Dr. Teddy E. Morelock

Dr. Teddy E. Morelock, 65, of Fayetteville died Saturday, April 18, 2009 at his home.  He was born June 13, 1943 in Fayetteville to Ted and Fanny Hembree Morelock.  He was Church of Christ.  He was preceded in death by his wife of 34 years, Jane M. Morelock, on January 4, 1999, his parents and one sister, Joan Little.

Dr. Morelock graduated from Greenland High School, received his B.S.A. and M.S. in Horticulture from the University of Arkansas (UofA), Ph.D. in Plant Breeding and Genetics from the University of Wisconsin.  He returned to the UofA in 1974 as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Horticulture.  He served as Associate Professor and Professor and was promoted to University Professor status in 2007.  He was an Adjunct Professor for 20 years with Texas A & M.  Dr. Morelock’s major research contributions to horticulture involved the development and introduction of improved cowpea, spinach, turnip and mustard varieties.  For over 20 years his spinach program was the only public sector breeding program in the United States.  He was named a Fellow of the American Society of Horticultural Sciences (ASHS), class of 2004.  He received the John W. White Team Research Award from the UofA in 2005 and 2007.  His most recent recognition was the ASHS Distinguished Researcher Award, 2009.  He served on numerous university committees and grant writing teams generating nearly 3.5 million dollars to the UofA.  

He was an Angus breeder, Advisor of the Year in 2001 for the National Jr. Angus Assoc. and loved helping youth.  He had served on the Arkansas Angus Board.  He served on several advisory 4-H committees in Washington County.

Survivors include one daughter, Leslie Ann Roye, one granddaughter, Hailey Ann Roye, three brothers-in-law, Herman Jones, Berl Little, D. W. Morgan, several nieces and nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews, all of Fayetteville and many friends and associates from all over the world.

The family requests memorials made to the Dr. Teddy Morelock Memorial Scholarship; University of Arkansas, Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences; Attn: Development Office, E108 AFLS Bldg., Fayetteville, AR 72701.