Nurturing the Future

Celebrating Howard Brown's Impact with Named Facility

BY ANNMARIE CORNEJO

Nearly 200 people, many of them alumni from the late 1960s and the 1970s, gathered on March 21 to celebrate the dedication of the new- ly renovated Howard C. Brown Horticultural Greenhouse Complex, paying tribute to the former college leader whose mentorship many give credit to for their love of horticulture.

The enhanced 18,000-square-foot ornamental horticulture facility, initially opened in 1969, is now named in honor of Dean Emeritus Howard Brown (Ornamental Horticulture, '43). Brown served at Cal Poly for more than 40 years, growing the ornamental horticulture program exponentially.

Alumnus and longtime dean's advisory council member, Charles Walton (Ornamental Horticulture, '66), donated more than $1 mil- lion to update and modernize the complex, asking that it be named in Brown's honor. "It is not often that you get the chance to salute someone who has been so important in your life," Walton told the crowd gathered at the celebration, many of whom traveled from throughout the state, and further, to attend.

Additional donors also pledged their support, including Emil Yappert, the Sakata Seed Company, HeadStart Nursery and Radicle Seed Company, the Chan family, Roger and Deanna Van Klaveren, and alums Tom Courtright and Jacqueline Williams-Courtright. "He was well respected in the industry and students loved him," said Professor emerita Virginia Walter, who was recruited to Cal Poly by Brown and went on to teach students for 43 years before retiring. "He believed students came first."

The greenhouse complex is a hands-on learning hub for students learning about controlled environment agriculture, vegetable production, floral production and design and disease and pest control management. Improvements include updated heating and cooling systems, automated ventilation and controls, new shade curtains, a polycarbonate head- house and a new entrance bearing the complex's new name, among other enhancements.

"We are thrilled to have had the opportunity to contribute to this exciting and impactful project," Justin Davis, senior sales and marketing director of Sakata Seed America said. "This educational greenhouse complex serves as a valuable resource for students and educators and aligns with Sakata's commitment to promoting horticultural stewardship and mentorship for future generations of leaders in the seed industry and beyond."

Karen Watts (Ornamental Horticulture, '79), chair of the college's dean's advisory council, helped spread the word about the dedication ceremony. "We are gathered to celebrate the legacy of Howard Brown and the impact he had on generations of students," Watts told the crowd. "On behalf of all past, current and future students, my sincere thank you to all the donors that made these enhancements possible."

Alumna Jeannie Hume (Ornamental Horticulture, '77) traveled from San Diego to attend the event, reuniting with friends and classmates she hadn't seen in years. She just recently retired after owning and operating a floral shop called Crystal Gardens in Poway, California, for 40 years. "He was just so giving to his students and encouraging," said Hume of Brown. "Because of that, we wanted to be the best we could be."

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