1983 American Hemerocallis
Society
Bertrand Farr
Silver Medal
Ury G. Winniford
by Joyce Lewis
(Reprinted from Region 6 Newsletter, Summer, 1983)
This
year's recipient of the coveted Bertrand Farr Silver Medal, announced at the
National Convention in Birmingham, is our own Ury G. Winniford of Dallas. This
Medal is awarded by the American Hemerocallis Society to one person each year as
"a distinguished honor for members who have attained outstanding results in
the field of hybridizing." Mr. Winniford becomes the third recipient from
Region 6 since the first award was presented in 1950, the others being Hugh M.
Russell in 1958, and Lucille Williamson in 1978.
As a tribute to Ury and his wife, Elna, who
shares side by side in the Winniford's hybridizing endeavors, we would like to
quote from a few of the many comments in letters your RVP has received since the
National Convention.
Maybelle Dodd - In the current issue of
the Daylily Journal, President Ned Irish mentions a hybridizer whose
introductions were all planted in the same bed in a tour garden and most of them
proved to be alike except for minor variations. This could never in the world
happen to Ury Winniford. He has produced outstanding cultivars in both diploids
and tetraploids; all sizes from miniature to giant; colors from almost black
through red, orange, yellow, pink, lavender, etc. to near-white. His Hemerocallis
'Bertie
Ferris' has proven of such value in breeding that it would assure
him permanent status even if he had quit there and achieved nothing else.
Congratulations, Ury. The Bertrand Farr Silver Medal was never more richly
deserved.
Ruth Ratliff - Ury Winniford - "Mr.
Daylily." A man of patience, kindness, and a temper, too. I am glad to be
in his world. It is surrounded with beautiful daylilies. He is one of the most
generous persons I have ever known. He always takes time to answer questions. (I
know sometimes he must think they are pretty dumb.) Thanks for being my friend,
Ury.
Patsy Lepper - Everyone was going crazy
over Mr. Winniford's new introduction, H. 'Bertie
Ferris'! This
was my first Region 6 Meeting and I was so excited just being there! Someone
introduced me to Ury and he told me he was giving ME a plant of 'Bertie
Ferris'. I was shocked and felt like a kid at Christmas! So, because of Ury,
I started my daylily life off with a bang, and I know he has helped a lot of
other beginners get a good start in the daylily world.
Gertrude Lanham - The first time I met Ury
and Elna Winniford was on a chartered bus to the National Convention. Ury was
always telling jokes and how we laughed! His singing, though, was enjoyable,
too. I remember Karen Metzger said, "Please sing more - I know there is
more!," when he stopped after the first verse of some song. I have enjoyed
the fellowship of Ury and Elna on many occasions, but, of course, his skill at
hybridizing gorgeous daylilies gives us all a big thrill when we walk into his
garden at bloom time. What a treat!
Patsy Kyser - Jim and I still consider
ourselves novices in the daylily area, but with friends like Ury Winniford
helping us we have the possibility to come up with some beautiful flowers. He is
a caring person and wants to see young people active in the American Hemerocallis
Society and in
hybridizing. He wants to see that daylilies will continue to produce new colors
and types. He has taught us techniques of hybridizing, storing pollen, and
things most people take for granted. Yes, Mr. Winniford is a patient man. He
takes so much precious time to show us which type of flowers are the best to
work with to produce certain desired results. He is a generous man in giving
much of his time and care to the local Society and the Region, always ready and
willing to donate plants for the auction, bus fund, or sale. Mr. Winniford is a
special person to us, and Jim and I are both so proud to have daylilies named
for us that he hybridized.
We are all proud to be part of Ury's daylily
family!
Webmaster: Ray
Houston
Revised: 01/21/2024
Menu by Milonic Solutions