Photos from the WFIWC Archives:
Canada
Hector Richmond among log deck being misted to protect it from ambrosia beetles. After 30 years in federal service, he became the first Canadian consulting forest entomologist. Much of his subsequent research was to determine economic damage caused by ambrosia beetles and preventive methods. (Photo from Forever Green)
Hector Allan Richmond (1902 -1989), the youngest of five children, was born on the family's ranch in Oklahoma. Hector's father, Thomas, had emigrated from Scotland. "Father sold the ranch before I reached school age," Hector recalled. In 1911, the family settled on a ranch at Vernon, B.C., setting the stage for profound events in the life of young Hector and thereby, Canadian forest entomology.
Hec Richmond securing pannier with a basket hitch. The mantied-up load on the other horse is held with Hec's favorite one-man diamond hitch which he never had to adjust. Hec and Vi spent three seasons surveying hundreds of miles of un-tracked forest in Alberta looking for insect infestations. They had numerous escapades while crossing swollen rivers and when horses strayed. (Photo from Forever Green)
After graduating from high school, Hec worked for two years as a spotter on a pine beetle control project and became acquainted with Ralph Hopping (see How it Began/Vernon Lab). In spring, 1924 after Hec's first semester in Forestry at Oregon State College, Corvallis, Oregon, Hopping offered him a summer job surveying insects in conifers bordering the east side of the Okanagan Valley. Then, in 1927, while in his 3rd year at the university, he was assigned to survey the forest insect conditions within Alberta.
Hec's map of the route taken by him and his new bride, Vi, during their four-month horse-back survey of forest insects in the remote western Alberta mountains. (Courtesy of Robert E. Stevenson, Calgary)
In 1929, he met and married Vi (Violet Pout). They subsequently traveled with two pack horses and two saddle horses surveying insect infestations from Red Deer River to the Athabasca River (see above map). An average day's ride was 15 -20 miles. It didn't get off well, however. Hec and Vi visited the Chief Forester in Calgary to explain the new set-up by which only he & Vi would be doing the survey and not involving participation by rangers. The Forester was surprised and dubious of Vi. "What experience have you had with horses?" (Not much, but I can learn with experience). "How old are you?" (Twenty). "You're not very big." (Five two and 102 pounds). The Forester then pointed out that they would have to swim horses across swollen rivers and he could not give approval. Vi left and Hec spent ten days with Ranger Tom Harvey of the Red Deer district. One night as they sat at a camp fire, Tom said that "... the people in Calgary had no authority to forbid you to take your wife with you if you want to." He then proposed to rent Hec four horses that belonged to him plus all the equipment that he would need. "With that, you will be using nothing belonging to the government ... ."
Vi Richmond on her horse, "Jonas," in the Rockies in September 1929. (Photo from Forever Green)
Two days later the party headed out for their four-month journey; Hec in front, aboard "Jim," leading the two pinto pack ponies, "Pickles" and "Painter", followed by Vi on "Jonas." From there you must read Hec's accounts in Forever Green that are alternately hilarious and tense with suspense! Five stars.
Hec the Painter. Hec's daughter, Donnie (Donella May) recalled: "Dad began painting with Dr. (J.J.) deGryse (Head, Entomological Branch, Ottawa) in about 1943 and painted until shortly after moving to Lofthouse, their small farm on the water in the Nanaimo area, in 1957. He first painted in oils but changed to caesin because he was allergic to the oil. His subject matter was generally landscape, forests, interior rangeland, mountains etc. During the winter of 1955-56 he studied 3 nights a week at Beux Arts in Quebec City where he was awarded the first prize for the top student. In the fall of 1956, he had a one man show at the Palais Montcalm in Quebec City where he showed 45 paintings. It was a very successful showing and he sold a number of his paintings. While in Quebec he painted a number of lovely local scenes. He would do a quick painting on location and then do a final painting at home, he never used photographs. He did hundreds of paintings, many of which we still have, although some of them were never really finished."
Hec the actor. Donnie continued: "He found painting so all absorbing and once he had the farm he found he did not have the time to spend painting on weekends as he once had, so he turned to drama which was much more sporadic. He was an active member of the Yellow Point Players drama group beginning in about 1962 until his death. Many of his roles are well remembered such as Elwood Dowd in Harvey, a number of British farces, some more serious roles, Christmas pantomimes, The Cherry Orchard, to name but a few. He won a best actor award in a BC Drama festival, he and mom also did many support jobs for the drama group while a member. I later also joined having various roles and both my daughters and I joined him in the cast of several Christmas pantomimes." -- Malcolm Furniss
References
Richmond, H.A. 1986. Forest entomology: From packhorse to helicopter. B.C. Ministry of Forest Lands, Pest Management Report No. 8. 44 p., illus.
Richmond, H. A. 1983. Forever Green - The story of one of Canada's foremost foresters. Oolichan Books, Lantzville B. C., Canada.
Richmond, H.A., in collaboration with J.H. Harris, R.F. DeBoo, and J. Parminter. 1984-1985. A History of forest entomology in British Columbia - 1920-1984. BC Forest History Newsletter 1984 (9): 4-7; 1985 (10): 3-6; 1985 (11): 5-7; 1985 (12): 1-6.
Trudy Kemp. ca 1983. Hector Richmond (1902-1989) of Cedar (Vancouver Island, B.C.). The Islander (news paper) p. 9-10.
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