From Southern Regional Extension Forester Bill Hubbard:

I just received the following sad news from Dr. Pat Layton, Chair of the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources at Clemson University, Clemson South Carolina.  Dr. Nelson served as one of our Southern Extension Forestry Unit Leaders for many years and was a solid contributor.  He was an outstanding forester and educator and well miss him greatly.

Larry Robert Nelson, Ph.D., 56, husband of Cynthia Smith Nelson, died at his residence on Saturday, August 26, 2006.

A native of Canton, Ohio, he was the son of the late Paul Robert and Betty June Walter Nelson. Dr. Nelson was an associate professor and Extension specialist with the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources at Clemson University. He did his undergraduate work at Ohio University and received his M.S. degree from Duke University. He received his doctorate degree from Auburn University. He was a member of the Clemson University Lutheran Church and was a member of the church council.

In addition to his wife of 34 years, Cynthia Smith Nelson, he is survived by a son, Tyler Robert Nelson of Easley; brother, Vernon Nelson of Canton, Ohio; and sisters, Sandra Kimble and his brother-in-law, Richard, of Alliance, Ohio, and Paulette Nelson of Canton, Ohio; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. at the University Lutheran Church in Clemson, with interment to follow. The family will receive friends at the church fellowship hall on Tuesday from 3 to 4:15 p.m., before the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the University Lutheran Church, PO Box 1337, Clemson, SC 29633. Duckett-Robinson Funeral Home, Central-Clemson Commons, is assisting the family with the arrangements.

Published in The Greenville News: 08-28-2006

Dr. Jeff Stringer with the University of Kentucky informed me that we lost another good friend to forestry Extension this morning in the plane crash out of Lexington, Kentucky. Dr. Larry Turner was the Extension Director at the University of Kentucky.  Dr. Turner was a stronger supporter of what we in Extension natural resources were doing and hell be missed.

Statement on Comair Jet Crash

Media Contact: Jay Blanton, (859) 257-3303

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of all those who lost their lives this morning. That profound sense of loss is being particularly felt by our larger UK family as three of our own were on Flight 5191.

Larry Turner was Associate Dean for Extension and Director of the Cooperative Extension Service. Larry began his extension career at UK in 1978. Much of his life revolved around farming and agriculture. A native of Rising Sun, Ind., Larry grew up on a family farm. But his love for – and commitment to – his adopted state ran deep.

Since 2002, he has been the chief officer overseeing the University of Kentucky extension service, which has offices in each of the states 120 counties. Larry oversaw the work of more than 1,000 people, but he undoubtedly touched countless lives with his deep integrity, commitment and gentle nature. He often said the extension service could be described in three words – people, programs and partnerships.

Today, we have lost one of our best partners.

... There are, of course, no easy answers when such a tragedy occurs. The loss is beyond our ability to grasp or comprehend. And there are no words adequate to express the sense of sadness we feel at this time. The book of Isaiah promises that God will bind up the brokenhearted … to comfort all who mourn. That is our humble prayer as we seek to comfort those in the UK family and in Lexington who are grieving today."