Alan Graham, PhD. (1934–2021)

Alan was a native of Houston, Texas, who moved north to the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, after receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Botany at the University of Texas, supported by a full athletic tennis scholarship. At the University of Michigan, he met and married his wife of over 60 years, Shirley. Following completion of their PhDs, they spent a post-doctoral year at Harvard University, then moving then to Kent State University, where he held a joint faculty appointment in Botany and Geology for nearly 40 years. He is survived by his wife, son Andrew Graham and daughter-in-law Julia, daughter Alison Graham, son Bruce Graham and granddaughter Kenzie Graham.

Alan leaves an exceptional record of success as a teacher and Professor of Botany and Geology at Kent State University, and as a scholar through his internationally recognized research on fossil plants and vegetational history. He published over 200 research papers and authored seven books. Among many awards for his work were: Distinguished Scholar Award, Kent State University; Outstanding Teacher Award from the College of Arts and Sciences Student Advisory Council at Kent State; The Smithsonian Institution Cuatrecasas Medal for Excellence in Tropical Botany; the Asa Gray Medal; the highest award of the American Society of Plant Taxonomy; the Natural History Museum (London)/Marsh Trust Award for Best Earth Sciences Book of the Year, Land Bridges, 2018; and Distinguished Fellow and Merit Award, Botanical Society of America.

Alan also leaves a personal legacy to all he knew. He was a loving and generous teacher and father, a mentor to his many students, including over 350 whom he guided through 12 summers of “Biological Field Studies in Mexico and the American West”, a scholar, world traveler, and one who touched lives over many decades with his friendship and erudite humor.