114 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



RICHARD H. LIBBEY. 

 Dr. Geo. M. Tvvitchell. 



x\s we gather this year to arrange our exhibits and organize 

 the work of these sessions, we miss the hearty greeting, the 

 wilHng service, the earnest cooperation of one member of our 

 executive committee and are made conscious that the hfework of 

 Brother Richard H. Libbey has ended but for that influence 

 which remains to inspire us to greater service. I knew him 

 well, yet would not stand here for a moment to eulogize. 

 Rather would I emphasize certain traits of his character which 

 it were well for us to emulate. 



What first won my admiration was his bold, fearless, out- 

 spoken criticisms of shams, whether in men or things. 



He may have kindled animosities and prevented close friend- 

 ships by his freedom of speech, but looking back over the years, 

 I fail to recall an instance when his voice was raised against 

 better conditions, higher aspirations, nobler practices. He con- 

 demned unsparingly the petty meanness of men whose only 

 thought was to grasp for their own benefit what came within 

 their reach, those who measured public service solely from the 

 low standard of personal ends. 



He was severe in criticism of measures, public or private, 

 which thwarted the best good of any individual. 



We smiled at his caustic thrusts and sometimes regretted the 



sJiy^'Kp personal allusions, but today can see that what he antag- 



-I. o'rrf^ed were the greed and selfishness of individuals, what he 



desired was to help to better conditions in public and private 



life. 



He believed in his town and never hesitated to sing its praises. 



Especially did he believe in Hillside Farm and its small fruits, 

 and it was here and among these that one saw the real side of 

 his life. 



You who knew him will bear testimony with me to that 

 unselfish spirit which ])roniptcd the most hearty assistance to 

 anv and ever\- man who desired to know more about small fruit 



