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Memorial Elmer Roberts

Elmer Roberts was born June 29, 1886, at Burnside, Kentucky, and passed away at his home in Urbana, Illinois, on June 10, 1983, just short of the 97th anniversary of his birth.

Dr. Roberts was simultaneously educator, scientist, pioneer, prophet, philosopher, historian and publisher. He combined all these attributes and abilities in his unusually extended and effective career.

Elmer Roberts first became associated with the University of Illinois as a student, enrolling as a freshman in 1909. He earned the B.S. degree in general agriculture in 1913 and the Ph.D. degree in genetics in 1917. Dr. Roberts financed his University studies largely by working during summers for the State of Kentucky as an inspector and microbiologist in the Pure Food Department inspecting foods served in Kentucky establishments.

Dean Eugene Davenport identified Dr. Roberts as a promising scientist and he was employed by the University of Illinois by the then Department of Animal Husbandry in 1917. While primarily serving the Department of Animal Science, he gained stature across disciplinary lines and elicited the interest and enrollment of students from varied areas within the University. Dr. Roberts taught at the University for 37 yr before mandatory retirement in 1954.