Orono, ME - The Potato Association of America (PAA) has established a permanent graduate student award fund honoring the late Dr. Frank L. Haynes, long time professor of Potato Breeding and Genetics at North Carolina State University. The Haynes Endowment fund was initiated by his wife, Dr. Kathy Haynes, USDA-ARS Potato Breeder at Beltsville, MD and family with a $5,000.00 initial bequeath to the PAA Endowment and presented at the organization’s annual meeting held July 27, 2000 in Colorado, Springs, Colorado.

The Potato Association of America has been making the Graduate student cash awards honoring outstanding student research presentations given during paper presentation sessions at the organizations annual meeting. The Dr. Haynes Endowment, when fully funded, will perpetuate the PAA Graduate Student Awards program.

Dr. Frank L. Haynes was born in Alabama and earned his BS at Auburn University and his PhD at Cornell. He began his career as potato breeder at North Carolina State University in 1951. In 1960 he became part of a USAID potato development mission to Peru that led over time to the creation of the International Potato Center (CIP) at Lima, Peru. Dr. Haynes maintained a long time association with CIP and helped initiate many of its international development efforts. During his career, Dr. Haynes brought new technology to diploid potato variety breeding and guided many graduate students to careers in potato development. His greatest pleasure was in helping young scientists develop skills, confidence and achievement through his guidance and encouragement. He served on many academic, industry and technical committees holding numerous leadership roles. He retired from North Carolina State University in 1987 but continued to work for discovery of new potato germplasm and advancement of potato breeding technology until his death in June, 2000. In recognition of his outstanding career in potato development, he was posthumously awarded Honorary Life Membership in the PAA at its annual meeting in Colorado Springs.

Dr. James Bryan, a fellow Honorary Life member of PAA and a long-time associate of Dr. Haynes at CIP, has made an additional $1,000.00 grant to the Haynes Graduate Student Award Endowment. It is estimated that $15,000.00 is needed to fully fund the Haynes Graduate Student Awards. Other friends and associates of Dr. Frank L. Haynes and supporters of the objectives of the PAA are encouraged to mail their contributions to: The Potato Association of America Endowment Fund, indicating a contribution for the graduate student award fund. Checks may be sent to Lori Wing, Administrative Assistant, Potato Association of America, University of Maine, 5719 Crossland Hall, Room 220, Orono, Maine 04469-5719  USA.