Dr Clarence Scrivner

 

 

Clarence Leland “Connie” Scrivner passed away August 2, 2005 at Columbia, Missouri due to heart failure. He will be remembered as an effective and inspirational soil science teacher and student advisor. His wife of sixty years Alleen preceded him in death on June 2, 2005. He is survived by son Alan, daughters Carol Busacker and Janet Gross, and granddaughters Christine and Meredith Gross, and Julie Brodie.
Dr. Scrivner was born July 7, 1921. He served as a pilot during World War II and after the war returned to the University of Missouri where he earned a B.S. degree in Agriculture in 1946, a M.S. degree in Soils in 1953, and a Ph.D. in Soils in 1960. He began working at the University of Missouri in 1947 as an Assistant in Soil Survey where he participated in the mapping of Missouri soils. From 1953 until 1960, he taught an undergraduate course in Soil Survey, Field Mapping, and Land Appraisal. He became an Assistant Professor of Soils in 1960 responsible for teaching and research in the area of soil genesis, soil survey, forest soils, and rural real estate appraisal. He was the University of Missouri representative to the National Cooperative Soil Survey, North Central Regional Committees concerned with soil survey, the Soil Survey Technical Committee, and the Soil and Water Conservation Program of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Dr. Scrivner was a member of the Soil Science Society of America and during 1969-70 served as Chairman of Division S-5. He was Professor of Agronomy and had supervised the theses and dissertations of 19 graduate students, had 28 publications, and completed two overseas assignments in Nigeria and the Dominican Republic before he retired in 1985 with the title Professor Emeritus.
Dr. Scrivner contributed to the understanding of Missouri soils through his field observations, research, and an extremely popular extension publication “Soils of Missouri”. He developed a productivity index for Missouri soils based upon factors regulating root growth and water depletion with depth in the profile. This model provides an excellent way to understand the impact of factors such as erosion, weather and chemical, physical, or microbial properties on the soil system and its productivity. Upon retirement, he and Alleen established SGB Farms where they applied these concepts to produce Christmas trees, blueberries, and shitake mushrooms. University of Missouri extension, research and teaching have used SGB Farm as an example of how to manage a hill farm for profit and soil conservation. In 2004, the Missouri Association of Professional Soil Scientists recognized these efforts with a “Lifetime Service to Missouri Soil Science” Award.
His enthusiastic approach to learning along with a genuine concern for students as people made him an exceptional teacher, mentor, motivator and friend. His plain speaking and friendship provided the spark to help many struggling students become successful. He inspired students to learn and by example showed that hard work could be a joyful path to success. We have lost a good teacher, friend, and soil scientist.