An internationally renowned horticulturist whose
career spanned more than half a century, Dr. Henry
Marcellus Cathey died October 8 following a long
struggle with Parkinson’s disease. He was 79 years
old. Dr. Cathey served two terms as president of the
American Horticultural Society (AHS) and was a
longtime member of the organization’s Board of
Directors.
He began his career as a researcher for the U.S.
Department of Agriculture (USDA), then served as the
director of the U.S. National Arboretum for a
decade. He was an author and speaker, a frequent
guest on national television shows, and hosted a
radio show for many years. In his career-long quest
to help home gardeners, he played a leading role in
development of two important maps widely used as
guides to plant selection. He received numerous
awards and honors from a broad spectrum of U.S. and
international horticultural and floricultural
groups.
To read more about Dr. Cathey’s life and
contributions to horticulture,
click here for the article that
appeared in the July/August 2005 issue of The
American Gardener.
Toward the end of his career, Dr. Cathey wrote a
column, “Everyday Garden Science,” for The American
Gardener. Here is a sampling of his most recent
contributions:
For a selection of tributes to Dr. Cathey by his
colleagues and friends,
click here.
At the request of his family, memorials in Dr.
Cathey’s honor may be sent to the American
Horticultural Society, the Davidson College
Presbyterian Church, or the Residence Assistance
Fund at the Pines of Davidson. If you wish to give a
gift to the AHS in honor of Dr. Cathey, please call
800-777-7931 ext. 118 or email
ccapstack@ahs.org.
