QBARS - v31n4 Eugene A. Hollowell 1901-1977

Eugene A. Hollowell - 1901-1977
August E. Kehr, Silver Springs, Maryland

All of us who knew Dr. Eugene A. Hollowell could not help being uplifted by his infectious enthusiasm. His many friends knew "Holly" as a most sincere and ardent plantsman. Most of us in the Washington, D.C. area had many pleasant hours visiting "Holly's Folly," the name he had given to the small acreage where he grew his collection of American native species and hybrid seedlings. Dr. Hollowell was internationally known for his research on clover improvement.

He was a native of Indiana but after receiving his graduate degree at Iowa State University, he joined the U. S. Department of Agriculture and lived most of his life in Takoma Park, Maryland. At the time of his death from pneumonia on July 30, 1977, he was residing at Scientists Cliffs, a private community of about 500 families on the cliffs overlooking the west side of Chesapeake Bay near Port Republic, Maryland. Largely through Holly's efforts, Scientists Cliffs is noted for its extensive plantings of choice ornamental plants. For example, the best complete collection of the Beltsville (Yerkes-Pryor) hybrids is being maintained at Scientists Cliffs.

Holly was a close friend of B. Y. Morrison, developer of the Glenn Dale azaleas and many of Dr. Morrison's original plants, including the Satsuki azaleas, are in his collection at Scientists Cliffs. All of these beautiful plants remain as a living memorial to our warmhearted friend and co-worker, Dr. Eugene A. Hollowell. We are pleased that his grandson John will continue the work he has started.