In the News
Whitmire Annuity Establishes an Endowment Gift that Gives – And Keeps on Giving!
Dedication of Whitmire Laboratory builds on legacy of generosity and environmental awareness
On July 13, 2007, in recognition of the Whitmire’s support and shared commitment to using plant science to improve the human condition, the Danforth Center celebrated the dedication of Dr. Ed Cahoon’s lab as the Margaret S. and Blanton J. Whitmire Laboratory. The Whitmire’s generous endowment gift not only contributes to the long-term sustainability of the Center, it also recognizes what Blanton and Peg describe as “a good fit.”
Blanton’s brother, Dr. H. E. Whitmire, established Whitmire Research Laboratories in 1933 and Blanton joined the business upon his return from WWII. The brothers emphasized using natural products that were safer for humans and the environment, and Blanton revolutionized the pest control industry with his pioneering “crack and crevice” method of pesticide application that used 100 times less chemicals to achieve superior results. Blanton also founded the Whitmire Institute of Technology, known for training seminars that are considered the “gold standard” in the Pest Control Industry. He has been recognized by the Pest Control Industry, receiving its “Man of the Year” award as well as its highest honor - induction into the Industry’s “Hall of Fame.”
During his years in pest control, Blanton traveled widely in many of the same developing countries where Danforth scientists have established collaborative research endeavors. He was struck by the living conditions in places like Kenya, Uganda, and the Sudan, and shocked by the high rates of pest-related food loss in developing countries (30% compared to less than 5% in countries like the United States).
Having witnessed such problems first-hand, Blanton appreciated the work that Danforth Center scientists like Dr. Cahoon were doing to produce safer, more nutritious pest- and disease-resistant crops – as well as the resonance of these advances with those of his own legacy. “Pest management was my business, and I promised myself that if I had the opportunity to help out, I would.” Peg and Blanton were convinced that there was “no area of greater need,” and after learning about the work of the Danforth Center concluded that “Here is a place that may be able to make a difference!”
It is obvious that the same can be said of the Whitmires themselves, since their generosity is already making a difference for the Danforth Center and the future of our planet and its people!
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