02/13/1997

Rochester Named Professor Emeritus of Agricultural Engineering

AUBURN, Ala. - Gene Rochester, a member of the Auburn University Department of Agricultural Engineering since 1970, was named professor emeritus at a recent retirement ceremony.

Rochester taught courses in design and operation of agricultural, residential, commercial and golf course irrigation systems. His research included the design and evaluation of new irrigation techniques with special emphasis on irrigation of irregular shaped fields. He pioneered the operational testing and digital simulation of water application uniformity and energy utilization, as well as the development and evaluation of water supply techniques for irrigation.

"Dr. Rochester enjoys an international reputation," said Paul Turnquist, head of Agricultural Engineering. "I want to express my appreciation and thanks to Dr. Rochester for his many contributions to the our department, Auburn University and the citizens of Alabama."

Rochester's latest research was related to a $1.35 million project at the Tennessee Valley Substation in Belle Mina to expand water resources and improve irrigation for farmers in North Alabama. A major component of the study is "off-stream storage," which is designed to take advantage of high stream flows that occur in the winter. A 13-acre, model off-stream reservoir was constructed to hold water pumped from a creek near the substation. This water is used to irrigate cotton and other crops during the summer, when water demands are high.

Another recent highlight of Rochester's career was the publication of "Landscape Irrigation Design" by the American Society of Agricultural Engineers (ASAE) in 1995. This text book, which is widely used throughout the U.S., is a "best seller" for ASAE. The book grew out of Rochester's popular course, Landscape and Golf Course Irrigation Design, which is offered once a year and has been taken by about 200 students since it was first offered in 1992.

After his retirement, Rochester said he plans to devote his time to his consulting business, which offers educational short courses and irrigation design. In the near future, he and his wife, Phyllis, plan to move to South Carolina.

Rochester, a Greenville, S.C., native, earned his B.S. in agricultural engineering at Clemson University and his M.S. and Ph.D. in biological and agricultural engineering from North Carolina State University. He came to AU in 1970 after completing his doctorate degree.

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Contact Jamie Creamer, 334-844-2783 or jcreamer@auburn.edu
by Roy Roberson

02/13/97