HAPPENINGS
Albert (Al) Eugene Dudeck, PhD, Obituary Albert (Al) Eugene Dudeck, PhD, age 87, passed away peacefully at his home in Gainesville, Florida, on May 23, 2024. Born in West Hazleton, Pennsylvania, on October 16, 1936, he was a son of the late Edward and Mary (Hollodick) Dudeck. He married his beloved wife of 65 years, Dolores Dudinyak, in 1959 at Transfiguration Church in West Hazleton. After earning
his PhD in Agronomy at Penn State University in 1964, he worked in turfgrass research. Te family lived in Lincoln, Nebraska, and then Fort Lauderdale, Florida, before settling in Gainesville, Florida, where Al resided with his family for over 50 years. He was a leading turfgrass researcher, and a professor at the University of Florida’s Department of Environmental Horticulture and IFAS until his retirement in 2002. Troughout his career, he evaluated and developed grasses resistant to southern chinch bugs and sod viruses, focusing especially on golf courses and home lawns. He traveled with his wife Dolores and presented his findings at numerous conferences in such locations as New Zealand, Australia, Italy, Hawaii, and Wales. He was a respected researcher, and he passed on his wisdom to the countless students he taught during his long career. Al was an active member of the Gainesville Catholic community, and he helped build Holy Faith Catholic Church in its beginnings at its current location. After his retirement, he enjoyed volunteering at his parish, St. Madeleine Catholic Church in High Springs, Florida, assisting with the maintenance of the Memorial Garden and serving with his family at Sunday morning hospitality for years. He loved fishing, cooking, home improvement projects, and spending time with his ever-growing family. Al is preceded in death by his parents, sister Eleanor Kulaga of Leesburg, Virginia, brother Leo Dudeck of Leesburg, Virginia, and granddaughter Elizabeth Dudeck of Gainesville, Florida. He is survived by his loving wife Dolores, his children Ken (Dian) Dudeck, Gainesville; Monica (Tony) Glynn, Gainesville; and Kathy (Dave) Collart, Covington, Georgia. He is also survived by fourteen grandchildren, his brother Edward Dudeck of West Hazleton, Pennsylvania, and many nieces and nephews. Te Visitation and the Funeral Mass were held on May 28, 2024, at St. Madeleine Catholic Church in High Springs, FL. Donations may be made to A Woman’s Answer Medical Center (AWA) or the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity (SOLT). Te family would like to acknowledge and thank the staff—and especially his nurse Lisa—at Community Hospice for their compassionate care and support. Dr. Kevin Kenworthy, professor of plant breeding and molecular genetics at the University of Florida, forwarded this obituary to share with TPI members, reporting that Dr. Dudeck was instrumental in the releases of Floratam and Floralawn St. Augustinegrasses, and Floratex and Floradwarf bermudagrasses.
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Sorochan and Dickson Receive UT Chancellor’s Innovation Fund Award University of Tennessee (UT) Distinguished Professor John Sorochan, PhD, Turfgrass Science and Management, UT Institute of Agriculture (UTIA); and Kyley Dickson, PhD, researcher and co-director, UT Center for Athletic Field Safety, recently had their project selected for UT’s inaugural Chancellor’s Innovation Fund Award. Tey will receive $50,000 and the support they need to help move their technology from the lab toward the marketplace. Sorochan and Dickson’s project is a testing device called fLEX, which measures the performance and playability of surfaces, typically sports surfaces. Te device, which they conceived of together, is portable and can simulate the foot strike of an athlete ranging from 35 to 350 pounds doing a stopping or accelerating motion. Testing focuses on three areas: the actual surface (natural grass, synthetic turf, etc.), the footwear, and the athlete (weight, sport, etc.) Te funds awarded to Sorochan and Dickson will primarily be used for continued software and mechanical development of the current beta prototype.
George Toma Releases New Book,Te Sodfather George Toma, the pride of Kansas City, Missouri, and the sports field industry has released a new book in collaboration with Craig Handel. Titled Te Sodfather, it chronicles Toma’s 80-year career. Toma rose from hardscrabble beginnings in the anthracite coal region of northeastern Pennsylvania to manicure sports fields in stadiums and ballparks worldwide. While doing so, he brought
attention, respect, and honor to the profession of sports field management—and the turfgrass industry. Toma’s resume includes working the first 57 Super Bowls, the 1984 and 1996 Olympics, and the 1994 World Cup. Locally, he manicured Ewin Kauffman Stadium, Arrowhead Stadium, his beloved Municipal Stadium, and the George P. Toma Wiffle
Ball Field. Two mottos are part of George’s core beliefs: One
is “Do your best – and then some.” Te other is that the best insurance for an athlete is a safe playing field. According to Toma, while grateful for the opportunities the NFL provided, the league not addressing issues on Super Bowl fields conflicted with his beliefs. When league officials continued to dismiss his concerns, his frustration led him to write this book to set the record straight. Te Sodfather is available in paperback and hardcover. Toma held numerous book signings in the Kansas City area June 8-13, including one held at the Olathe, Kansas, location of TPI
member the Grass Pad.
TPI Turf News July/August 2024
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