Ed Wicker, forest pathologist and research leader in the USDA Forest Service passed away on March 20, 2008 in Moscow Idaho. Ed attended Washington State University at Pullman, WA and then moved the short distance to conduct research for the Intermountain Station at Moscow, ID. Several of his scientific interests were the dwarf mistletoes (Arceuthobium), blister rust and associated fungi (Cronartium and Tuberculina). His international experience included research sabbaticals to Europe and Japan. As a research administrator, Ed often represented a strong view coming out of his training and experience in forestry, plant pathology, mycology, and plant geography. Although Ed was usually serious and a critical thinker, he also could appreciate humor. I recall his story of ordering a government surplus paper cutter. He planned using it to trim oversized documents for his file cabinet. He was surprised when it arrived as the single item on a railroad car. This "paper cutter" was built for a pulp and paper mill and capable of trimming rolls 12 feet tall. (See attached file: Wicker.pdf) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ BRIAN W. GEILS USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station Southwest Forest Science Complex 2500 South Pine Knoll Drive Flagstaff, AZ 86001 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Phone: (928) 556-2076 Email: bgeils(a)fs.fed.us ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~