Walter
Howard was born in Springfield, Missouri in 1872.
He received his B.Ag. and B.S. from the University of
Missouri in 1901 and his M.S. from the same
institution in 1903. He studied at the University of
Leipzig in Germany in 1905 and received his Ph.D. from
the University of Halle-Wittenberg in 1906. In 1930 he
continued his study at the East Malling Research
Station in East Malling, England.
He was Assistant and Assistant Horticulturist at
the University of Missouri from 1901-03, instructor
1903-04, Assistant Professor 1905-08, and Professor of
Horticulture from 1908 to 1915. He left Missouri in
1915 and became Associate Professor of Horticulture.
He became Professor in 1918 and head of the department
of pomology in 1918. from 1924 to 1925 he was Acting
Director of the Branch of the College of Agriculture
and Director in 1925. From this date until 1937 he was
Director of the College of Agriculture. He became
Professor Emeritus in 1942.
He investigated horticultural problems in France
and adjoining countries from 1921-22. He was a member
of Jury of Awards of the San Francisco Exposition in
1915. He was an active member of several important
scientific societies such as the American Genetic
Association, American Society for Horticultural
Science, Society for the Promotion of Agricultural
Science, American Eugenics Society.
He was author of A Factual Study of Luther
Burbank, 1945.
Dr. Howard was an outstanding horticulturist and a
man of very wide influence throughout the middle and
far west. He made no attempt to publish textbooks. He
exercised an outstanding influence in building the
College of Agriculture at Davis during his period as
Director. All who knew him were impressed with his
wide knowledge and experience.
