L-R: Phil Simon (University of Wisconsin), Bill Meyer with the NAPB IMPACT Award and Rita Mumm (University of Illinois).
William Meyer, professor in the Department of Plant Biology and Pathology and director of the Rutgers Turfgrass Breeding Project, was awarded the 2014 National Association of Plant Breeders (NAPB) Impact Award at the association’s annual meeting held in Minneapolis, MN, on August 8. According to the NAPB, its Impact Award “recognizes an individual active in the plant breeding field that has shown exceptional accomplishments in their research, teaching and collaborations with others.”
In addition to the NAPB Impact Award, Meyer has received many accolades, including the New Jersey Turfgrass Association Hall of Fame Award in 2009 and the Golf Course Superintendent’s Association John Morley Service Award in 2006.
Since 1996, Meyer has led the Rutgers turfgrass breeding program, which has released more than 400 turfgrass cultivars. His efforts in plant breeding have made remarkable improvements to turfgrass germplasm and ultimately improved turfgrass varieties available both nationally and internationally. Before coming to Rutgers, Meyer worked more than 20 years as a corporate president and head of the world’s largest private turfgrass breeding program in Oregon.
He currently serves as advisor to two Ph.D. students and one master’s degree student. His previous seven Ph.D. students and two master’s degree students are current leaders in the seed industry.
As part of the NAPB IMPACT award, Meyer was interviewed at the association’s meeting by Shawn Brook, publisher of Seed Word magazine.
