Hybridizer: Wayne Richlie (1920-2009)

Missoula, Montana, USA

(Wayne Richlie) was born in 1920 in Missoula… He was drafted into the Army in 1942 to fight in World War II. He worked with code breaking and intelligence and earned a Purple Heart and a letter of commendation. … Wayne worked at the Anaconda Co. and later Champion International in Bonner, retiring in 1984. … (He was a) longtime member of Immanuel Lutheran Church and he sang in the choir for many years. Wayne loved music and had a beautiful singing voice. He also was an avid gardener and a farmer at heart who could grow everything. In his retirement years he enjoyed selling some of this produce at the farmers market. He was a member of the Missoula Iris Society and hybridized a beautiful flower that he named 'Richlie Blessed.' He also won numerous first place and Grand Prize awards at the Western Montana Fair for his flowers and produce. (portion of obituary from the Missoulian newspaper)

Registrations/introductions:

Tall Bearded:  'Richlie Blessed',

-- BobPries - 2012-05-18