Dr. Pair's interest in conducting horticultural research and love for plants was initiated by trying to grow trees and shrubs in the arid climate around his parents home in New Mexico. His professional horticultural career began in 1959 after receiving a B.S. in Horticulture from New Mexico State University. After graduation he moved to Manhattan, Kansas and received an M.S. from Kansas State University in 1961. Following his M.S., he served as the first K-State horticulture county extension agent until 1968. Dr. Pair completed his Ph.D. at Kansas State University in 1971 and that same year was hired as one of the first two researchers at the newly established K-State Horticulture Research Center in Wichita. Through primarily Dr. Pair's diligence, commitment and hard work during the past 27 years, the K-State Horticulture Research Center has become one of the premier applied horticultural research centers in the country. Because the research center is located in USDA hardiness zone 6b of the Great Plains Region, the plant material in any given year can receive severe cold, early and late freezes, and heat and drought stress.
Dr. Pair's research was instrumental in the release of the following cold tolerant plants: two bermudagrass cultivars ('Midlawn' and 'Midfield'), a white flowering dogwood ('Ozark Spring'), and a purple flowering crape myrtle ('Velma's Royal Delight'). In addition, he tested and introduced a male, thornless Osage Orange selection ('Wichita') that is now used extensively in park plantings in the Great Plains Region. His research on lackbark elm, sugar maple, flowering crabapples, shantung maple, hybrid poplars, Rhododendrons, azaleas, zoysiagrass, buffalograss and various cool season grasses have dramatically expanded the plant palette for the Great Plains.
Dr. Pair was also a strong supporter of community projects that have lasting benefits to the general public. As Sedgwick County Horticultural Agent, he perceived the benefit of an annual garden show involving commercial businesses and promoted the idea with industry leaders. The yearly garden show is presently one of the 10 best in the United States. He was also a guiding force in the initiation and development of Botanica, a display garden and arboretum for the greater Wichita area. Botanica is now a prominent garden of the Great Plains Region.
Dr. Pair was in an elite class of horticulturists. He had the extraordinary distinction of being known and respected by his colleagues, horticulture industry leaders, business leaders from non-horticultural fields and numerous private citizens of south central Kansas. There are not many people in south central Kansas actively involved in horticulture as a vocation or hobby that have not heard of Dr. Pair. All horticulturists will miss this great gentleman and horticulturist.
This page was created by the staff of Kansas State University, John C. Pair Horticultural Center in memory of Dr. John C. Pair, October 12, 1937 - January 24, 1998
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