JARS v63n1 - In Memoriam: William Griswold

In Memoriam: William Griswold

Bill Griswold was born April 27, 1909, in Milledgeville, Illinois. At age 4 his family moved to Sunnyside, Washington, where he graduated from high school in 1928. In 1937 he married Doris Young. His love of rhododendrons lead him to start his own company, Griswold Nursery, in Kirkland in 1952 where he remained until his death on August 31, 2008 at 99 years of age. His business was his love and his passion which his wife and three daughters shared with him. He was renowned throughout the world for his knowledge of rhododendrons and azaleas which led him to visit nurseries on five different continents. His nursery has become famous for hybridizing rhododendrons and azaleas that have been registered with the International Cultivar Registration Authority. These can be found in many gardens throughout the world.

He was the past president of the Seattle Chapter and honorary life member of the Washington State Nursery and Landscape Association, a member of the American Rhododendron Society, a past member of the International Plant Propagators Association, a past board member and honorary board member of the Washington Park Arboretum Foundation. He was also a member of the Rhododendron Species Foundation and the Bellevue Botanical Gardens. He was honored with the Pacific Coast Nurserymen's Man of the Year Award and he received the Bronze Medal for his service to the Seattle Rhododendron Society. In addition he received the Pioneer Award from the Washington State Nursery and Landscape Association.