Robert Edward Dennis Sr.

Dennis passed away on 9/23/213. Preceded in death by his wife, Della. He is survived by his children Dorothy Ann (Ted)

Carnevale, Robert E. Jr. (Sherrie), Russell G. (Donna), and 5 grandchildren; Brian, Tony, Jessica, Julia and Kyle Robert.

Dennis served 3/12 years in the US Army, attaining the rank of 1st lieutenant (WWII). Dennis taught agriculture and biology in

Michigan high schools, 1946-1951. Dennis joined the staff of Michigan State University in 1951 as an instructor in crop

science and assistant to the director of Short Courses. While at Michigan State, Dennis taught forage and cereal crops

courses completed by more than 2,000 students. Dennis received a Ph.D. from Michigan State in 1958. Dr. Dennis was

appointed Extension Agronomist and Professor of Plant Sciences at the University of Arizona in 1959. He served in this

position for 24 years. While at the University of Arizona, Dennis worked with University staff members and field crop producers

located in each of Arizona’s 15 counties. During his tenure at the University, Arizona’s average yields of Alfalfa and wheat

increased by more than 50%. U of A graduate students whose research was directed by Dr. Dennis came from the US,

Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Iraq, Japan, Morocco, Nigeria, Sudan, and Tunisia. These students, now at the peak of their careers,

are serving in leadership positions in many countries of the world. While at the U of A and after retirement, Dennis served as

an on-site consultant to the Oak Ridge Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee and in Mexico, Ivory Coast, Pakistan, Saudi

Arabia, Sudan and Niger. Consulting projects concerned ways to increased food production. Dr. Dennis received numerous

awards and commendations from Arizona farm groups and national organizations. He authored or co-authored more than 500

publications. Services for Robert E. Dennis Sr. will be held Saturday, September 28th at 10:00 am at East Lawn Palms

Mortuary & Cemetery, 5801 E. Grant Rd. Tucson, AZ 85712. Arrangement entrusted to East Lawn Palms Mortuary & Cemetery.