John David Axtell (February 5, 1934 – December 2, 2000) was an American geneticist, Lynn Distinguished Professor of Agronomy,[1] member of theNational Academy of Sciences.[1] Axtell received the Alexander von Humboldt Award in 1975,[1] the Crop Science Research Award from the Crop Science Society of America in 1976,[1] and the International Award for Distinguished Service to Agriculture in 1984.[1] Axtell was widely noted for his research onsorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.).[1][2]The New York Times and other sources reported that Axtell had been one of discoverers of high-lysine sorghum, and that the discovery was crucial to the fight against world hunger.[1][3][4]
Axtell was born inMinneapolis, Minnesota, on February 5, 1934. He received his B.S. degree in agronomy and plant genetics in 1957 from theUniversity of Minnesota, M.S. degree in plant genetics in 1965, and Ph.D. degree in plant genetics in 1967, the last fromUniversity of Wisconsin–Madison. Axtell spent his entire academic career 34 years atPurdue University, starting in 1967 right after completing requirements for his Ph.D. degree. He became a full professor in 1975, and Lynn Distinguished Professor of Agronomy in 1982.
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