Thirty years after graduating from Haywood Community College, Ron Lance continues to give back to the college and contribute to the success of natural resources students.

Lance graduated in 1975 from the Fish and Wildlife Technology Program and in 1984 from the Lumber Specialist Program. For several years, students in the natural resources division have used a book, Woody Plants of the Blue Ridge, penned by Lance to aid them in their studies. Beginning fall semester 2005 students will also begin using his new book, Woody Plants of the Southeastern United States-A Winter Guide.

Since graduating from HCC, Lance has traveled all over the United States, South America, Canada, and Spain studying plants and animals. He collects plant seeds from across the Southeastern United States to fulfill the requests from across the country and European arboreta and dendrological interests. He has also contributed to numerous publications.

Lance has gained experience in his field from years of research. The experience began at HCC where he worked for eight years after receiving an associate degree.

During 13 years at the North Carolina Arboretum, Lance was instrumental in building a unique collection of trees and shrubs in addition to bringing into cultivation both rare and significant selections to be tested for hardiness in the Asheville area. Lance initiated an active conservation program working with regionally rare or endangered species and collaborating restoration projects in the Blue Ridge and in other states.

Currently Lance manages a container nursery at Chimney Rock Park and is a naturalist. He operates a home nursery and consulting services dealing with native plants, woody plant propagation, and natural history.

In affiliation with professionals in 14 states and Canada, Lance has worked with field, cultivation, and genetic research of hawthorns, a variety of woody plants. This resulted in the rediscovery of the rarest hawthorn species, C. harbisonii. After six years of research, he completed a status survey of C. harbisonii and C. ashei for the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

Lance has been a member of the International Oak Society since 1993, serving various posts such as conference chairman, President, and is currently secretary.

“Keeping affiliated with trees and natural history has provided a gratifying life for me, all initiated by my time spent at HCC,” Lance said.