Biographical Sketch

Dr. Thomas C. Moore, former chairman of the Department of Botany and Plant Pathology and Professor Emeritus in the Department, passed away on August 30, 2002, at the age of 65. He had been in poor health for some time.

Dr. Moore was born on September 22, 1936, in Sanger, Texas, and he spent his youth in that state, graduating with a B.A. in Biology from North Texas State University in 1956. He received an M.A. in Botany from the University of Colorado in 1958 and his Ph.D. from the same institution in 1961. After a brief period of employment at Arizona State College at Flagstaff, he accepted a position as a faculty member in the Department of Botany and Plant Pathology at Oregon State University in 1963. He was promoted to Professor in 1971 and served as Assistant to the Vice-President for Research and Graduate Studies in 1972-73. He was appointed Chairman of the Department of Botany and Plant Pathology at OSU in 1973, and he served in that capacity for 13 years (until 1986). He retired from the University in 1993.

Dr. Moore's research interests were in the regulation of plant growth and development and focused particularly on the biochemistry and physiology of the plant hormones known as gibberellins. He authored over 40 publications in his field, including a popular text entitled Biochemistry and Physiology of Plant Hormones and a laboratory manual (Research Experience in Plant Physiology) for introductory plant physiology courses, both of which went through two editions in the 1980's. He was the founding editor for the Journal of Plant Growth Regulation and served as Editor-in-Chief for the journal from 1981 through 1994. He was known at Oregon State University as an effective and popular teacher. He received the University's Mosser Award for outstanding undergraduate teaching in 1966, and he was nominated for the College of Science Carter Award on several occasions. He was also an avid hunter and outdoorsman, and the author of occasional popular articles in sporting magazines, which secured him a national reputation as a sportsman.

During his tenure at Oregon State University, Dr. Moore provided important leadership to the Department and the institution and contributed important service to his profession through his activities as the founding editor of the Journal of Plant Growth Regulation. His death is a loss to his colleagues as well as his family.

Dr. Moore is survived by his wife Arvida, his son Alan Moore, daughters Cindy Moore and Linda Drummond-Moore, a sister Nell Rita Harrison, and four grandchildren. 

At the request of the family, a memorial fund to assist students in botany and plant pathology has been established, in 2002, by the Department of Botany and Plant Pathology at Oregon State University. Individuals wishing to donate to the fund may send donations to the Department. Checks should be made payable to the OSU Foundation and should be accompanied by the notation "For the Thomas C. Moore Memorial Fund". Students who have benefited from this fund include:

Rachael Kofahl Tri Tran

Thomas "Wade" Holman