Charles E. Woodworth
Encyclopedia
Major (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, major is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel...
in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and as an entomologist
Entomology
Entomology is the scientific study of insects, a branch of arthropodology...
for the United States Department of Agriculture
United States Department of Agriculture
The United States Department of Agriculture is the United States federal executive department responsible for developing and executing U.S. federal government policy on farming, agriculture, and food...
Agricultural Research Service
Agricultural Research Service
The Agricultural Research Service is the principal in-house research agency of the United States Department of Agriculture . ARS is one of four agencies in USDA's Research, Education and Economics mission area...
.
Birth
He was born in Berkeley, CaliforniaBerkeley, California
Berkeley is a city on the east shore of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California, United States. Its neighbors to the south are the cities of Oakland and Emeryville. To the north is the city of Albany and the unincorporated community of Kensington...
on September 25, 1897. His father, Charles W. Woodworth
Charles W. Woodworth
Charles W. Woodworth was an American entomologist. He founded the Entomology Department at the University of California, Berkeley, and made many valuable contributions to entomology during his career....
, would become a Professor Emeritus of the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
and is a noted figure in the history of Entomology; His mother was Leonora Stern.
Early life and education
Charles graduated with a BSBachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
and an MS
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
from the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
. His 1923 Masters thesis was entitled "The Sawflies of California". He took a job as a teacher at Modesto Junior College
Modesto Junior College
The Modesto Junior College is a community college located in Central Valley's Modesto, California.-Accreditation:Modesto Junior College is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. In January 2008, the Western Association Colleges and Schools notified the college that it had...
where he met and married the widow, Sarah Louise Nelson Vickers, who was the daughter of early Amazon missionaries, Justus Henry Nelson
Justus Henry Nelson
The Revd Justus Henry Nelson established the first Protestant church in the Amazon basin and was a self-supporting Methodist missionary in Belém, Pará, Brazil for 45 years.-Early years:...
and Fannie Bishop Capen. Justus presided over their 1926 Berkeley, California
Berkeley, California
Berkeley is a city on the east shore of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California, United States. Its neighbors to the south are the cities of Oakland and Emeryville. To the north is the city of Albany and the unincorporated community of Kensington...
wedding. He adopted her son, James Vickers Woodworth. While in Modesto
Modesto, California
Modesto is a city in, and is the county seat of, Stanislaus County, California. With a population of approximately 201,165 at the 2010 census, Modesto ranks as the 18th largest city in the state of California....
, they had a daughter, Elizabeth Louise Woodworth who was born very premature, but survived. A newspaper article about her survival detailed how "she could be put in a cigar box" and was picked up by the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
. They lived at 322 Johnson Street in Modesto.
The young couple then moved to Wisconsin where Charles attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
where he received a Ph.D. in Entomology
Entomology
Entomology is the scientific study of insects, a branch of arthropodology...
. His 1930 122 page Ph.D. dissertation was entitled "The effect of reduced pressure on the respiration of the honey bee."
Military service
During World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, he entered the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
and was in training when the armistice was declared. In World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, during a twenty six month period in the South Pacific, Burma and China, he was commanding officer of the Army's 33rd Mosquito Control Unit. Their job was to find the breeding place of the mosquitoes and to teach the soldiers how to protect themselves. He received special citations and ended his service as a major
Major (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, major is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel...
. He returned in October 1945. His lungs were significantly damaged during this service. He had to hang upside down in numerous occasions for the rest of his life to drain them. This service injury also contributed to his somewhat early death of a respiratory aliment in 1966.
Entomology career
He had a long career with the USDA Agricultural Research ServiceAgricultural Research Service
The Agricultural Research Service is the principal in-house research agency of the United States Department of Agriculture . ARS is one of four agencies in USDA's Research, Education and Economics mission area...
. He was a leader of the Vegetable Insects Laboratory in the Blalock Tracks at College Place, Washington
College Place, Washington
College Place is a city in Walla Walla County, Washington, United States next to Walla Walla, Washington. The population was 8,765 at the time of the 2010 census.College Place is the home of Walla Walla University, a Seventh-day Adventist college....
. His principal research was into the wireworm, although he worked on many other things during his long career. The fact that the wireworm lives underground makes them difficult to exterminate. Much of his work had to do with techniques to allow reasonable crop yield in the presence of wireworms. He also did work on controlling Onion maggot flies
Delia (genus)
The genus Delia is part of the fly family Anthomyiidae.The genus Delia contains approximately 300–340 species worldwide . At present about 170 species are recorded from the Palaearctic Region, and 162 species from the Nearctic Region, 44 of which are Holarctic. Afrotropical fauna includes 20 Delia...
. Thirty-one insect specimens that were collected by him are in the Essig Museum of Entomology at the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
.
Community service
He was listed in "Who's Who in the West" and "Who's Who in Washington". He was a charter member of the College Place KiwanisKiwanis
Kiwanis International is an international, coeducational service club founded in 1915. It is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. Current membership is 240,000 members in 7,700 clubs in 80 nations...
Club and was its secretary for its first 15 years. He also led several Community Chest drives. He was also a member of the First Congregational Church of Walla Walla
Walla Walla, Washington
Walla Walla is the largest city in and the county seat of Walla Walla County, Washington, United States. The population was 31,731 at the 2010 census...
. The Mayor of College Place
College Place, Washington
College Place is a city in Walla Walla County, Washington, United States next to Walla Walla, Washington. The population was 8,765 at the time of the 2010 census.College Place is the home of Walla Walla University, a Seventh-day Adventist college....
described him as "a supporter of community, cultural, and spiritual aims who always could be counted on."
