Front Range Seed Analysts
1993 Seed Forum Volume 7 Number 1
Remembering Bruce J. Thornton
Information compiled by Annette Logan
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,
Berkely. 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 f aculty 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 lifetime 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 off ices. 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 Clup, 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 this year's AOSA-SCST
annual meetings in June in Fort Collins, a book display' will be dedicated
in his honor and the books will be donated to the Colorado State University
Morgan Library.
Mr. Thornton's survivors
include his wife Mildred; 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.