Henry Luke Bolley
Encyclopedia
Henry Luke Bolley was an American botanist and plant pathologist
known for his work that led to the control or eradication of several major crop diseases. He was also a pioneering college football
player and coach.
. He attended Purdue University
, where he played varsity baseball
and tennis
. In 1887, he organized the first American football
team at Purdue, and played quarterback
in the team's first game against DePauw University
. Bolley graduated in 1888, and remained at Purdue as a botanist while earning a master's degree in 1889.
. In his first year at NDAC, he isolated the organism responsible for potato scab and developed an effective treatment. In 1893, he discovered a method of treating smut
with formaldehyde
. Much of his work, however, focused on the causes of flax wilt. At the time, it was believed that wilt was caused by "flax-sick" or deficient soil. Bolley established that wilt was in fact the result of fusarium oxysporum
bacteria in the soil. His breeding work led to the development of the resistant
strain "Bison Flax", which was planted widely and made North Dakota one of the world's major flax
-producing regions.
Bolley turned his attention to stem rust
, a wheat disease. He discovered that the rust spores bred not on wheat plants, but on the common barberry, a bush often found near wheat fields. He was author of the North Dakota Pure Seed Law of 1908. New International Encyclopedia
In 1916–17, he authored and obtained passage of a state law creating a barberry eradication program. Bolley served as North Dakota state seed commissioner from 1909 to 1929.
to a football match, but did not have enough players to field an NDAC team until 1894. In that year, Bolley's "Farmers" (not "Bison" until 1922) defeated the UND football
squad twice, 20–4 and 22–4, starting a rivalry which continues today. Bolley coached football at NDAC until 1899.
. He received honorary doctorates from Purdue in 1938 and NDAC in 1939. He retired from teaching in 1945 and died in 1956 at age 91. He was buried in Fargo, North Dakota
.
Phytopathology
Plant pathology is the scientific study of plant diseases caused by pathogens and environmental conditions . Organisms that cause infectious disease include fungi, oomycetes, bacteria, viruses, viroids, virus-like organisms, phytoplasmas, protozoa, nematodes and parasitic plants...
known for his work that led to the control or eradication of several major crop diseases. He was also a pioneering college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
player and coach.
Early life and education
Bolley was raised on a farm near Lawrenceburg, IndianaLawrenceburg, Indiana
Lawrenceburg is a city in Dearborn County, Indiana, United States. The population was 5,042 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of Dearborn County...
. He attended Purdue University
Purdue University
Purdue University, located in West Lafayette, Indiana, U.S., is the flagship university of the six-campus Purdue University system. Purdue was founded on May 6, 1869, as a land-grant university when the Indiana General Assembly, taking advantage of the Morrill Act, accepted a donation of land and...
, where he played varsity baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
and tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
. In 1887, he organized the first American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
team at Purdue, and played quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
in the team's first game against DePauw University
DePauw University
DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, USA, is a private, national liberal arts college with an enrollment of approximately 2,400 students. The school has a Methodist heritage and was originally known as Indiana Asbury University. DePauw is a member of both the Great Lakes Colleges Association...
. Bolley graduated in 1888, and remained at Purdue as a botanist while earning a master's degree in 1889.
Plant pathology work
In 1890, Bolley was one of the first three faculty members hired at the newly-founded North Dakota Agricultural College (NDAC), later North Dakota State UniversityNorth Dakota State University
North Dakota State University of Agriculture and Applied Sciences, more commonly known as North Dakota State University , is a public university in Fargo, North Dakota. NDSU has about 14,000 students and it is the largest university in North Dakota based on full time students and land size...
. In his first year at NDAC, he isolated the organism responsible for potato scab and developed an effective treatment. In 1893, he discovered a method of treating smut
Smut (fungus)
The smuts are multicellular fungi, that are characterized by their large numbers of teliospores. The smuts get their name from a Germanic word for dirt because of their dark, thick-walled and dust-like teliospores. They are mostly Ustilaginomycetes and can cause plant disease...
with formaldehyde
Formaldehyde
Formaldehyde is an organic compound with the formula CH2O. It is the simplest aldehyde, hence its systematic name methanal.Formaldehyde is a colorless gas with a characteristic pungent odor. It is an important precursor to many other chemical compounds, especially for polymers...
. Much of his work, however, focused on the causes of flax wilt. At the time, it was believed that wilt was caused by "flax-sick" or deficient soil. Bolley established that wilt was in fact the result of fusarium oxysporum
Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lini
Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. lini is a fungal plant pathogen. Among the diseases it causes is flax wilt.-External links:* *...
bacteria in the soil. His breeding work led to the development of the resistant
Disease resistance in fruit and vegetables
There are a number of lines of defence against pests and diseases in the organic garden, principal among these being the practice of good husbandry, creating healthy soil and ensuring high standards of garden hygiene...
strain "Bison Flax", which was planted widely and made North Dakota one of the world's major flax
Flax
Flax is a member of the genus Linum in the family Linaceae. It is native to the region extending from the eastern Mediterranean to India and was probably first domesticated in the Fertile Crescent...
-producing regions.
Bolley turned his attention to stem rust
Stem rust
The stem, black or cereal rusts are caused by the fungus Puccinia graminis and are a significant disease affecting cereal crops. An epidemic of stem rust on wheat caused by race Ug99 is currently spreading across Africa, Asia and most recently into Middle East and is causing major concern due to...
, a wheat disease. He discovered that the rust spores bred not on wheat plants, but on the common barberry, a bush often found near wheat fields. He was author of the North Dakota Pure Seed Law of 1908. New International Encyclopedia
New International Encyclopedia
The New International Encyclopedia was an American encyclopedia first published in 1902 by Dodd, Mead and Company. It descended from the International Cyclopaedia and was updated in 1906, 1914 and 1926.-History:...
In 1916–17, he authored and obtained passage of a state law creating a barberry eradication program. Bolley served as North Dakota state seed commissioner from 1909 to 1929.
Football coaching
In 1890, Bolley challenged the University of North DakotaUniversity of North Dakota
The University of North Dakota is a public university in Grand Forks, North Dakota, USA. Established by the Dakota Territorial Assembly in 1883, six years before the establishment of the state of North Dakota, UND is the oldest and largest university in the state and enrolls over 14,000 students. ...
to a football match, but did not have enough players to field an NDAC team until 1894. In that year, Bolley's "Farmers" (not "Bison" until 1922) defeated the UND football
North Dakota Fighting Sioux football
The North Dakota Fighting Sioux are a college football program that competes in the Great West Conference in the NCAA Division I's Football Championship Subdivision...
squad twice, 20–4 and 22–4, starting a rivalry which continues today. Bolley coached football at NDAC until 1899.
Later life and honors
Bolley was a member of many academic organizations including the American Botanical Society and the American Association for the Advancement of ScienceAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science
The American Association for the Advancement of Science is an international non-profit organization with the stated goals of promoting cooperation among scientists, defending scientific freedom, encouraging scientific responsibility, and supporting scientific education and science outreach for the...
. He received honorary doctorates from Purdue in 1938 and NDAC in 1939. He retired from teaching in 1945 and died in 1956 at age 91. He was buried in Fargo, North Dakota
Fargo, North Dakota
Fargo is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Dakota and the county seat of Cass County. In 2010, its population was 105,549, and it had an estimated metropolitan population of 208,777...
.