Hybridizer Lerton Wright Hooker (1901-1982)

Lombard, Illinois, USA then in 1968 to Spring Valley, California, USA

From The Bulletin of the American Iris Society No. 247(October 1982): Lerton Wright Hooker, well-known iris fancier and hybridizer from Illinois and California, passed away June 15, 1982, following several years of declining health. Lerton and his wife, Ora, lived in Lombard, Illinois for several decades, and he served as RVP for Region 9 (Illinois). His garden was the site of the Northern Illinois Iris Society's regional test garden, and his two-acre garden was on the national convention tour in 1964. It was here that most of the Hooker originations were hybridized, varieties such as ACORN, BLACK CHARM, CONGO MAGIC, and LITTLE BOWKNOT. Most of his introductions were released by Tell's Iris Gardens.

After retirement, the Hookers moved in 1968 to a large hilltop site in Spring Valley, California, and this garden was on the 1975 national convention tour. His last two introductions were ADMIRALTY and PANAMINT. -Sanford Roberts

Registrations/Introductions:

Border Bearded: 'Little Beau', 'Little Bowknot', 'Neat Trix',

Tall Bearded: 'Acorn', 'Admiralty' 'Big Brown Penny', 'Black Charm', 'Congo Magic', 'Eye Catcher', 'Fashion Belle', 'Golden Charmer', 'Grace and Symmetry', 'Happy Go Lucky', 'Lime Shadows', 'Madge Miller', 'Master Chord', 'Mayfair Pink', 'Mystic Isle', 'Oaken Bucket', 'Panamint', 'Pink Lure', 'Sunshine Yellow', 'Wakita', 'White Chapel', 'White Spirals', 'Yellow Ripples', 'Yellow Whirligig',

-- BobPries - 2012-05-18