Solheim, W. G. (Wilhelm Gerhard), 1898-1978

Wilhelm Gerhard Solheim (1898-1978), was regarded as the foremost authority on the fungi of the Rocky Mountain region and his personal herbarium served as a reference collection for mycologists and plant pathologists. Solheim eventually gifted his personal collection to the University of Wyoming to create the Rocky Mountain Herbarium. Solheim received a M.A. degree in 1926 and Ph.D. degree in 1928 from the University of Illinois. He served as a professor, scientist and administrator at the University of Wyoming from 1929-1963. He was head of the Botany Department from 1930-1950 and acting dean of the College of Arts and Sciences from 1962-1963. From August 1963 to July 1965 he traveled to Afghanistan as chief of party under the University of Wyoming's contract with the Agency for International Development. He returned to the University of Wyoming in 1967 as professor emeritus to pursue his work with parasitic fungi. In May 1978, he received an Honorary Doctorate of Law Degree for his work as a respected researcher and his contributions to the field of mycology.

From the guide to the W. G. Solheim papers, 1910-2000, (University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center.)

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