Wilmon Newell was born March 4, 1878, in Hull, Iowa. He was educated in Iowa and received his B.S. and M.S. from Iowa State University in 1897 and 1899 respectively. He served briefly at experiment stations before being appointed State Entomologist of Georgia in 1903. In 1905, he was appointed Entomologist of the Louisiana Experiment Station and Entomologist and Secretary of the Louisiana Crop Pest Commission. It was at Louisiana that Newell made important contributions in the control of the Cotton Boll Weevil including the first use of powdered lead arsenate. In 1910, he returned to Texas as Professor of Entomology and Experiment Station Entomologist at Texas A and M College. In 1915, he became Florida's first Plant Commissioner in the newly created State Plant Board. Newell directed the successful campaign to eradicate citrus canker. He served as Commissioner until his death. In 1921, the Florida Board of Control selected Newell to head the University of Florida's College of Agriculture and its Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service. In 1929, the USDA asked him to head its eradication campaign against the Mediterranean Fruit Fly in Florida. Newell's efforts in this campaign were also successful. In 1938, the post of Provost for Agriculture was created by the Board of Control and Newell held that title until his death on October 25, 1943.
From the guide to the Wilmon Newell Papers, 1908-1935, (Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida)
