THE STORKAN-HANES-McCASLIN RESEARCH FOUNDATION
The
Storkan Foundation, in honor of Richard Storkan - former President of
Trical, Inc. was founded in 1987 to encourage graduate research on
soil-borne diseases. With the passing in 1993 of Jerry Hanes, another
founding member of Trical, the name was changed to The Storkan-Hanes
Research Foundation. Storkan, Hanes, and McCaslin, the three founding
members of Trical, were always willing to provide time, money, fumigants,
equipment, etc. to further research in soil diseases. Sadly, the last of the
founding members of Trical, Bob McCaslin, passed away in November 2000. In
early 2002, the name was changed to The Storkan-Hanes-McCaslin Research
Foundation.
A major goal of the foundation is to
encourage research by offering financial assistance to graduate students who
have demonstrated interest in soil-borne diseases and their control. Postdoctoral candidates are also eligible. The Foundation policy is one of
contributing to the education of a student, with Grants being awarded on a
yearly basis.
The original Board Members were Jerry Hanes,
Dean Storkan, Irene Storkan, Tom Duafala, John Kahle, Steve Wilhelm, Albert
Paulus and Don Munnecke, Chairman. Sadly. Dr. Wilhelm passed away in 2002.
As of 2003, the Foundation has awarded a total of $260,000 to 45
students across the United States. In addition to the cash award, the
Foundation supplies airfare for the newly elected Fellows of the
Storkan-Hanes-McCaslin Foundation, to attend the
annual American Phytopathological Society (APS) meeting. At the meeting, the Foundation presents a plaque to the
Fellows at a special luncheon attended by the newly elected Fellows, their
research sponsor, other previous Fellows and members of the
Storkan-Hanes-McCaslin Foundation.
