yourself and your activities, or if you are shy and think it might be bragging, why not ‘tell on’ someone else!”
In the May-June 1978 issue of Turf News and his last column as ASPA President, Glenn Rehbein stated, “As you may have noticed this magazine has already grown in size and enthusiasm. I’m really pleased by the amount of support from the ASPA members and from educators, researchers and specialists who have contributed much in the way of contents and information in the magazine. We have also gotten an excellent response and a lot of support from advertisers. ASPA Turf News has turned out to be an excellent way for new members to become more familiar with our organization and it has been a help for other members just keeping up with what the Association is doing. With such as strong start I’m hoping that it can continue to grow.”
In the September/October 1978 issue, Charles Lain, Sr., then ASPA newly-elected President, noted his objectives during his year in office, including expansion of ASPA Turf News.
Preserving history was as important to Mathews as it was to ASPA members. His article, “Ben Warren Talks About the Early Development of the Sod Industry,” a question and answer exchange with Ben Warren, the force behind the drive to form ASPA, is a gem in the January/February 1979 issue. Warren, owner of Warren’s Turf Nursery, Palos Hills, Illinois, was the first president of ASPA. At that time, Warren had been in sod production for 40 years.
the Morgans were the only ASPA member in New Zealand and the only turfgrass sod producers in New Zealand. Mathews reported they called their product “ReadyLawn” Turf and had the slogan, “Ready when you are.” (Current TPI member Roger Morgan, one of Barbara and Allan’s sons, is now the Managing Director of ReadyLawn Industries, LTD., which will be featured in the “Innovation and Generations” article in the January/ February 2018 issue of Turf News.)
Under Mathews dedicated leadership, the magazine continued to reflect the heart of the industry, the association and its members. Ten, as reported on page 161 of the History of Turfgrass Producers International 40th Anniversary book: “TPI Manager of Communications Will Edit Turf News. In May (of 2000), Bob O’Quinn joined the TPI staff as Manager of Communications, a newly created, full-time position reporting to TPI Executive Director Doug Fender.” Te position, a significant milestone for TPI, was the result of numerous discussions that began when Wendell Mathews, Turf News Editor of 23 years, announced his intentions to retire.
With over two decades experience in trade publications and corporate communications management within the hardware/home improvement industry, O’Quinn was adept in both external and internal corporate communications including: “public relations, employee and member communications, advertising/sales/marketing support and training materials.”
Te photo of Dr. Wendell Mathews and the stack of issues appeared at the bottom of this announcement. In 2001, Dr. Wendell Mathews was recognized as an individual who had significantly improved the industry and organization by being named an Honorary TPI Member.
Ben Warren (right) and Charles Lain, Sr. (left) as pictured in the January/ February 1979 Turf News issue.
Te March/April 1979 issue included the article, “Can the Sod Industry Help Solve the Sludge Problem,” by Dr. John R. Hall, III, extension specialist in turf research at Virginia Tech University, a recap of his presentation during the ASPA 1979 winter meeting. Tis type reporting would become another recurring feature of the magazine.
By 1980, a new heading “International Sod Production,” began appearing as a regular feature in most issues of the magazine. In the November/December 1980 issue, Mathews provided a short overview on the operations of an ASPA international member, Barbara and Allan Morgan, of Morgan/Pollard, LTD., Christchurch, New Zealand. According to the article, at that time
94 TPI Turf News November/December 2017
A report on Turf News readership in 2006 noted that the magazine was then being mailed to 44 countries, reflecting TPI’s international membership. In 2008, Wendell Mathews was commissioned to edit the History of Turfgrass Producers International 40th Anniversary book, in conjunction with Walt Pemrick, ASPA President 1983-1984.
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