The 84th annual Purdue Pest Management Conference will take place on the campus of Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind., from Jan. 6-8, 2020. On Tuesday, Jan. 7, there will be a roast-style retirement reception for the recently retired Dr. Gary Bennett in the ballrooms of the Union building from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
On June 30, Dr. Bennett, who is a Pest Management Professional (PMP) Hall of Famer (Class of 2006), retired as executive director of Purdue’s Center for Urban and Industrial Pest Management. He had also been at the helm of the annual conference since 1971, but this time is attending solely as a conference attendee. At the 2019 conference, he was honored for his 50 years with Purdue.
“We want to do something very special for Gary, so that the many people whose lives he’s touched can have the opportunity to wish him well in his retirement,” Holly Fletcher-Timmons, event coordinator for the conference, told PMP. “Conference registration is not required, and everyone is welcome.”
For those who cannot attend but would like to wish Dr. Bennett well and share some fond memories, there’s an online guest book available here.
FIVE DECADES OF SERVICE
Dr. Bennett’s work teaching, researching and presenting has touched countless professionals, from entomologists to PMPs. He is also a longtime co-author of recent editions of Truman’s Guide to Professional Pest Management Operations.
In May, Dr. Bennett told PMP that in retirement, he hoped to spend more time with his wife, Milta, and their children and grandchildren. An avid gardener, Dr. Bennett and his wife planned to put in a large vegetable garden this year and become more involved with the retirement community in which they live.
He has also stayed involved with the Indiana Pest Management Association, for which he is an honorary member.
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