By the U of A System Division of Agriculture
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — On campus, he was Dr. Roy Rom, but the fruit industry and the locals knew him as Mr. Peach and Mr. Apple.
Horticulture University Professor Emeritus Rom passed away June 15, surrounded by his children. He was 102.
Mary Savin, head of the horticulture department, said “Dr. Rom was a giant in American pomology and tree fruit science in the late 20th century.”
Roy C Rom was a renowned fruit breeder and pomologist and enjoyed an impressive career in horticulture. (U of Arkansas image)
Rom joined the horticulture department in 1959, conducting work in all three land-grant missions: teaching, research and extension. It was a time of growth for Arkansas’ fruit breeding program as Rom worked alongside two who would be inducted into the Arkansas Agriculture Hall of Fame, fruit breeding program founder Jim Moore and Justin Morris.
“His research was always mission-oriented and developed applicable results,” Savin said. “He contributed to the strong national reputation of the horticulture department and especially the fruit science program alongside colleagues Dr. Moore and Dr. Morris.”
John Clark, distinguished professor emeritus, remembered his former professor not only for his commitment and thoroughness, but also his resilience and for 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.”
Clark said Rom’s “favorite crop was apples, and his enthusiasm for that crop was always strong; even having his own orchard was his testament of his love for that crop. He had the same enthusiasm in his research at the Fruit Research Station, be it pruning or physiology studies or his cooperation with Jim Moore on the apple breeding.”
Rom garnered great respect across campus, Savin said.
“He was a quiet but strong leader within the department, college and across campus. He was deeply engaged in the community and his family’s apple orchard became almost legendary among schoolchildren and apple eaters,” she said. “He was the quintessential university professor.”
As a faculty member, Rom served in several officer roles of Gamma Sigma Delta, including the president, a long-time secretary-treasurer of the UA Foreign Student Association and chairman of the Campus Council and Campus Faculty. Gamma Sigma Delta is an agriculture-focused organization.
Rom also helped re-establish the Arkansas State Horticulture Society, serving as executive secretary for two decades. Rom was recognized for his research accomplishments, as a Fellow of the American Society for Horticultural Science, with the Wilder Medal from the American Pomological Society, and the International Dwarf Fruit Tree Association Outstanding Researcher award. He was recognized as "Mr. Peach" by the National Peach Council.
Born Jan. 29, 1922, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Roy George Rom and Emmie Glaettli Rom, he grew up with three sisters, Betty, Rita and Carol. He attended the University of Wisconsin where he pursued a degree in horticulture. During World War II, his academic career was put on hold, and he became a P-51 Mustang fighter pilot instructor. He was honorably discharged as a second lieutenant at the end of the war and returned to college to finish his degree.
While in college he became the coxswain for the University of Wisconsin championship lightweight crew and, upon graduation, was coach for the Wisconsin 1946 national championship lightweight crew. He went on to coach crew at Yale where he led the 1950 Yale lightweight crew to a national championship. One of his many points of pride was helping form and coaching the Northwest Arkansas Rowing Club.
After college, he met and married Margaret. After living briefly in New Haven, Connecticut, they returned to Wisconsin to start a family and he completed a Ph.D. in fruit crop production physiology at the University of Wisconsin. Shortly after graduating in 1959, he accepted a position at the University of Arkansas.
Rom started the Rom Family Orchard in 1967, selling apples at the farm, to local stores, and at the Fayetteville Farmers Market. He took immense pride in providing quality, locally grown apples for the community and especially enjoyed giving orchard tours to hundreds of school-aged children and sharing his love of apples, nature and the outdoors. He was "Mr. Apple."
In his spare time, Rom had a rich volunteer life in the community. He also loved to camp, hike and canoe with his family. He was a loyal Razorback athletics fan and supported the men’s and women’s intercollegiate teams.
He has since been recognized by the University Division of Advancement as a Tower of Old Main for his scholarship support.
Rom is survived by his four children: Cristine, Gretchen, Curt and Mark, as well as their spouses and children.
Memorials and gifts may be made to the Nathan Kitt Rom Memorial Study Abroad Scholarship or the Roy and Margaret Rom Endowed Award, mailed to the Gift Administration, University of Arkansas, 481 S. Shiloh Drive, Fayetteville, AR 72704.
Rom will be remembered on July 18 in a service at the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks from 5-7 p.m.
To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on X and Instagram at @AR_Extension. To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu. Follow on X at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on X at @AgInArk.