Meadowlark Hills resident, Charlie Hall, was honored by Iowa State University. On Friday, April 12, a ceremony was held to name the new horticulture greenhouses the “Charles V. Hall Greenhouses.”  Charlie served as chair of the Department of Horticulture at ISU from 1979 to 1990. 

The new greenhouses will be used for teaching and for researching opportunities. They opened in 2011 and replaced the 98-year-old greenhouses that once stood on the ISU campus.       

Charlie’s work at ISU included plant breeding research which led to the creation of several watermelon varieties. He is widely known for the Crimson Sweet watermelons, which have smaller seeds and remain fresh during shipping. The Crimson Sweet variety is grown in more than 50 countries. 

Charlie received his Ph.D. from Kansas State University in 1960. During his time at Kansas State University, he designed one of the first plant science courses and developed an introductory course in the elements of horticulture. Charlie was also a popular counselor among students at Kansas State, served on the Faculty Senate and Graduate Council, and was advisor to the Horticulture Club. In 1972, he appeared in the publications Crops and Soils and Seed World as the featured scientist.

Charlie certainly has been blessed with a green-thumb and Meadowlark Hills is grateful to have him as part of our Building and Grounds Committee and for his service in the Meadowlark Hills Community Garden.