Hybridizer Forrest McCord (1904-1983)

Muncie, Indiana, USA

Forrest McCord died September 27, 1983, following a heart attack. A retired railroader, he was widely known for his iris originations. Most notable of these are the siberians GRAND JUNCTION and HALCYON SEAS, which won the Morgan Award in 1974 and 1975 respectively.
He was immediate past National Test Garden Chairman for the Society for Siberian Irises, a longtome AIS member, and co-founder in 1951 of the Iris Growers of Eastern Indiana.
He will be missed by his family and wife Virginia, as well as by his many iris friends across the country.

-Jack E. Norrick

In memoriam, as written above, Forrest McCord, AIS Bulletin #252, January 1984, page 68.

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Forrest Mccord was the first president of the Iris Growers of Eastern Indiana established in 1951.

From a June 13, 2022 Indiana Iris Growers of Eastern Indiana Facebook page post: Unfortunately Iris Growers of Eastern Indiana is no longer an active club. After 75 years we had to call it quits. Not an easy decision but too many factors to remain an active Iris club.

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"An Introduction to Forrest McCord" by Justin Fortanascio with help from Peggy Harger-Allen, Thomas Tomlinson, and Nancy McDonald appeared in the Fall 2023, Volume 36, Issue 2 of ROOTS, the Journal of the Historic Iris Preservation Society, pages 7-8.

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Registrations/Introductions:

Siberian: 'Grand Junction', 'Halcyon Seas'.

Tall Bearded: 'Blazing Fire', 'Class of Twenty-Two', 'First Born', 'Maconaquah', 'Merrilyn Lee', 'Napoleon Brandy', 'Virginia Agnes',

-- BobPries - 2012-05-18