HALL OF FAME

IWGS Hall of Fame

Each year the International Waterlily and Water Gardening Society inducts into the IWGS Hall of Fame individuals who have made significant contributions to the furtherance of water gardening and aquatic plants on an international basis.

Individuals nominated may be alive or deceased; the primary criterion is that their contributions should be notable. Hall of Fame inductees may be hybridizers, plant collectors, writers, public aquatic garden superintendents, growers, or others who have significantly contributed to the furtherance of the Society's purposes.

These purposes are defined in Section IIIB of the Articles of Incorporation as "promoting, encouraging, and fostering the discovery, growth, research, development, and improvement of the family Nymphaeaceae and companion aquatic plants and the dissemination of information pertaining thereto to the membership and to the general public."

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We have gathered as many photographs of the Hall of Fame members as we could.  If you have additional photographs of any of the Hall of Fame Members, please contact us at "[email protected]"

Tim Jennings

Country: USA

INDUCTED: 2022
Tim Jennings is a graduate of Longwood's Professional Horticulture Training Program and is the Senior Horticulturalist responsible for Longwood's outdoor Waterlily Display. Tim teaches several popular water gardening courses at Longwood Gardens and also serves as a lab instructor for various plant identification classes. Tim had the good fortune of studying under Patrick Nutt, while a student and later as an employee. Today Tim carries on that tradition by sharing the water gardens at Longwood with thousands of visitors and hundreds students each year.

Claude Monet

Country: France

INDUCTED: 2019
Claude Monet was inducted into the IWGS Hall of Fame in recognition of his contribution to the promotion of waterlilies to the world. Monet's waterlily pond had inspired his most famous later paintings whose iconic images have travelled the world. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame at a ceremony in Givernay, France during the 2019 Symposium.

Nopchai Chansilpa

Country: Thailand

INDUCTED: 2018
We all have much to look forward to from this hydridizer wonder. Thank you, Dr. Nopchai Chansilpa. Your work, your kindness, and your heartfelt passion have been an inspiration to us all. It is with deep apprecation that we induct you into the IWGS Hall of Fame.

Tish Folsom

Country: USA

INDUCTED: 2018
Tish Folsom was inducted into the IWGS Hall of Fame at the 2018 San Angelo, Texas Symposium, in recornition of her many years of service to the International Waterlily & Water Gardening Society.

Greg Speichert

Country: usa

INDUCTED: 2015
Greg Speichert was a great friend and contributor to the International Waterlily and Water Gardening Society. He served on its Board of Directors from 1997 to 2001, and led the IWGS Trials and Collections Committee for several years. Greg had a talent for speaking and lecturing, sharing his knowledge and introducing everyone he could to the world of rare and fascinating plants.

2005 Bethlehem_ Wayne Davis
Wayne Davis

Country: USA

INDUCTED: 2015
Plantabbs of Baltimore, Maryland had a new owner and he wanted to work with specialty products. He had a chemist on staff and they were both determined to make a product specifically for waterlily that WOULD release all of its nutrients to the plant. Wayne Davis why did you wait so long playing with pharmaceuticals before finding your real calling!

Brad McLane Photo
Brad McLane

Country: USA

INDUCTED: 2015
In addition to his time at Florida Aquatic Nurseries, Brad believed in giving back to the industry that had been good to him. He took the time to serve on numerous industry boards throughout his career, serving on the Florida Tropical Fish Farmers Association board, the IWGS board which he was president from 2001-2003 on the Florida Aquaculture Association Board for many years.

Huang Guozhen

Country: China

INDUCTED: 2011
Professor Huang Guozhen is a leading authority of aquatic plants in modern China. He has devoted his life to the understanding, research and creation of new varieties of lotus and waterlilies and reaches out to many in China and countless other experts throughout the world to expand and to share his knowledge of aquatic plants.

Dr. Surrey W.L. Jacobs

Country: Australia

INDUCTED: 2010
Dr. Surrey W. L. Jacobs, a noted Australian botanist, published numerous journal articles dealing with Australian grasses and various aquatic plant genera of Australia. These included Aponogeton, Vallisneria, and Nymphaea.

Rolf Nelson

Country: USA

INDUCTED: 2010
One of the most important contributions Rolf has made to the water gardening industry, and the one which perhaps has required the greatest personal sacrifice, and has exacted the heaviest emotional toll on Rolf and his family…was his tenure as both President and Board Member of this Society.

Sir Ghillian Prance

Country: United Kingdom

INDUCTED: 2009
World renown botanist Sir Ghillean Prance was presented with an award by the IWGS in recognition of his groundbreaking research on the Giant Amazon Waterlily.

Pairat Songpanich

Country: Thailand

INDUCTED: 2009
Mr. Pairat Songpanich was inducted to the IWGS Hall of Fame in July at the St. Charles, Illinois symposium. He learned how to cross hardy waterlilies in Thailand under the guidance of Dr. Slearmlarp Wasuwat, an IWGS founding member and member of the IWGS Hall of Fame.

Richard Sacher

Country: USA

INDUCTED: 2006
Richard Sacher was inducted into the IWGS Hall of Fame in recognition of outstanding achievements in sharing his lifelong passion for and knowledge of Nymphaea through hybridizing, public display, writings and teaching.

Don Bryne

Country: USA

INDUCTED: 2005
Don’s avid interest in plants has taken him around the world in search of the new and unusual specimens. The observation and study of these plants has been enhanced because of his efforts.

Charles Winch
Charles A. Winch

Country: Australia

INDUCTED: 2005
Mr. Charles Winch has been a pioneer in the field of tropical waterlily hybridizing for more than 50 years. The development of these new lilies took place in Australia during a period where water gardening as a hobby was pretty much unknown

William Phillips

Country: USA

INDUCTED: 2004
While many people think what cannot be, William constantly focuses on what can be. That is the perfect complement to his scientific and analytical approach to things, even if it uses unorthodox methods. As a result we now have both William Phillips, the man, and ‘William Phillips’, the intersubgeneric waterlily.

James Allison

Country: United Kingdom

INDUCTED: 2004
James was inducted in recognition of his exceptional work with the IWGS as a member, a director of the board of and the editor of the Water Garden Journal. These efforts, in conjunction with his extensive publishing and other endeavors, have significantly influenced water gardening worldwide.

Helen Fowler

Country: USA

INDUCTED: 2004
Helen Shaw Fowler was an exceptional woman for many reasons, especially considering the time in which she lived. She was the visionary who understood the importance of the water gardens and wetlands area to the Capitol City. Most of all, Helen Fowler was responsible for the US’s only aquatic plant park, a green gateway that is a lasting legacy to the citizens of DC and the entire waterlily community at large.

Dr. Donald Les

Country: USA

INDUCTED: 2002
The IWGS particularly appreciates Donald Les' key work in molecular research on Victoria, Nymphaea, and other aquatic plants which has helped the understanding of the relationships between plants.

Gordon Ledbetter

Country: Ireland

INDUCTED: 2002
Gordon has been involved in water garden design for many years. His work has taken him throughout the UK and Ireland as well as to Malaysia and Singapore.

2001 Tennessee_Ken Landon
Ken Landon

Country: USA

INDUCTED: 2001
San Angelo is the home of the International Waterlily Collection. It is Ken Landon’s life’s work and it is the greatest collection of nymphaea that can be seen anywhere. Not only is it one of the largest and most diverse collections, it is fully authentic and all plants are true to their historical name.

Betsy Sakata

Country: USA

INDUCTED: 2001
Betsy Sakata's dedication to water gardening, the IWGS, and the promotion of the exchange of knowledge and plants is a shining example of generous service to others.

Dr. C. Barre Hellquist

Country: USA

INDUCTED: 2000
In recognition of his extensive work in the identification and classification of aquatic plants on an international basis, and his contributions in extending general Knowledge of aquatic plants through his work with the Society.

James Guerney Sr.

Country: United Kingdom & USA

INDUCTED: 2000
In recognition of his extraordinary pioneering contributions to water gardening, especially in relation to night blooming waterlilies, and his extensive work in popularizing waterlilies and water gardening.

Dr. Robert Caspary

Country: Germany

INDUCTED: 1999
In recognition of his extensive pioneering work in the identification, classification and cultivation of nymphaea and other aquatic plants.

William C. Frase

Country: USA

INDUCTED: 1998
For his extensive work with hybridizing waterlilies, his development of effective techniques for storing tropical waterlily tubers, and for his willingness to share his knowledge and plants with others throughout the world.

Dr. Slearmlarp Wasuwat

Country: Thailand

INDUCTED: 1998
For his work with native and hybrid waterlilies in Thailand and South East Asia, and for his extensive promotion of waterlilies through lectures, books, and workshops.

Dr. Clyde Ikins

Country: USA

INDUCTED: 1997
For his large collection of Nymphaea species and cultivars, which has served as a dependable reserve of true-to-name varieties for many serious growers, and his introduction of Louisiana Iris to the mainstream of water gardening enthusiasts.

Joseph Tomocik

Country: USA

INDUCTED: 1997
For his encouragement and training of water gardeners, individually and as club members, and his overall responsibility for the Denver Botanic Garden’s world famous water garden displays.

Jean Laydeker

Country: France

INDUCTED: 1996
For his dedication in preserving and continuing the work of his grandfather, Joseph Bory Latour-Marliac on hybridization of waterlilies, and keeping the nursery active through the difficult years of two world wars and a world wide depression.

Dr. Edward Schneider

Country: USA

INDUCTED: 1995
For his extensive work in the field of botany, particularly regarding aquatic plants. He has authored 75 scientific papers on aquatic flora and made innumerable presentations on aquatic topics in the U.S. and throughout the world. His personal contributions to the IWLS for many years have shown extraordinary dedication to the aims of the society.

Philip Swindells

Country: United Kingdom

INDUCTED: 1994
For authoring numerous books on water gardening which have educated gardeners throughout the world, editing The Water Garden Journal for many years, and establishing and maintaining the IWLS as the international authority for registration of the genera Nymphaea and Nelumbo.

Karl Wachter

Country: Germany

INDUCTED: 1994
For developing a world-class collection of hardy water lilies and his extensive work and leadership in establishing the German Branch of the International Water Lily Society.

Charles O. Masters

Country: USA

INDUCTED: 1993 in New York City
For listing and describing all the water lily species and hybrids known up to 1974 in his book "Encyclopedia of the Water Lily".

Jack A. Wood

Country: USA

INDUCTED: 1993
For his extensive hybridizing efforts on old and new world tropical water lilies and introducing 15 named varieties during the period 1970-1990.

Ray G. A. Davies

Country: United Kingdom

INDUCTED: 1992 in Houston Texas
For the promotion and publishing of the IWLS Identification of Hardy Water Lilies

Martin Randig

Country: USA

INDUCTED: 1992
For developing over 25 tropical water lily hybrids during the period 1930 to 1967, many of which are still unsurpassed in quality.

Charles Thomas Photo
Charles B. Thomas

Country: USA

INDUCTED: 1991
For his outstanding dedication to the furtherance of water gardening throughout the world. The founder and driving force behind the International Water Lily Society. Award winning writer on water gardening with numerous articles and publications to his credit.

Dr. Robert Kirk Strawn

Country: USA

INDUCTED: 1991 at Munich German
Dr Strawn is an invaluable member of the IWLS as a world leader in growing and hybridizing water lilies in the line of Bory Latour Marliac. He bears the rare qualities of selfless service, of kindness, a great sense of humor, and a ready willingness to share his considerable expertise.

Norman H. Bennett

Country: United Kingdom

INDUCTED: 1990 at Orlando, Florida
He has devoted nearly half a century to promoting water gardening. He has devoted considerable time, effort and personal expense to the International Water Lily Society's commitment to the proper identification and registration of water lilies. He served as IWLS president, during which time he helped to organize the United Kingdom's first Intemational Water Lily Symposium and Tour.

John and Mary Mirgon

Country: USA

INDUCTED: 1990
For their part in the formation of the first water garden society, for helping other societies to form, and for inspiring water gardeners on an international basis.

Walter Pagels

Country: USA

INDUCTED: 1989
For discovering and introducing into cultivation some of the rarer and unique wetland plants from around the world.

Bill Heritage
Bill Heritage

Country: United Kingdom

INDUCTED: 1989
Bill Heritage was a pioneer in the successful use of flexible liners for water gardens. This concept made water gardening much easier and less expensive. His writings have inspired countless thousands of readers around the world to become enthusiastic water gardeners.

Joseph Paxton

Country: United Kingdom

INDUCTED: 1988 at Ripley Castle, United Kingdom
For being the first to bring into flower the Victoria water lily in a temperate clímate and basing building structures on its leaf design.

Patrick Nutt

Country: USA

INDUCTED: 1988
For planning and supervising the magnificent public displays of water lilies at Longwood Gardens and making the first hybrids of the Victoria water lily.

Frances Perry

Country: United Kingdom

INDUCTED: 1987
For her research in determining all the plants suitable for water gardening and publishing the results.

William Tricker

Country: USA

INDUCTED: 1987
For being one of the first plantsmen of the USA to popularize water gardening and introducing and producing the early water lily hybrids.

Perry D. Slocum
Perry D. Slocum

Country: USA

INDUCTED: 1986
For introducing many new and outstanding water lily and lotus hybrids in the second half of the 20th century.

George Pring
George H. Pring

Country: USA

INDUCTED: 1985
For being the most prolific hybridizer of tropical water lilies in the first half of the 20th century, many of which are still in cultivation.

Joseph Bory Latour-Marliac
Joseph Bory Latour Marliac

Country: France

INDUCTED: 1985
Marliac not only brought many new varieties into the world but he inspired a great artist as well. In 1889, Marliac exhibited his water lilies at the Universal Exposition held in the Bagatelle (now extinct) near the Eiffel Tower in Paris. He was awarded Diplomas of Honor and Gold Medals.

Henry S. Conard

Country: USA

INDUCTED: St. Louis, Missouri 1986
For bringing order into the genus Nymphaea and publishing the results in his monograph "The Waterlilies", which is still the standard work today.