A Tribute to the CAREER of R. R. Allmaras.

Dr. Raymond R. Allmaras, was raised on a farm near New Rockford North Dakota.  He earned collegiate degrees from North Dakota State University (1952), from the University of Nebraska (1956), and from Iowa State University (1960).   His first position was at the Scott’s Bluff Experiment Station in Nebraska working for the Agricultural Research Service, (USDA).  He next spent three years at Iowa State where he earned a PhD.   In 1960 he rejoined the Agricultural Research Service at Morris, Minnesota, and then moved to Pendleton, Oregon as Research Leader in 1971. He returned to Minnesota in 1985 with ARS and was stationed at the University of Minnesota.  He retired in 2001.  Ray was a complete scientist from both an in-depth and applied view-point.  He had a strong working knowledge in the basic sciences.  He was adept at drawing upon his knowledge to solve practical agricultural and environmental problems.  His area of research included soil tillage, soil compaction and root growth, crop residue management, root diseases, soil water, and soil erosion.  Dr. Allmaras was recognized widely for his research.  He was a member of nine scientific societies and was elected a Fellow in five of the societies. He received many awards. Two recent awards were the Distinguished Service Award from the Soil Science Society of America (2005), and the Outstanding Achievement Award from North Dakota State University Alumni Society (2006).

            Ray was a warm, generous, down to earth person that every one liked. He interacted positively with all he met.  He died in November 2006.