Zobel, Bruce, 1920-

Bruce J. Zobel, born in 1920, is an internationally respected lecturer, consultant, professor, and expert on forest genetics and forest improvement. His career at North Carolina State College (later North Carolina State University) as a professor, head of the North Carolina Tree Improvement Cooperative, and professor emeritus has spanned more than fifty years.

Bruce John Zobel was born on February 11, 1920 in Los Gatos, California and died on February 5, 2011 in Raleigh, NC, the youngest of August and Emma Zobel's six children. His parents owned a fruit and vegetable farm in the Pajaro Valley in California near Watsonville. The entire Zobel family helped with farm duties, but education remained a priority for all of the Zobel children. Zobel graduated from high school in 1938.

In 1938, Bruce Zobel and his future wife Barbara both attended Salinas Junior College in preparation to attend the University of California in Berkeley. In 1941, the two married, and moved to Berkeley to attend school. In 1942, their first child, Don, was born. The following year, Bruce graduated with a bachelor's degree and joined the Pacific Lumber Company as a logging engineer. He remained in this position until 1944, when he was drafted into the U.S. Marine Corps. In 1945, the Zobels' second child, Kathy, was born.

During his time with the Marines, Zobel worked at Camp Lejeune and helped develop a forestry management program. In 1946, Zobel applied for permanent separation from the Marine Corps and returned home to California to attend graduate school at Berkeley, making use of G.I. Bill benefits. During the time that Zobel pursued a masters and Ph.D. degree, he worked as a Senior Laboratory Assistant in the Forestry School

After receiving both degrees, the Zobels moved to College Station, Texas in 1951 where Bruce took a job with Texas A&M University, the Texas Forest Service, and the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station. He worked as on a tree improvement program for all three employers. In 1952, the Zobel's adopted Lois Jean, their second daughter. Two years later, Julia Ann, another daughter, was adopted.

His achievements attracted the attention of North Carolina State College (later North Carolina State University) in 1956, and the Zobels moved to the Raleigh area to work for the Tree Improvement Cooperative. In addition to running the cooperative, Zobel taught courses and advised forestry students. He became a respected authority on forest improvement and forest genetics, and was honored with a number of awards (see chronology).

During his career with North Carolina State University (NCSU), Zobel traveled extensively. These trips offered him the opportunity to meet potential clients for consulting work. In 1979, Zobel retired from NCSU, although he continued to teach part-time as a Professor Emeritus until 2002. Zobel independently consulted for international firms over the next few years, and in 1984, he founded the Zobel Forestry Associates. Zobel served as president and William Ladrach served as general manager. In 1995, Zobel sold his half of the company to Ladrach, but continued to work as an associate. In 2011 Dr. Zobel passed away in Raleigh, N.C.