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History of ISA: 1970s
The Research Trust
| John Duling of Indiana along with O.J. Andersen of Texas, always strong
advocates of research, proposed in 1972 the establishment of a tax-exempt
Memorial Research Trust Fund. Funding for the Trust began in 1974. Between 1975
and 1998, the Trust funded more than 250 research grants totaling greater than
one million dollars. Throughout its history, the Trust has funded
ground-breaking research in areas of tree management and maintenance, planting,
plant health, tree failure, soils, and environmental benefits of trees.
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L.C. Chadwick with past presidents, 1970. Left to right on back row: L.C.
Chadwick, Keith Davey, Freeman Parr, Homer Jacobs, F.E. Martin, George S.
Langford, Spence Davis, Jr., H.C. Wilson, Front row: Noel Wysong, Al Meserve,
D.S. Welch, Richard Campana, Ray Hirt, O.J. Andersen. |
Riders in the annual Tour des Trees Research Trust fundraiser. Seattle to
Oakland, 1992. |
Two annual functions became traditional events to add revenues to
the Research Trust funds. The first event of note was the Tour des Trees, a
week-long bicycle tour that finished at the annual conference field day. The
second event was a golf outing, held the day before the ISA field day. These
two events, along with chapter fundraising activities, permitted the Trust to
fund over $125,000 in research each year between 1995 and 1998. The Trust also
established an endowment fund in 1994 that grew to $125,000 in 1999.
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Milestones of the 1970s
| The 50th anniversary of the Conference in 1974 was marked by the creation of a
new professional journal. Dr. Dan Neely, ISTC editor since 1970, was appointed
editor of the Journal of Arboriculture in January 1975, and Arborist’s News was
discontinued. |
An early Vermeer stump grinder on exhibit in 1970. |
ISA staff and helpers working the conference registration table. St. Louis
1976. |
In 1975 and again in 1987 ISA, in cooperation with NAA, initiated a
bicentennial tree recognition program to commemorate the United States
Declaration of Independence in 1776 and the signing of the Constitution in
1787. The goal was to locate trees known to have been living “witnesses” to
these historic events. Once located, each tree was to be marked with a bronze
plaque designating it as a duly recognized bicentennial tree. The program was
initiated in October 1975 by planting an American elm on the White House
grounds in Washington, D.C. The elm was a scion of the John Quincy Adams elm
destroyed by Dutch elm disease.
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International Society of Arboriculture
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The organization that began as a conference in 1924 became the International
Society of Arboriculture on January 1, 1976. This name change, along with the
creation of the new Journal of Arboriculture, gave the Society a new
professional status. A new constitution and bylaws for the newly created ISA
were also approved. |
Officers of the International Shade Tree Conference are examining the first
issue of the Journal of Arboriculture as it comes off the press. Left to right
are John Z. Duling, President; Dr. Dan Neely, Editor; and Dr. E.B. Himelick,
Executive Director. |
50th Anniversary Conference. Atlanta, 1975. |
Also in 1976, ISA executive director Eugene Himelick initiated the
first International Tree Climbing Jamboree at the annual conference held in St.
Louis, Missouri. The goal of the event was to demonstrate skills; however,
safety in tree work was an essential component of the competition. The first
World Champion Tree Climber (in 1976) was Tom Gosnell of Santa Barbara,
California.
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| In 1978, ISA president Yvon Fournier of Quebec initiated a new series of annual
awards to stimulate chapter competition in striving for excellence and
achievement in fulfilling ISA goals. Known as the annual Banner Awards, each
chapter received a large silken banner for display at its meetings that
identified the chapter and year of origin. Citations were awarded to chapters
in six categories: membership increase, special projects, quality of
newsletter, attendance at annual meetings, presidency of ISA, and hosting the
ISA annual meeting within the chapter area. Each citation was to be affixed to
the chapter’s banner. The first banners were awarded at the ISA annual
conference in Quebec in 1979. |
Bob McConnell and Hyland Johns dedicate a bicentennial tree, 1976. |
Truck displays and demonstrations have long been a part of field day events.
St. Louis, 1976. |
A full-time executive director position was created in 1979, and
the position of executive secretary was eliminated. Cal Bundy, the executive
secretary, was appointed as the first full-time executive director. Gene
Himelick was appointed executive director emeritus and was asked to serve as
advisor for one year. The 1970s saw rapid growth of the Society, with
membership topping 3,000 professionals by the end of the decade.
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The new ISA display is unveiled following the name change to International
Society of Arboriculture in 1976. |
The aerial rescue event at the first ISA Jamboree in 1976. |
Chapter Banner Awards on display at the 1978 conference. |
A movie camera documents the introduction of new, lightweight chain saws in
Philadelphia, 1977. Notice the chain saw protective pantyhose and steel-toed
stilettos. |
Ervin C. "Cal" Bundy
Executive Secretary - 1969-1979
Executive Director - 1979-1986 |
Delegates were welcomed to Toronto in 1978 with a large floral display. |
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