Frederick William Hilgendorf

Dr F. W. Hilgendorf's association with the College extended over a period of more than forty years. He first joined the staff in 1899 and after three years' service accepted a position with the Southland Boys' High School. Three years later he returned to Lincoln and was then associated with the College continuously until the time of his death. Until his retirement in 1936 he was a member of the lecturing staff and on several occasions filled the position of Acting Director. Since 1936 he was a member of the Board of Governors.

His academic and scientific attainments established for him a pre-eminent position in New Zealand's agriculture. He graduated M.A. with first class honours at Otago University in 1897 and the degree of Doctor of Science followed in 1905. In 1936 he was appointed a foundation Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand. On the formation of the Wheat Research Institute in 1928 he became its first Director and in 1930 he became a Professor of the University. He was a Past-President of the Canterbury section of the Royal Society and at the time of his death was a member of the N.Z. Council. He published a large number of scientific papers and was the author of several text books relating to Agriculture. Probably his most outstanding contribution to progress was his work on plant improvement. Not only was he personally responsible for the development of several new strains of farm crops, but the success which attended his pioneering work in this relatively new field had a profound influence in promoting the expansion of similar activities by other workers, with the result that New Zealand-grown seeds are rapidly gaining an international reputation.

By his old students he will always be remembered with affection because of his genial disposition, his interesting lectures, and his keen interest in a multitude of different subjects. His knowledge was encyclopaedic and was never better or more interestingly displayed than on the informal outings to the back-country of which he was so fond. His passing leaves a big gap in the ranks of those men who have lived and laboured for the welfare of the College and its students and many hundreds of old boys will have difficulty in visualising the College without Dr Hilgendorf's quiet and kindly personality exerting its influence.

Dr F. W. Hilgendorf died suddenly at Wellington on the 23rd September, 1942.  To the members of his family we extend our deepest sympathy in their bereavement. May it comfort them to know that their inevitable sense of loss is shared by his associates of forty years.