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Robert W. Pearson Dies
AUBURN, Ala. - Robert W. Pearson, 87, of Auburn, Ala., died April 20, 1998, at his home.
Pearson, retired USDA-Soil and Water Conservation Research Division/Agricultural Research Service (SWCRD/ARS) supervisory soil scientist and research leader, was born in Mississippi in July of 1910. He earned his bachelor's degree from Mississippi State University in 1931, master's degree from Mississippi State in 1935, and the Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin in 1938. Pearson worked as an assistant professor at Iowa State University from 1938 to 1941, then served in the U.S. Armed Forces from 1941-1946. He joined the Auburn University faculty as an associate professor in 1946 and was promoted to professor not long after arriving at Auburn. In 1947, he became project leader for the Southern Region SWCRD with ARS and served in that position for a decade. From 1959 to 1960, he was research investigations leader for Soil Fertility and Tilth, Piedmont and Coastal Plains Regions for ARS, then became supervisory soil scientist and research leader SWCRD and research lecturer at Auburn university from 1960 until his retirement in 1972.
Soil fertility and crop production were Pearson's specialities and he had wide experience in temperate and tropical agriculture. He served on numerous assignments in tropical areas of the Western Hemisphere and consulted for international projects, making significant contributions during a crucial period of international development. Pearson also was instrumental in the initiation, coordination, and completion of four major regional research projects based solely on the mutual interest of scientists in cooperating state and federal research agencies. Through his leadership and research, he helped enhance knowledge and stimulate research on the dynamics of plant root growth and development.
Pearson was a fellow in the American Agronomy Society and was honored by Gamma Sigma Delta agricultural honorary, Sigma Xi research honorary, the USDA, and was named to Who's Who in America and the American Men of Science. He also was an honorary professor at the University of Puerto Rico and an honorary member of the Sociedad Colombiana de la Ciencia del Suelo. He served in many leadership capacities in various organizations, including serving as president of the Soil Society of America.
Pearson is survived by his wife, Pat Pearson, and three children.
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