TPI’s last contact with Wendell Mathews was made by Jim Novak, recently retired as TPI’s Public Relations Manager, who had contacted Mathews seeking his input prior to TPI’s 50 & Fabulous Anniversary Celebration. Novak stated, “Wendell called shortly after he had lost his home and all his personal possessions in a terrible fire. He apologized for not writing something for the 50th and told me he would get back to me when he was settled.”
Tat contact never occurred. Subsequently, the current Turf News co-editors began reaching out, using the last email address and phone number available for Mathews. With no response, they turned to sleuthing. Dr. Wendell Glen Mathews, 85, died on December 22, 2016, in Tavares, Florida. Memorial services were held at Lutheran Church by the Lake, McCormick, South Carolina, on January 21, 2017.
Wendell’s brother, Harold Glen (Matt) Mathews and his wife Georgianne reported, “Wendell loved the magazine and the turfgrass people and he especially loved the Conferences.” His son, Paul Mathews, confirmed that.
Lain says, “I consider Turf News one of the key things that happened with ASPA. Wendell Mathews deserves the credit for taking the idea and the initial concept of the magazine and turning it into a quality publication. He fit perfectly. Wendell Mathews was the father of the magazine, a super individual for the association and for the industry.”
In 2009, Bob O’Quinn left the association. In June of 2009, the TPI Newsletter reported, “Turf News - NEWS! TPI Executive Director Kirk Hunter has announced that Den Gardner is the new Editor of Turf News magazine.” At that time Gardner had been in the communications business for 33 years; was executive director of the Turf and Ornamental Communicators Association (TOCA); executive director of the American Agricultural Editors Association (AAEA); and owner of Gardner & Gardner Communications, a marketing consulting business, based in New Prague, Minnesota.
In addition, the article reported, “Lynn Grooms, a professional agricultural writer, living in Madison, Wisconsin, will serve as a writer and Managing Editor. Lynn has written numerous books and has been a contributing editor/feature writer for Farm Industry News; a contributing editor to Seed Today, Biofuels Journal, and has been featured in Ag Retailer, Agri Marketing, Farm Futures, etc.”
In making the announcement Hunter commented, “We believe this change will provide Turf News with more flexibility, greater exposure, heightened creativity, enhanced communication and prove to be extremely cost effective in light of today’s challenging economy and the need to effectively cut expenditures while providing our members with timely and beneficial information.”
TPI Turf News November/December 2017
Charles Lain, Sr. (left) and Ray Weekley (right) enjoy reminiscing during TPI’s 50 & Fabulous Anniversary Celebration.
TPI extends great thanks to Gardner and Grooms for incorporating their agricultural and horticultural industry backgrounds while staying in tune with the challenges and rewards of turfgrass production and reflecting all that through their reporting and informing in Turf News.
Starting with the November/December 2014 issue, Steve and Suz Trusty of Trusty & Associates were named co-editors of Turf News. Teir background in the green industry and long history of supplying articles and photographs to both trade and consumer publications make this another good fit for TPI and Turf News.
Lain says, “Tose early boards had big dreams that the Association and the magazine would grow together. I had been with Weyerhaeuser prior to entering sod production and understood what big factors marketing and merchandising were. I realized as a national association, it’s so important to get your message out there. Te association can speak so much more effectively than the individual. By joining together, our voice matters. I saw it then and I see it now through my son, Chip, and through the others now active and in leadership roles.”
Ray Weekley adds, “With the developments and the growth of the industry, agricultural studies also expanded. Major universities such as Virginia Tech began to recognize the importance of turf farming and increased research that also impacted our industry greatly. With more technological innovations in our corner, and the benefits of research enhancing our farming abilities, the turf industry in the last 40 years has been refined and perfected. All of this due in large part to a little magazine that kept all of us on our toes!
“In retrospect, 1977 was the beginning for us as an industry and the Turf News Magazine gave us what we needed to become the dynamic industry we are today.”
Suz Trusty is co-editor of Turf News. All photos from TPI Archives.
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