Mildred raised her children and worked intermittently at the Seed Lab. She volunteered for 20 years with the Girl Scouts and helped found the Fort Collins League of Women Voters. She was a charter member of the Colorado/Wyoming Academy of Sciences and worked on the board of the Community Chest, now known as the United Way. Bruce was named director of the Colorado Seed lab in 1941. A state policy that prohibited two family members from working at the same office kept Mildred off the official payroll for years. However, she continued her work on a part-time basis, mainly working without pay. When her husband retired in 1961, Mildred took over as director of the Laboratory.
Throughout her nine year tenure as director, Mildred oversaw the move of the lab to new facilities and continued the lab's reputation as a leader in seed research and training of seed analysts. Her excellent work earned Mildred several awards including Colorado State's Henry Award, Honor Alumnus, and Honorary AOSA member. Colorado's seed industry also recognized her distinguished service with an award from the Colorado Seed Grower's Association. Mildred was The AOSA's representative at ISTA's 15th biennial meeting held in New Zealand. She retired in 1970 but continued to serve the profession through her roll on the advisory board for the Larimer County Voc-Tech Seed Analysis program during the 1980's. She had been a sponsor for the Front Range Seed Analysts since 1988.
One daughter, one sister, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren survive her. Mildred was preceded in death by her husband, son and brother. Memorial contributions may be made to the Thornton Lecture fund at the CSU Foundation or the Fort Collins Public Library. Mildred's remarkable dedication and consummate seed analysis skills are inspirational. She will be greatly missed.
Submitted by Dr. Arnold Larsen
Memorial gifts may be sent to the Fort Collins Public Library at 201 Peterson St., Fort Collins, CO 80524 or the newly established endowment for the Thornton Lecture Fund. The lectures by visiting scientists will be in the fields of botany, plant sciences or biological sciences. Checks for the endowment should be made out to "CSU Foundation" fund number 47395-Thornton Lecture Fund. The address is: CSU Foundation, 502 University Services Center, Fort Collins, CO 80523.
Bruce J. Thornton, former head of the Colorado Seed Laboratory, died on November 23, 1992 in Fort Collins, Colorado. Born in Berthoud, Colorado in 1895 to pioneer parents, Mr. Thornton led a distinguished career in the fields of seed analysis, weed science and agronomy.
After Serving in World War I, Mr. Thornton attained his bachelor's and master's degrees from Colorado State University. He also did graduate studies at the University of California, Berkeley. When he returned to Colorado, he and his wife Mildred Lyon Thornton worked for the Agricultural Experiment Station. Mr. Thornton was a member of the CSU teaching faculty and was head of the Colorado Seed Laboratory from 1941 to 1962.
His scientific articles showed a thorough and precise approach to experimentation. When equipment was not available, he invented it. For his studies of low germination in sorghum, he developed a new respirometer. He designed the first dry germinator. He also co-authored the still widely used text "Weeds of Colorado" (editions in 1933, 1941, 1964, and 1974).
Mr. Thornton was active in the Association of Official Seed Analysts. AOSA made him an honorary member in recognition of his outstanding contributions. He was one of the organizers and presidents of the Western Seed Official's Association that included federal and state law enforcement personnel. In 1940, he rewrote the Colorado Seed Law. Weed control legislation was later enacted under his guidance. He was a life time member of the Colorado Seedsmen's Association, recipient of the Colorado Seed Grower's Award, and a sponsor for the Front Range Seed Analysts.
During his career he pioneered the study of weed control and led investigations of chemical and cultural weed control. In 1938, he helped organize the Western Weed Control Conference, served as its president and held other offices. The organization served as a model for three additional conferences in the United States and resulted in the formation, in 1956, of the Weed Science Society of America, including Canada. He was an honorary member of the Western Society of Weed Science and Fellow of the Weed Science Society of America.
Mr. Thornton was one of the founding members of the Colorado-Wyoming Academy of Science and was made an honorary member. He was a life fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and served on its governing council. Among the many other organizations in which he held membership are: the board of Directors of the CSU Alumni Association, CSU Athletic Council, Rotary, Masonic Lodge, CSU Men's Science Club, Foothills Unitarian Church, and Veterans of World War I. The Alumni Association gave him the CSU Alumni Award and the Henry Award for Outstanding service.
Additional biographies may be found in "Who's Who in Colorado," "Who's Who in the West," and "American Men of Science."
At the June 1993 AOSA-SCST annual meetings in Fort Collins, a book display was dedicated in his honor and the books were donated to the Colorado State University Morgan Library.
Mr. Thornton's survivors include a daughter, Barbara Frey of Lafayette, California; a son, Bruce Lyon of Fort Collins; and four grandchildren. Memorial contributions may be made to the Fort Collins Library or the Colorado State University Morgan Library.
Information about Mr. Thornton was compiled by Annette Miller, February 1993, updated January 2002.
Mildred Lyon Thornton
Mildred Lyon Thornton, former director of the Colorado Seed Laboratory, died Saturday, March 28, 1998. A memorial service was held for her at the Foothills Unitarian Church in Fort Collins, Colorado on April 4, 1998.
Mildred Lyon was born July 5, 1904 in Denver, Colorado. She earned her bachelor's degree in 1926 and a master's degree in plant physiology and seed taxonomy in 1928 from Colorado A&M (now Colorado State University) becoming the first woman to do so at C A&M. She began her life's work as a seed analyst in her sophomore year in college and was mentored by Anna Maude Lute, grass taxonomy professor and chief seed analyst at the Colorado Seed Laboratory. During her graduate studies, Mildred met fellow botany student Bruce Thornton. After graduation she left Fort Collins to work as a junior botanist at the Federal Seed Laboratory in Washington D.C. Bruce followed her east and they married there on December 16, 1929. Bruce and Mildred returned to Fort Collins where Bruce accepted a full-time job as a seed analyst at the Colorado Seed Laboratory. Mildred worked with Anna Lute researching germination and dormancy of seeds.
Mildred and Bruce had two children and for the next twenty years Mildred raised her children and worked intermittently at the Seed Lab. She volunteered for 20 years with the Girl Scouts and helped found the Fort Collins League of Women Voters. She was a charter member of the Colorado/Wyoming Academy of Sciences and worked on the board of the Community Chest, now known as the United Way. Bruce was named director of the Colorado Seed lab in 1941. A state policy that prohibited two family members from working at the same office kept Mildred off the official payroll for years. However, she continued her work on a part-time basis, mainly working without pay. When her husband retired in 1961, Mildred took over as director of the Laboratory.
Throughout her nine year tenure as director, Mildred oversaw the move of the lab to new facilities and continued the lab's reputation as a leader in seed research and training of seed analysts. Her excellent work earned Mildred several awards including Colorado State's Henry Award, Honor Alumnus, and Honorary AOSA member. Colorado's seed industry also recognized her distinguished service with an award from the Colorado Seed Grower's Association. Mildred was The AOSA's representative at ISTA's 15th biennial meeting held in New Zealand. She retired in 1970 but continued to serve the profession through her roll on the advisory board for the Larimer County Voc-Tech Seed Analysis program during the 1980's. She had been a sponsor for the Front Range Seed Analysts since 1988.
One daughter, one sister, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren survive her. Mildred was preceded in death by her husband, son and brother. Memorial contributions may be made to the Thornton Lecture fund at the CSU Foundation or the Fort Collins Public Library. Mildred's remarkable dedication and consummate seed analysis skills are inspirational. She will be greatly missed.
Submitted by Dr. Arnold Larsen
Memorial gifts may be sent to the Fort Collins Public Library at 201 Peterson St., Fort Collins, CO 80524 or the newly established endowment for the Thornton Lecture Fund. The lectures by visiting scientists will be in the fields of botany, plant sciences or biological sciences. Checks for the endowment should be made out to "CSU Foundation" fund number 47395-Thornton Lecture Fund. The address is: CSU Foundation, 502 University Services Center, Fort Collins, CO 80523.