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CORVALLIS - Don Grabe of Sisters is one of 41 men and women who were honored as Diamond Pioneers Tuesday, Oct. 14, by the Oregon State University College of Agricultural Sciences.

Grabe and others added to the College's Diamond Pioneer Registry were guests at a luncheon hosted by Dean Thayne Dutson at the CH2M HILL Alumni Center in Corvallis. Guest speaker was John V. Byrne, OSU president emeritus and a fellow member of the 2003 Diamond Pioneers.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Diamond Pioneer Registry, which honors those 75 and older for their contributions to agriculture, OSU and their communities. The award, began when the college observed its 75th anniversary, has been given to 746 persons, including this year's group.

Nominated by the OSU Department of Crop and Soil Science, Grabe joined the OSU faculty in 1968 as leader of the seed technology program in crop science. He served on the faculties of Iowa State and Mississippi State universities before coming to OSU.

During his tenure at OSU, Grabe developed biochemical techniques for measuring seed viability and a biochemical vigor test for cereal seeds. He and his students identified how physiological components of planting seed quality influence corn and wheat yields.

In addition to his research, Grabe also taught classes in seed technology, biology and production while guiding nearly 40 students to advanced degrees. He served on the boards of directors of the Crop Science Society of America and the American Society of Agronomy and is a past president of the Association of Official Seed Analysts.

Others honored include (by city): Adams: Virginia Tubbs; Baker City: Fred Warner; Central Point: Kenneth Beebe; Cornelius: Don B. Anderson; Corvallis: Alfred Haunold, John V. Byrne, Charles Leach, William McGuire, H. Joe Myers, Burdette Peterson, Roger Peterson and Dale Weber; Hillsboro: Peter Jensen; Halsey: Vincent D. Dobbin and Glen Grossen; Island City: Ralph Hart; John Day: Arlene Oliver; Jordan Valley: Andrew Greeley; Keizer: Harold Youngberg; Klamath Falls: James Elings and James Kerns; Moro: John Shipley and Donald Thompson; Ontario: Keith Gressley, Isao Kameshige and William Panike; Pendleton: Robert Ramig and Virgil Rupp; Phoenix: David Lowry; Portland: H. Ronald Cameron; Shedd: Len Forster and Floyd Smith; The Dalles: John R. Thienes and Eldon Wagenblast; Tigard: Carl Froude and Beverly Froude; Tillamook: Carl and Irene Bosch; Vale: John Bishop; Wamic: Everett Metzentine.