HARLEY BRISCOE DWARF & MEDIAN AWARD

Horticultural Sweepstakes - Early Show

By Jim Morris

In 1977 Louise Bellagamba and Jim Morris convinced the GSLIS membership that the club needed to educate the public about dwarf and median irises. A strong supporter of this effort was Harley Briscoe, a member from White Hall, Illinois. Sometime after an "Early" Show was authorized for 1978, Harley donated a silver cup to be awarded each year to the individual winning the Horticultural Sweepstakes with the most blue ribbons.

Briscoe (1902-1992) was an AIS Emeritus Judge, RVP of Region 9, president of the Southern Illinois Iris Society and a hybridizer of irises, daylilies, peonies, hostas and lilacs. He began growing irises in 1926 and his hybridizing records go back to the early 1930s. His lifetime profession was soil conservation. He started with the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) during the depression of the 1930s and soon was an aide on a County Soil Conservation team. A World War II veteran in the U.S. Army, he was awarded a Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts.

Following the war, he returned to conservation work. Using the GI Bill he studied genetics and agriculture earning his B.S. in Agriculture in 1951 from the University of Missouri. He returned to Carlinville, IL to the Macoupin County Soil and Water Conservation Department where he worked for 20 years until retirement in 1971.

His hybridizing was concentrated in MDBs, SDBs and Siberians. His MDB named 'Brass Button' (78) won an Award of Merit in 1983. In 1980 his 'Mrs. Nate Rudolph' (SDB, 75) was awarded the Cook-Douglas Medal and in 1987 his 'Steve Varner' (Siberian, 78) won the Morgan-Wood Medal. An opinionated man with a wry sense of humor, Harley was loyal to his friends. Most of his iris introductions were named for those friends - I'm reminded of 'Rita Kinsella' (SDB, 84), 'Roy Bohrer' (SIB, 87), 'Fred Elmer Bond' (SDB, 83), 'Bill Lewis' (SDB, 89) and 'Mary Schnarr' (SDB, 84). These were all enthusiasts in Missouri and Illinois and most were members of GSLIS.

His touchstone in SDB breeding was 'Pale Suede' (Greenlee 71, SDB), a significant well-formed breeder. If an SDB seedling wasn't as good as or better than this, he would plow it under.

The Harley Briscoe Dwarf & Median Award is a traveling cup mounted on a circular, solid piece of walnut. It was first awarded to Jim Morris in 1978 and has been awarded annually except in those years when we had late springs or no show. The complete list of Horticultural Sweepstakes winners at our Early Show follows.

1978 ..............Jim Morris
1979 ..............Sheldon Butt
1980 ..............Roy Bohrer
1981-1982 .....Sheldon Butt
1983-1984 .....No Show
1985-1987 .....Sheldon Butt
1988 ..............Roy Bohrer
1989-1990 .....No Show, Late Spring
1991-1993 .....Sheldon Butt
1994 ..............Susan Smith
1995-1999 .....Jim Morris
2000 ..............No Show
2001-2002 .....Jim Morris
2003 ..............Jean Morris
2004-2007 .....Jim Morris
2008 ..............Jean & Jim Morris
2009 ..............Jim Morris
2010 ..............Jean & Jim Morris
2011 ..............Cindy Rust
2012 ..............Jean & Jim Morris

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