Roy Debolt Bronson, 72, of West Lafayette, died at 11:30 PM Wednesday, July 8, 1992, in St. Elizabeth Hospital Medical Center; he had been ill six months. He was a professor of agronomy and international agriculture and retired June 30, 1987, after a 31-year career with Purdue University.
Dr. Bronson was born May 30, 1920, at Reno, NV, and grew up in Michigan. He served in the Army Air Corps during World War II and was awarded the Purple Heart. He married Alberta Ann Griffith on June 7, 1947. She is the medical records administrator at the Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine.
Dr. Bronson graduated from Michigan State University with a bachelor's degree in agriculture engineering and a master's degree in soil fertility. After three years with the Agricultural Research Division of Green Giant Co., he joined the Purdue faculty in 1952 as director of the Soil Testing Laboratory. He completed his PhD there in 1959.
He took leave from Purdue to accept the position of chemistry and soils head in the Tropical Research Division of United Fruit Co. in Honduras. He returned to Purdue after several years as soil and fertilizer research branch chief for the Tennessee Valley Authority in Sheffield, AL. He spent 4 1/2 years as director of Purdue's development program at the Federal University of Vicosa, Brazil, before returning to the West Lafayette campus.
For the next ten years, he concentrated on international education and taught internationally oriented courses, guided the undergraduate international agriculture study program, and co-founded the Student International Agriculture Club, and organized an inter-university program of field studies through which summer courses were conducted in diverse parts of the world for several years.
Most recently, he worked in West Africa, first as regional agronomist with the U.S. Agency for International Development Regional Economic Development Services Organization based in Ivory Coast, then as team leader of the Niger Cereals Research Program in Sub-Saharan Niger.
Dr. Bronson co-ordinated the Purdue/Peace Corps Intern Program for Brazil and had served as a career and agronomic counselor for Peace Corps.
He attended Faith Presbyterian Church and was a member of American Society of Agronomy, Soil Science Society of America, International Soil Science Society, was elected a Fellow to AAAS in 1962, and also was a member of Sigma Xi, Phi Kappa Phi, Alpha Zeta, Rotary International Club and Purdue Pilots.
Surviving with his wife are two daughters, Barbara J. Bronson of Goiania, Goias, Brazil and Nancy G. Broun of Americus, GA; a son, Tim R. Bronson of Pittsburgh, PA; a sister, Shirley B. Harris of Summerville, SC; and four grandchildren. A brother preceded in death. Service July 11, Soller-Baker Lafayette Funeral Home, the Rev. Stuart Robertson officiating; internment Tippecanoe Memory Gardens.
--Lafayette Journal & Courier - Fri 7/10/1992
==========
History of B-17 42-30156
Delivered Cheyenne 17/4/43; Smoky Hill 24/4/43; Presque Is 16/5/43; Assigned 423BS/306BG [RD-Z] Thurleigh 22/6/43; Missing in Action Hanover 26/7/43 with Wes Courson, Co-pilot: Roy Bronson, Navigator: Ted Grezlak, Bombardier: Henry Lynch, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: John Champion, Waist gunner: Cedric White,Tail gunner: Bill Lamb (7 Prisoner of War); Radio Operator: Bill Dayton, Ball turret gunner: Dock Thomas, Waist gunner: Bob Stevens{wia & drowned in River Ems} (3 Killed in Action); flak over Frisian Is took off vertical stabiliser, crashed Hofkamp Farm, Vriescheloo, Hol. Missing Air Crew Report 127.
Source: Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log*
Dr. Bronson was born May 30, 1920, at Reno, NV, and grew up in Michigan. He served in the Army Air Corps during World War II and was awarded the Purple Heart. He married Alberta Ann Griffith on June 7, 1947. She is the medical records administrator at the Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine.
Dr. Bronson graduated from Michigan State University with a bachelor's degree in agriculture engineering and a master's degree in soil fertility. After three years with the Agricultural Research Division of Green Giant Co., he joined the Purdue faculty in 1952 as director of the Soil Testing Laboratory. He completed his PhD there in 1959.
He took leave from Purdue to accept the position of chemistry and soils head in the Tropical Research Division of United Fruit Co. in Honduras. He returned to Purdue after several years as soil and fertilizer research branch chief for the Tennessee Valley Authority in Sheffield, AL. He spent 4 1/2 years as director of Purdue's development program at the Federal University of Vicosa, Brazil, before returning to the West Lafayette campus.
For the next ten years, he concentrated on international education and taught internationally oriented courses, guided the undergraduate international agriculture study program, and co-founded the Student International Agriculture Club, and organized an inter-university program of field studies through which summer courses were conducted in diverse parts of the world for several years.
Most recently, he worked in West Africa, first as regional agronomist with the U.S. Agency for International Development Regional Economic Development Services Organization based in Ivory Coast, then as team leader of the Niger Cereals Research Program in Sub-Saharan Niger.
Dr. Bronson co-ordinated the Purdue/Peace Corps Intern Program for Brazil and had served as a career and agronomic counselor for Peace Corps.
He attended Faith Presbyterian Church and was a member of American Society of Agronomy, Soil Science Society of America, International Soil Science Society, was elected a Fellow to AAAS in 1962, and also was a member of Sigma Xi, Phi Kappa Phi, Alpha Zeta, Rotary International Club and Purdue Pilots.
Surviving with his wife are two daughters, Barbara J. Bronson of Goiania, Goias, Brazil and Nancy G. Broun of Americus, GA; a son, Tim R. Bronson of Pittsburgh, PA; a sister, Shirley B. Harris of Summerville, SC; and four grandchildren. A brother preceded in death. Service July 11, Soller-Baker Lafayette Funeral Home, the Rev. Stuart Robertson officiating; internment Tippecanoe Memory Gardens.
--Lafayette Journal & Courier - Fri 7/10/1992
==========
History of B-17 42-30156
Delivered Cheyenne 17/4/43; Smoky Hill 24/4/43; Presque Is 16/5/43; Assigned 423BS/306BG [RD-Z] Thurleigh 22/6/43; Missing in Action Hanover 26/7/43 with Wes Courson, Co-pilot: Roy Bronson, Navigator: Ted Grezlak, Bombardier: Henry Lynch, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: John Champion, Waist gunner: Cedric White,Tail gunner: Bill Lamb (7 Prisoner of War); Radio Operator: Bill Dayton, Ball turret gunner: Dock Thomas, Waist gunner: Bob Stevens{wia & drowned in River Ems} (3 Killed in Action); flak over Frisian Is took off vertical stabiliser, crashed Hofkamp Farm, Vriescheloo, Hol. Missing Air Crew Report 127.
Source: Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log*
Roy Debolt Bronson, 72, of West Lafayette, died at 11:30 PM Wednesday, July 8, 1992, in St. Elizabeth Hospital Medical Center; he had been ill six months. He was a professor of agronomy and international agriculture and retired June 30, 1987, after a 31-year career with Purdue University.
Dr. Bronson was born May 30, 1920, at Reno, NV, and grew up in Michigan. He served in the Army Air Corps during World War II and was awarded the Purple Heart. He married Alberta Ann Griffith on June 7, 1947. She is the medical records administrator at the Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine.
Dr. Bronson graduated from Michigan State University with a bachelor's degree in agriculture engineering and a master's degree in soil fertility. After three years with the Agricultural Research Division of Green Giant Co., he joined the Purdue faculty in 1952 as director of the Soil Testing Laboratory. He completed his PhD there in 1959.
He took leave from Purdue to accept the position of chemistry and soils head in the Tropical Research Division of United Fruit Co. in Honduras. He returned to Purdue after several years as soil and fertilizer research branch chief for the Tennessee Valley Authority in Sheffield, AL. He spent 4 1/2 years as director of Purdue's development program at the Federal University of Vicosa, Brazil, before returning to the West Lafayette campus.
For the next ten years, he concentrated on international education and taught internationally oriented courses, guided the undergraduate international agriculture study program, and co-founded the Student International Agriculture Club, and organized an inter-university program of field studies through which summer courses were conducted in diverse parts of the world for several years.
Most recently, he worked in West Africa, first as regional agronomist with the U.S. Agency for International Development Regional Economic Development Services Organization based in Ivory Coast, then as team leader of the Niger Cereals Research Program in Sub-Saharan Niger.
Dr. Bronson co-ordinated the Purdue/Peace Corps Intern Program for Brazil and had served as a career and agronomic counselor for Peace Corps.
He attended Faith Presbyterian Church and was a member of American Society of Agronomy, Soil Science Society of America, International Soil Science Society, was elected a Fellow to AAAS in 1962, and also was a member of Sigma Xi, Phi Kappa Phi, Alpha Zeta, Rotary International Club and Purdue Pilots.
Surviving with his wife are two daughters, Barbara J. Bronson of Goiania, Goias, Brazil and Nancy G. Broun of Americus, GA; a son, Tim R. Bronson of Pittsburgh, PA; a sister, Shirley B. Harris of Summerville, SC; and four grandchildren. A brother preceded in death. Service July 11, Soller-Baker Lafayette Funeral Home, the Rev. Stuart Robertson officiating; internment Tippecanoe Memory Gardens.
--Lafayette Journal & Courier - Fri 7/10/1992
==========
History of B-17 42-30156
Delivered Cheyenne 17/4/43; Smoky Hill 24/4/43; Presque Is 16/5/43; Assigned 423BS/306BG [RD-Z] Thurleigh 22/6/43; Missing in Action Hanover 26/7/43 with Wes Courson, Co-pilot: Roy Bronson, Navigator: Ted Grezlak, Bombardier: Henry Lynch, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: John Champion, Waist gunner: Cedric White,Tail gunner: Bill Lamb (7 Prisoner of War); Radio Operator: Bill Dayton, Ball turret gunner: Dock Thomas, Waist gunner: Bob Stevens{wia & drowned in River Ems} (3 Killed in Action); flak over Frisian Is took off vertical stabiliser, crashed Hofkamp Farm, Vriescheloo, Hol. Missing Air Crew Report 127.
Source: Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log*
Dr. Bronson was born May 30, 1920, at Reno, NV, and grew up in Michigan. He served in the Army Air Corps during World War II and was awarded the Purple Heart. He married Alberta Ann Griffith on June 7, 1947. She is the medical records administrator at the Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine.
Dr. Bronson graduated from Michigan State University with a bachelor's degree in agriculture engineering and a master's degree in soil fertility. After three years with the Agricultural Research Division of Green Giant Co., he joined the Purdue faculty in 1952 as director of the Soil Testing Laboratory. He completed his PhD there in 1959.
He took leave from Purdue to accept the position of chemistry and soils head in the Tropical Research Division of United Fruit Co. in Honduras. He returned to Purdue after several years as soil and fertilizer research branch chief for the Tennessee Valley Authority in Sheffield, AL. He spent 4 1/2 years as director of Purdue's development program at the Federal University of Vicosa, Brazil, before returning to the West Lafayette campus.
For the next ten years, he concentrated on international education and taught internationally oriented courses, guided the undergraduate international agriculture study program, and co-founded the Student International Agriculture Club, and organized an inter-university program of field studies through which summer courses were conducted in diverse parts of the world for several years.
Most recently, he worked in West Africa, first as regional agronomist with the U.S. Agency for International Development Regional Economic Development Services Organization based in Ivory Coast, then as team leader of the Niger Cereals Research Program in Sub-Saharan Niger.
Dr. Bronson co-ordinated the Purdue/Peace Corps Intern Program for Brazil and had served as a career and agronomic counselor for Peace Corps.
He attended Faith Presbyterian Church and was a member of American Society of Agronomy, Soil Science Society of America, International Soil Science Society, was elected a Fellow to AAAS in 1962, and also was a member of Sigma Xi, Phi Kappa Phi, Alpha Zeta, Rotary International Club and Purdue Pilots.
Surviving with his wife are two daughters, Barbara J. Bronson of Goiania, Goias, Brazil and Nancy G. Broun of Americus, GA; a son, Tim R. Bronson of Pittsburgh, PA; a sister, Shirley B. Harris of Summerville, SC; and four grandchildren. A brother preceded in death. Service July 11, Soller-Baker Lafayette Funeral Home, the Rev. Stuart Robertson officiating; internment Tippecanoe Memory Gardens.
--Lafayette Journal & Courier - Fri 7/10/1992
==========
History of B-17 42-30156
Delivered Cheyenne 17/4/43; Smoky Hill 24/4/43; Presque Is 16/5/43; Assigned 423BS/306BG [RD-Z] Thurleigh 22/6/43; Missing in Action Hanover 26/7/43 with Wes Courson, Co-pilot: Roy Bronson, Navigator: Ted Grezlak, Bombardier: Henry Lynch, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: John Champion, Waist gunner: Cedric White,Tail gunner: Bill Lamb (7 Prisoner of War); Radio Operator: Bill Dayton, Ball turret gunner: Dock Thomas, Waist gunner: Bob Stevens{wia & drowned in River Ems} (3 Killed in Action); flak over Frisian Is took off vertical stabiliser, crashed Hofkamp Farm, Vriescheloo, Hol. Missing Air Crew Report 127.
Source: Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log*
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