Skip to Main Content

In Memoriam: R. Scott Brundage

A friend and alumnus of the Purdue department of Forestry and Natural Resources has passed away. R. Scott Brundage, 84, who received his bachelor’s degree in forestry in 1958 and master’s degree in forest management in 1959, died Aug. 8, 2020, in Columbia, Missouri.

Scott Brundage
Brundage’s ties to FNR and the West Lafayette area ran deep. The son of Purdue Professor Emeritus of Forestry Roy C. Brundage, Scott grew up in West Lafayette and graduated from West Lafayette High School before earning both of his degrees from Purdue.

In 1960, Scott went on to conduct forest surveys for the state of Missouri. He remained involved in the forestry industry for the remainder of his career, acting as a farm forester for the state of Ohio, as a reclamation specialist for Peabody Coal Company and as a consulting forester. He was also heavily involved in the Missouri Consulting Foresters Association and the Walnut Council International.

Personally, Scott and his wife Ginny (Virginia Goben Brundage, married June 4, 1960 in West Lafayette) owned many tree farms, some of which were recognized by the American Tree Farm System program.

Sccot Brundage 2005In addition to Scott’s direct ties to Purdue FNR, the department awards the Roy C. Brundage Memorial Scholarship annually, which was made possible by an endowment established by Scott in memory of his father Roy C. Brundage, who began working at Purdue in 1930. The scholarship is available to students pursuing degrees in forest management or forest products.

The 2020 recipients of the scholarship were Rachel Brummet, Avery Cook and Krista Marshall.

“Scott was a force of nature. He lived life energetically, smiled broadly, and laughed heartily,” professor of wildlife science Rob Swihart said. “He enjoyed sharing stories from his escapades, usually with embellishment. His enthusiasm for forestry and Purdue (especially its students) was genuine and limitless. Scott was an ardent supporter of the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources and the Hardwood Tree Improvement and Regeneration Center (HTIRC), serving on external advisory councils for both. His life’s journey enriched those of us fortunate enough to encounter him along the way.”

For more on Scott’s life and legacy, read obituaries in the Columbia Tribune and Columbia Missourian.

Memorials may be donated to The Walnut Council Foundation (1007 North 725 West, West Lafayette, IN 47906). Condolences may be left online for the family at www.ParkerMillard.com.

Featured Stories

Julia Peterson in the mesas of Arizona.
Finding beauty in the mess—the perspective of a botany and art double major

A low, whirring hum fills your ears as you step into the building. As your eyes adjust to the...

Read More
Ismail Olaniyi flies a UAV up above the trees.
The crossroads between lemon trees and technology

In warmer southern and western states, citrus orchards are important for feeding and bringing...

Read More
Piglets
Combined microbiome datasets yield accurate prediction of animal ages

An analysis combining the results of 14 studies from around the globe has uncovered some common...

Read More
A hand holding two eggs
Rehabilitation through agricultural skills with Purdue Farmer-to-Farmer Trinidad and Tobago

Gardening and poultry care are sometimes seen as trendy hobbies in the U.S., but in Trinidad and...

Read More
Claire King waters her quinoa in the greenhouse.
Claire King named a Golden Opportunity Scholar

It’s easy to imagine the whole of agriculture as a giant feast sprawled out on an equally...

Read More
Logos for the American Fisheries Society, Society of American Forestry and The Wildlife Society conventions/conferences
FNR Research Was Well-Represented at Fall Organizational Conferences

Purdue Forestry and Natural Resources and the cutting-edge research being performed by its...

Read More
To Top