Honorary Fellowship

Professor William E. Fry

Section of Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology
School of Integrative Plant Sciences
334 Plant Science Building
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14853
USA

has been elected as
Honorary Fellow of
Indian Mycological Society in 2025

Professor William E. Fry is Nebraska-born and studied in that state, and in Minnesota, before undertaking a PhD at Cornell University, Ithaca, New York State from 1966 to 1970. In 1971, Bill joined the Faculty in the Department of Plant Pathology at Cornell, rising through the ranks to Professor in 1984. Bill became Chairman of this famous Department in 1981, and remained in that post until 1995. Cornell University appointed him as Senior Associate Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences in 2001, a position with substantial administrative responsibilities. Nevertheless research remains important for Bill, with postgraduate and postdoctoral supervision as prominent as before. Bill Fry’s contribution to plant pathology is measured in his scholarship: 4 books as author/coauthor; 27 book chapters; more than 125 refereed papers and over 30 technical/semipopular articles; as well as speaking at over 100 international scientific meetings worldwide – not least several BSPP conferences, including delivering the Garrett Lecture in 1997. This canon of work on the epidemiology, biology and genetics of Phytophthora infestans is unsurpassed. Prof.  Bill Fry, and his numerous coworkers over two and a half decades, have advanced beyond expectation our understanding of this potent pathogen, and in particular its population biology. This pursuit has been unselfish, as shown by his interaction with late-blight researchers in numerous countries and the generosity of resources, guidance and expertise offered to researchers visiting Ithaca over the years. Further to his administrative roles at Cornell, Bill has given more than 20 years’ service to the American Phytopathology Society, serving on numerous committees, culminating in his election as APS President in 1995. Editorial Board duties, too, have been carried out  for  Annual Review of Phytopathology (1990–92); Plant Pathology (1989–97); and Journal of Phytopathology (1997–present). The Board of BSPP has selected Prof. Bill Fry as an Honorary Member of the Society, certain in the knowledge of his continuing contribution to plant pathology, and in particular potato/tomato late-blight research.  He has been elected as Fellow of the American Phytopathological Society in 1990 and Fellow of the Amercian Association  of the Advancement of Science in 2009. Executive Council of Indian Mycological Society (IMS) elected Professor  William E. Fry, Department of Plant Pathology, Cornell University, Ithaca as  Honorary Fellow of Indian Mycological Society  in 2025.