In Memoriam: W. H. (Bill) Brackman
Fred Whitney
The Rhododendron world lost a valued, dedicated devotee of our genus on June 19th, 2009 due
to a severe head injury while attending a church conference in Portland, Oregon. During his
75 years, Bill touched many lives and shared his knowledge and "rhododendron fruits" with
many - both by sharing plants and the giving of his time to the Tacoma Chapter (where he
and Myrna were awarded the Bronze Medal for their outstanding service to the chapter) and
the Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden. Bill held repeat chapter officer positions in
the Tacoma group, was chair of the highly successful spring show (with entries approaching
1,000) several times. He was treasurer and a regular volunteer at the RSBG as a member of
the "Thursday Gang" which accomplished many projects at the garden most notably the
complete re-construction of the interim tropical facility.
Bill and Myrna (a dedicated couple for 51 years) together developed a two ha (five acre)
display garden which was one of the earliest "second generation species collections"
(following in the footsteps of the original founders of the Rhododendron Species Foundation).
The garden started as "1.2 land-locked ha (three acres) of stumps and brush" but has now
developed into two ha of which 1.4 ha (3.5 acres) are an absolute masterpiece of vistas
incorporating the species (and some hybrids) in a succession of bloom cycles to provide a
great backing for Myrna's contribution of perennial and annual color plants - year-round
interest! Bill also had the vision that led to construction of a unique and highly functional
geodesic dome greenhouse, which was featured in the Sunset magazine as well as the Tacoma
News Tribune. In that environment, Bill and Myrna propagated their "own supply" of materials
for the garden. Bill was one of the successful growers of R. dalhousiae seed that
was gathered during one of Pioneer Awardee Britt Smith's many trips to Sikkim. He also
grew one of probably only three R. boothii in cultivation.
Bill was a strong proponent of the growing and use of species for hybridizing. As a member
of the South End Hybridizers for a number of years, the fruits of his crosses will hopefully
be evaluated and result in the introduction of new stock for either direct propagation or
further hybridizing by others around the world.
Bill was a devoted member of the Lutheran Church and a much loved father of two sons, a
daughter, five grandchildren and one great grandchild. He will be sorely missed by those
who came in contact with him, but most of all, those with whom he shared his love of the
genus Rhododendron.