The new University-wide Plant Biology Graduate Program (PBGP) has gotten off to a superb start with the establishment of a chair in Plant Biology in the name of Dr. Constantine Gilgut. The holder of the chair, established by Dr. Gilgut's family through a major gift, will serve as Director of the PBGP. Dr. Gilgut graduated with the class of 1931 and, after receiving a M.A. degree here, completed a Ph.D. at Harvard. He was a long time member of the University faculty, first in the Botany Department and later, when the Botany Department was restructured in the late 1950's, in the Department of Plant Pathology. A student of Ray Ethan Torrey, he was a member of the impressive group of Torrey's students who received their Bachelor degrees here, and went on to earn Ph.D.s and assume academic positions in the plant sciences throughout the United States. It is particularly satisfying to those of us who knew Dr. Torrey, that the new University-wide PBGP should be given such a wonderful start with a tie to its distinguished past. We are grateful to the Gilgut family and share the pleasure of this recognition of Connie's long and much appreciated contribution to the University, its students and the community at large.