A. H. Krezdorn Memorial Fund

Dr. Alfred H. Krezdorn distinguished himself as one of Florida’s premier citrus researchers during the mid-Twentieth Century. Krezdorn attended the University of Florida, earning a master’s degree from the school in 1949. He later attended Texas A&M, where he earned a doctoral degree in 1956.

Krezdorn returned to the University of Florida in 1957, where he accepted a position as an associate horticulturalist with the school’s Citrus Experiment Station in Lake Alfred. In 1960, he became the second man to head the school’s Department of Fruit Crops. He held this position for the next 15 years until 1975, when he stepped down in order to devote himself to teaching and research full time. He retired four years later.

Krezdorn pioneered research in many fields, including tree spacing, rootstocks, fertilizing practices, fruit setting, and numerous others. His many articles adorned the pages of prominent scholarly journals, and his work remains consistently cited in contemporary studies.

Krezdorn continuously worked with his graduate students in an effort to address industry problems. He also organized and taught the introductory course to Citriculture in Gainesville. He was well-known for his unselfish and persistent nature in regard to the Florida citrus industry, which he instilled in all of his graduate students.

A.H. Krezdorn passed away in 1989. Following his death, the A.H. Krezdorn Memorial Fund which supports citrus research in the Horticultural Sciences Department, was established by friends in the industry, former students, and former co-workers in the Fresh Fruits Department, now known as Horticultural Sciences, in order to assist future fruit crops students. He was inducted into the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame two years later, in 1991.