Isabel Shipley Cunningham Collection on Howard Scott Gentry

Howard Scott Gentry (1903-1993) earned a bachelor's degree in vertebrate zoology from the University of California at Berkeley in 1931. In 1933, Gentry started plant expeditions in Sonora and Chihuahua states in Mexico. He published his first book, titled Rio Mayo Plants of Sonora-Chihuahua, in 1942. Gentry worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rubber Office from 1942 until 1945. During the next four years, he was a research botanist at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. In 1947, he completed his Ph.D. in botany from the University of Michigan. From 1950 to 1971, Gentry was a plant collector for the New Crops Research Branch, USDA, and led expeditions into Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Iran, and Mexico. In 1970, Gentry opened the Gentry Experimental Farm in Murrieta, California, and became a research botanist at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, Arizona, two years later. He became research director for the Desert Botanical Garden in 1985.

1931

Completed bachelor's degree in vertebrate zoology from University of California at Berkeley

1933

Traveled on first expedition in Yaqui country (Sonora-Chihuahua, Mexico) to fulfill specimen orders for plants, insects, and animals solicited from various institutions

1934

Worked as a fruit picker at two dollars an hour to earn start-up money for another expedition into Mexico

Led expedition into Indian barranca country (Mexico) to fulfill $3000 in orders for plants, insects, animals, and fossils solicited from various institutions

1935

Married Marie Ann Cech

1934-1939

Spent over twenty-seven months in Rio Mayo country collecting, researching, and writing often accompanied by his wife and used the Desert Research Laboratory as his United States headquarters

1940s

Founded the Gentry Experimental Farm in Murrieta, California, which specializes in plants that use little water and unusual cut flowers

1942

Published first book Rio Mayo Plants of Sonora-Chihuahua

1942-1945

Searched for rubber substitutes with potential domestic growth for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rubber Office

1946-1950

Conducted research as a botanist at the Allen Hancock Foundation, University of Southern California in Los Angeles

1947

Earned a Ph.D. in botany from the University of Michigan

1950-1951

Received a Guggenheim Memorial Foundation fellowship

1950-1971

Served as a plant collector for the New Crops Research Branch (USDA), conducting 18 expeditions in 24 countries

1953-1954

Joined expeditions into Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and Iran

1959

Awarded a USDA Superior Service Award for work towards discovering Gentrogenin, a cortisone precursor compound, which was later used to treat heart disease

1961-1964

Led expedition in Mexico for medicinal plants in connection with the USDA cancer program

1962

Awarded a Sustained Outstanding Performance Award from the USDA

1966

Awarded a Meyer Medal for distinguished service in plant introductions

1970

Operated the Gentry Experimental Farm at Murrieta, California

1972

Conducted research as a botanist at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, Arizona

1974

Elected President of the Society for Economic Botany

1985

Became the Research Director for the Desert Botanical Garden

1987

Retired from the Desert Botanical Garden

May 12, 1990

Awarded an honorary doctorate of science from the University of Arizona

May 14, 1990

Attended the dedication of the H.S. Gentry Center for Botanical Resources in Mesa, Arizona

April 1, 1993

Died at age 89 in Tucson, Arizona from chronic lung disease and buried at a family farm in Murrieta, California