06/12/1995

Norton Retires After 35 Years of Service to Alabama Horticulture

AUBURN, Ala. - When Joe Norton, professor of horticulture at Auburn University, retired recently, he left a legacy of research and teaching that will benefit fruit and vegetable growers and consumers for years to come.

Norton, a native of North Alabama, graduated from Auburn in 1952 with a degree in agricultural education and went on to earn a master's degree in horticulture from Auburn in 1955. After graduation, he served as an assistant professor at the University of Florida before going on to Louisiana State University to earn the Ph.D. He returned to Auburn in 1960 as an assistant professor, was promoted to associate professor in 1967, and became a full professor in 1973.

During his tenure at Auburn, Norton influenced many students through teaching fruit and vegetable production courses in the Department of Horticulture. He also taught commercial vegetable crops, nursery management and various graduate-level courses and has directed the studies of numerous graduate students through the years. His enthusiasm for the subject matter often rubbed off on students, and he has been credited with guiding many students into professions within the horticultural industry.

But Norton's talent reached far beyond the classroom. Research he conducted through the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station at Auburn focused on the breeding and genetic improvement of cantaloupes, plums, watermelons and chestnuts. The results of his work have had a powerful impact on the horticulture industry in Alabama, the Southeast and also in other countries.

"When Joe Norton assumed the plum work at Auburn more than 30 years ago, there was only a small southeastern plum industry, growing mostly very poor quality plums," noted Dick Okie, a plum and peach breeder with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service in Byron, Ga. "Joe's tireless efforts in plum breeding have helped put this region's plum industry on the verge of major expansion, which can truly take off as growers take advantage of the next generation of varieties."

Among the plum cultivars developed by Norton are AU Rosa, AU Cherry, AU Producer, AU Amber and AU Rubrum. Okie noted that the first three varieties formed the basis for the plum industry to expand, and AU Producer continues to be a mainstay of the industry because of its consistent productivity.

"Recent research has shown the Auburn plum germplasm to be among the best sources of resistance to bacterial diseases common in the Southeast," he added.

Norton's watermelon breeding program also helped launch the commercial watermelon industry in the Southeast. His research resulted in five new varieties, including AU Producer, AU Jubilant, AU Sweet Scarlet and AU Golden. These varieties offer greater disease and pest resistance and also are well suited for both shipping and roadside market sales.

His research took Norton to China, Sri Lanka, Latin America, Canada, Africa, France, Italy, Japan and Australia where he helped researchers in those countries establish watermelon production systems suited for their climates and markets. His cooperative work with the Chinese has led to the introduction of new plant material in Alabama, particularly new chestnut, kiwi fruit and citrus cultivars, which may form the basis for new industries in the future.

Norton's importance to horticultural science was nationally recognized last year when he was awarded the prestigious title of Fellow in the American Society of Horticultural Science. "Dr. Norton is a very dedicated scientist," said Bill Dozier, head of Auburn's Horticulture Department. "His research has always been conducted with the interests of the state's fruit and vegetable growers in mind. Dr. Norton's research and teaching activities have had a very positive influence on the Alabama horticulture industry."

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News from:

Office of Ag Communications & Marketing

Auburn University College of Agriculture
Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station
3 Comer Hall, Auburn University
Auburn, AL 36849
334-844-4877 (PHONE) 334-844-5892 (FAX)

Contact Jamie Creamer, 334-844-2783 or jcreamer@auburn.edu
Contact Katie Jackson, 334-844-5886 or smithcl@auburn.edu

June 12, 1995