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DEPARTMENT
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Basil Furgala Basil Furgala passed away 11 May 1996. He received his BSA in 1953 and an M.S. in 1954 from the University of Manitoba, and a Ph. D. in entomology from the University of Minnesota in 1959. He was a Research Scientist with Canada Department of Agriculture from 1959 until 1967 when he returned to the University of Minnesota to take a position as associate professor of apiculture. Dr. Furgala's illustrious career has focused on research designed to aid the beekeeping industries of Minnesota, the nation, and the world. He advised many graduate students including people from Morocco, Indonesia, and Iraq. His research, reported in numerous publications, included the epidemiology and chemotherapy of nosema and viruses afflicting honeybees, sunflower and legume pollination, queen evaluations, and investigations of the honey bee tracheal mite. He is also well known for his work on colony management systems including techniques for successful overwintering of honey bee colonies in the upper midwest. Basil's contributions to apiculture have been recognized by the industry he so ably served. He received the J.I. Hambleton Award from the Eastern Apicultural Society of North America in 1975, a Certificate of appreciation from the USDA in 1981, the Apiculture Research Award from the Apiary Inspectors of America in 1983, the Outstanding Service to Beekeeping Award from the Western Apicultural Society of North America in 1986, and the Dutch Gold Honey Bear Award. Basil has also served as a USDA National Research Program Leader and as National Extension Apiculture Program Leader in Washington, D.C. The Basil Furgala Scholarship Fund, in honor of Basil, was established at the University of Minnesota in 1987 by the Minnesota Hobby Beekeepers Association. Past students and colleagues remember Basil as a "people person" with great enthusiasm, insurmountable optimism, an appreciation for experimental design, and complete dedication to the beekeeping industry. He will be greatly missed by all who have known him personally and professionally. Dr. Furgala is survived by his wife, Nettie; daughter Mary Carey; sons Perry and Jim; 4 grandchildren, Gabrielle, Brennan, and Clarissa Carey, and Brittany Furgala; sister Kay Dankewich; brother Michael and many nieces and nephews. Mark E. Ascerno
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