The International Palm Society is proud to recognize the leaders who have helped us become the largest society of palm enthusiasts in the world! Learn more about these former presidents below.
1956-57: Dent Smith, Florida
The International Palm Society’s founder Dent Smith, served as its first president and first editor of Principes. Born in 1897 in Staunton Virginia, he lead an “itinerant and impecunious lifestyle”, which included stints in Mexico and New York City. After a successful career on Wall Street, he retired early, settled in Daytona Beach, Florida and tended to his beloved palm garden. By March 1955 he envisioned forming a palm society, and subsequently the first meeting of (what is now) the IPS came to pass at the Fairchild Tropical Garden on April 17, 1956.
Although Mr. Smith experienced only a “thoroughly useless formal education”, he received numerous honors including a Doctorate of Science from the Florida Institute of Technology, the Founders Medal from the Fairchild and the Robert H Montgomery Medal for distinguished achievement in the world of palms.
1957-60 Dr. Walter Hodge, Florida
Walter Hodge received his PhD from Harvard University for his dissertation concerning the Flora of Dominica. Trained as an economic botanist, he and his wife Barbara traveled extensively, resulting in the publication of more than 200 scientific manuscripts. There are several eponymous plants named in his honor; alas no palms. An accomplished photographer of not only plants, Dr. Hodge amassed a formidable portrait collection of contemporary botanists (including the self-portrait above). Remarkably, at one time he ranked the most cited photographer in the Encyclopedia Britannica.
1960-62 Eugene Kitzke, Wisconsin
In his role as the head of research and development for the S. C. Johnson Co. in Racine, Wisconsin, Eugene Kitzke’s investigations focused on Copernicia and other waxy palms. He worked in Brazil (primarily at the Raposa plantation near Fortaleza) developing hybridization techniques of C. cerifera (now prunifera-the carnauba wax palm), for the wax industry. Hailing from Wisconsin, he remains the only IPS president not based in Florida, California, Hawaii, or Texas. Mr. Kitzke graduated from Marquette University (where he studied mycology) and earned a post-graduate degree in ecology.
1962-64 David Barry, Jr., California
Considered the “grand old dad” of California palm people, David Barry’s hobby later became the legendary nursery California Jungle Gardens, in Brentwood. There he introduced many new palms (including Jubaeopsis caffra and several species of Chamaedorea), as well as other tropical plants, to cultivation. For many years he administered the International Palm Seed Exchange Service (editor’s note: not the IPS seedbank). Additionally he founded the International Bromeliad Society and served as its second president.
Mr. Barry graduated from Stanford University (majoring in natural sciences) and worked in real estate.
1964-66 NAT DEleon, Florida
Tasked with transforming Miami’s Parrot Jungle (now Pinecrest Gardens) into a magnificent tropical showplace, Nathan J. DeLeon immersed himself in the world of palms and tropical plants. He conceived the IPS seedbank, successfully managed by Lucita Wait and later, by Lois Rossten. Several years after serving as the fifth IPS president, he became the president of the Bromeliad Society International, and gained considerable fame for bromeliad hybridization.
A graduate of the University of Miami, Mr. DeLeon worked as a horticulturalist and established a thriving bromeliad nursery.
1966-68 Otto Martens, California
Born in Germany, Otto Martens came to California and found work in an orange packing plant. Eventually he became a highly respected nurseryman, specializing in the use of palms in landscaping. In fact, Madam Ganna Walksa dedicated a plaque in his honor, now found amongst the palms at Lotusland in Montecito, California. Additionally ,the Madame donated $10,000 to the IPS seedbank upon his memorial.
Educated in Hamburg, Mr. Martens worked as a horticulturalist for Diegaard Nurseries, where he hosted a portion of the 1964 biennial.
1968-70 Dr. Jerome P. Keuper, Florida
Jerry Keuper, a rocket scientist, founded the Brevard Engineering College (now the Florida Institute of Technology) where he established a robust botanical garden featuring palms (this was the site of the 1970 biennial, and attendees stayed in the campus dormitory). He honored his friend and mentor, IPS founder Dent Smith with the Dent Smith Trail, which winds through the palm rich landscape.
Dr. Keuper earned a PhD in nuclear physics from the University of Virginia, as well as degrees from MIT and Stanford.
1970-72 Dr. John Popenoe, Florida
Born into a family with deep botanical interests (his grandfather owned an avocado nursery in Pasadena), John Popenoe developed an early passion for plants. After graduating with a B.S. in horticulture from UCLA, he earned a masters as well as a PhD from the University of Maryland. Dr. Popenoe served for 28 years as the Director of the Fairchild Tropical Garden (succeeding early IPS stalwart Nixon Smiley). Even as a nonagenarian, Dr. Popenoe continued to volunteer at local botanical gardens. The eponymous Bahamian tree (legume), Ateleia popenoei, is named in his honor.
1972-74 Ken Foster, California
Renowned as both a palm grower and seed germinator, Kenneth C. Foster typically had the “rarest, choicest, and greatest number of species”. During his presidency he slipped on a wet jungle trail and fractured his leg (in Costa Rica, following the Mexico City biennial). Conveniently his fellow explorer, Dr. U. A. Young, an orthopedic surgeon (and future society president), provided aid and the seed collecting continued unabated.
Mr. Foster graduated from the New England Conservatory of Music majoring in French horn. Additionally he trained in photography, frequently contributing photos to Palm Society publications
1974-76 U.A. Young., M.D., Florida
Ulysses Alexander Young, IV regularly traveled with his family to the tropics, legally collecting rare palms and cycads. He and his wife Ben, inspired many local palm hobbyists by graciously hosting visitors who wished to tour their unique garden (including a double coconut) in Tampa. He kindly bequeathed much of his plant collection to the Gizella Kopsick garden in St. Petersburg.
Dr. Young received his medical degree from Baylor University and practiced orthopedic surgery in Tampa, Florida.
1976-78 Myron Kimnach, California
Founder of the Huntington Botanical Herbarium, Myron William Kimnach served as the director of the Huntington Gardens from 1962 to 1986. He initiated the Huntington’s international collecting expeditions, thereby introducing many new plants into cultivation. Eminent in the field of desert plants, the Cactus and Succulent Society of America featured his portrait on the cover of their journal (he complained that the artist “added wrinkles”), and named an annual lifetime achievement award in his honor.
Mr. Kimnach, an autodidact, began sending letters, as a child, to postmasters at exotic locales (eg, Socatra) requesting plants and seeds. Known as a risk-taker, especially while collecting in the field, he “anonymously” published an article on the hallucinatory effects of peyote.
1978-80 Donn Carlsmith, Hawaii
Born in Hilo, Donn Wendell Carlsmith, “knew everything about every piece of land on that island.” Deservedly Chrysalidocarpus carlsmithii is named in his honor, given that the source of the type specimen grew in his legacy garden (visited by the IPS for the 1980 and 2022 biennials). His impressive collection of rare books and paintings focused on early Polynesian culture and Hawiiana. He served as the first president of the Hawaiian Islands Palm Society (1974), as well as chairman of the board for both the National Tropical Botanical Garden and the Lyman Museum.
Mr. Carlsmith, a graduate of Stanford University and Harvard Law School, practiced at Hawaii’s oldest law office (established by his grandfather, Carl Carlsmith).
1980-82 PAUL DRUMMOND, FLORIDA
A native New Yorker, Paul Andrew Drummond fell in love with palms at the World’s Fair “Florida Pavilion” (curated by David Fairchild). He lived on Old Cutler Road, near his “second home”, the Fairchild Tropical Gardens, for over fifty years (his garden was an essential stop for palm dignitaries traveling “way south” of Miami to visit the FTG). Additionally, the IPS made several official visits to his garden. His advocacy contributed to the creation of the palm research center at Chapman Field. Mr. Drummond, a US Naval combat veteran, studied philosophy at Fordham University.
1982-84 RICHARD DOUGLAS, CALIFORNIA
Born in rural Georgia, Dick Douglas, cultivated a premier cold-hardy palm garden in Walnut Creek, California. Additionally, he founded the Northern California affiliate palm chapter. The cultivar x Jubautia splendens ‘Dick Douglas’ honors him as he grew the much celebrated (and photographed) original plant from seed obtained via the IPS seed bank in 1973. Mr. Douglas studied landscape architecture at the University of Georgia. He flew as a pilot for United Airlines, based at SFO.
1984-86 ALLAN BREDESON, CALIFORNIA
Born in North Dakota, Allan G. Bredeson followed his dreams of the tropics, creating magnificent palm gardens first in Lemon Grove, California and later in Papa Bay, Hawaii. Admired as the first president to regularly post on the IPS forum PalmTalk, he used the moniker, “Al in Kona.” The hybrid Chamaedorea cultivar ‘Allan Bredeson’ is named in his honor. Mr. Bredeson taught public school in San Diego and Kona.
1986-88 ED MCGEHEE, FLORIDA
Ed McGehee never missed an IPS meeting, nor a South Florida chapter gathering (unless he was out of town, often attending the event of another IPS affiliate). Despite medical limitations, he and his wife, Peggy, personally cared for their garden (on the Intercoastal Waterway in Fort Lauderdale), with 140 species in the ground, and an additional 150 palms in containers. Sadly, he died just after being re-elected to a second consecutive term as IPS president. Mr. McGehee earned a degree in engineering management from Carnegie-Mellon University and later a law degree from the University of Florida. He practiced real estate law in Lighthouse Point, suburban Fort Lauderdale.
1988-92 JULES GERVAIS, Hawaii
Jules J Gervais, Jr. served a four-year term, a first for an IPS president. He operated a busy nursery, Rainbow Tropicals, in Hilo, Hawaii. Jules and his wife, Soontaree, welcomed the IPS to their gardens at Kuaola Farms during the 1980 and 1990 biennials (Soontaree served a refreshing cocktail of coconut and nipa juice while Jules herded the palm enthusiasts with the aid of a bull-horn). The couple received a standing ovation as distinguished guests during the 2022 Hawaiian Islands biennial closing ceremonies. Born in New Orleans, Mr. Gervais attended Tulane and graduated from the Naval Academy and the Harvard Business School.
1992-96 JIM CAIN, TEXAS
Jimmy D. Cain worked tirelessly on behalf of the IPS and in 2014 he (posthumously) received the Dent Smith Award, , our highest accolade. Jim spent countless hours compiling the activities of the worldwide IPS affiliate chapters for publication in Principes, which remain available for perusal in our journal archives.
Mr. Cain earned degrees in Meteorology and Oceanography from Texas A & M University (where a student scholarship is named in his honor).
1996-2000 PHIL BERGMAN, M.D., CALIFORNIA
In 1977, Phil Bergman founded a 3-acre nursery in San Diego, Jungle Music, specializing in rare palms. Many Southern California enthusiasts are indebted to him for their palm collections. He presided over the memorable 2000 New Caledonia biennial where his duties included exchanging gifts with various tribal chiefs. Remarkably, he served 32 consecutive years on the board for the Palm Society Of Southern California (PSSC).
Dr. Bergman is a graduate of the University of California (San Francisco) Medical School and practiced emergency room medicine in San Diego.
2000-2004 HORACE HOBBS, TEXAS
Horace Olan Hobbs, Jr. (affectionately referred to as “Le Grand Fromage” during the 2002 French Biennial), regularly traveled to Mexico with his grandfather, Horace Hilburn Hobbs, to collect palm seeds. Later he completed an internship at the Smithsonian under the tutelage of famed palm researcher (and early IPS member), Dr. Robert W. Read.
Horace served as President of the Houston affiliate for a decade prior to assuming the presidency of the IPS. Further, he established a palmetum in the “Texas Riviera” (featured in the Wall Street Journal).
Mr. Hobbs graduated from the University of Houston with a degree in Chemical Engineering. He retired to Miami, following a distinguished career in energy consulting, ultimately as the Chief Economist for Phillips 66.
2004-2008 PAUL CRAFT, FLORIDA
An acclaimed author of several palm books, Paul Craft published the Palms of Cuba, a definitive tome covering all 98 endemic Taxa. He also founded the Palm Beach Palm and Cycad Society and served as its first president.
Initially trained as a chemist, Mr. Craft functions as a horticultural consultant and, remarkably has experience with around 1500 palm species.
2008-2012 Bo-Göran Lundkvist, Hawaii
Born in Sweden Bo-Göran W. Lundkvist moved to San Diego and became quite active in the Palm Society of Southern California, serving as editor of PSSC journal. His passion for growing more tropical palms led him to Hilo, where by dint of hard work (planting at least three palms each day) he created two astonishing gardens with groves of rare trees.
An expert in the field of aviation, Mr. Lundkvist owns and operates Lundkvist Aviation Research.
2012-2016 LELAND LAI, CALIFORNIA
Leland Luke Lai made the unprecedented move (at least for our tropical tree loving society) from Hawaii to Los Angeles, where he created a palm oasis in the Santa Monica Mountains. He also served as the President of the Palm Society of Southern California.
Leland and his wife, Shirley, have been kind and generous hosts for many local, regional and international palm society meetings, at their home and garden, Jardin Topagonia. These events are especially memorable as Leland is an accomplished chef and sushi connoisseur.
A pioneer in the field of sustainable aquaculture, Mr. Lai earned an undergraduate degree from UCLA and MBA from the University of Southern California.
2016-2021 RAY HERNANDEZ, FLORIDA
The second rocket scientist elected as IPS President, Ray Hernandez is a graduate of the University of South Florida School of Engineering and works in aerospace technology. As a native Floridian (Tampa), he had several legendary local palm gardeners to inspire him; he now grows over 300 species of palms.
Previously Mr. Hernandez served as President of the Central Florida Palm and Cycad Society. He is the longest tenured president in the history of the IPS, helming the Society for an additional year during the pandemic.