Roy Rom Remembered as Arkansas’ ‘Mr. Peach’ and ‘Mr. Apple’
September 13, 2024 
Roy Rom
University of Arkansas Professor Emeritus Roy Rom, PhD, passed away June 15 at the age of 102.
Called a “giant in American pomology and tree fruit science in the late 20th century” by Mary Savin, UA’s Head of the Horticulture Department, Rom wrote on behalf of American Fruit Grower® magazine during his tenure.
“My father Roy, distinguished pomologist and a great orchardist, loved the AFG,” son Curt R. Rom, currently a University of Arkansas Professor of Horticulture himself, said. “In fact, the week before passing, we discussed the current issue about raspberries and my new project on testing raspberries in the warm Arkansas environment. Roy was a contributor to AFG with submitted articles and editorials during his professional academic career.”
Current American Fruit Grower columnist John Clark, Distinguished Professor Emeritus with the University of Arkansas, remembered his former professor not only for his commitment and thoroughness but also for his resilience and the way he could communicate.
“He was an accomplished speaker. I had him in class, and of course a good speaker is a good characteristic to have as a teacher,” Clark said. “But I later heard him speak formally to public audiences, and he was a true orator. Well spoken, good timing, great enunciation, concise. I admired his ability.”
Rom received a B.S. degree in horticulture from the University of Wisconsin in 1945. His academic career was interrupted by WWII, during which he became a second lieutenant as a trainer for P-51 fighter pilots. As a student at Wisconsin he was a member of the championship crew, and then a coach of the 1946 national championship lightweight crew. He was lightweight crew coach at Yale where he also won the national championship.
He eventually returned for graduate work and in 1958 completed a PhD in horticulture under Dr. “Mac” Dana, studying strawberry physiology and nutrition. He joined the faculty of the University of Arkansas in 1958 until his retirement in 1989 after having achieved the distinguished honorific title of University Professor.
At Arkansas he had a productive research and teaching career as a tree fruit scientist and pomologist, focusing primarily on apple and peach rootstocks and cultivar development. He was an active American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS) member and recognized as a Fellow of the ASHS in 1981. He was a long-serving Secretary and subsequently Vice President and President of the American Pomological Society, from which he received the Wilder Medal for significant contributions to pomology.
The National Peach Council recognized his contributions to southern peach production with the “Mr. Peach” award, and the International Dwarf Fruit Tree Association recognized him with the Outstanding Researcher award. He was a frequent and popular speaker at grower conferences. He owned and operated the Rom Family Orchard, where he practiced horticulture producing apples for the community.
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