UD announces plans for Georgetown research facility

With former Delaware Gov. Elbert Carvel are Robin W. Morgan, dean of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Gov. Ruth Ann Minner and UD President David P. Roselle.

4:08 p.m., Aug. 13, 2004--At the annual Farm and Home Field Day Aug. 11, University of Delaware President David P. Roselle announced a gift of $2 million from former Delaware Gov. Elbert Carvel and his wife toward the building of a new facility at the UD Research and Education Center in Georgetown.

The announcement was made by UD President David P. Roselle, during a presentation at the Georgetown facility.

The Elbert N. and Ann V. Carvel Research and Education Center is expected to cost about $7.6 million.

Carvel, 94, who attended the festivities, received a standing ovation from the audience of more than 1,000, which included state officials, members of the agricultural community and UD administrators.

“This effort was motivated by a founding gift from Gov. Carvel and his family, and what a nice thing that that is,” Roselle said. “Gov. Carvel has a whole lifetime of experience in giving to the community, and now, he is making a gift to the entire state of Delaware.”

Roselle also acknowledged the efforts of lawmakers who have made an initial allocation of $2 million toward the construction of the new facility.

“We are going to begin groundbreaking for the new structure in October,” Roselle said. “I will tell you that we are thrilled by the prospect of being able to provide more appropriate facilities for those scientists who did so much during the avian flu (H7 influenza) problem that occurred earlier this year.”

The 24,000-square-foot facility, which will be located adjacent to Lasher Laboratory on the north side of Route 9, will serve as the central office building and meeting facility for UD in Georgetown.

The building will house large meeting rooms, an interactive television system and offices for Sussex County Cooperative Extension, Master Gardeners, 4-H, the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program, as well as graduate students and research associates.

Architects for the project are French & Ryan, of Georgetown.

Lasher Laboratory will be home to lab facilities dedicated to poultry health research, weed research and soil and environmental studies.

Also speaking at the ceremony was Delaware Gov. Ruth Ann Minner, who noted the contributions of UD in dealing with the avain flu problem.

“I want to thank the UD scientists, staff and members of the local and regional farming community who joined together in averting a situation that could have had significant impact on economic conditions in the First State,” Minner said.

Minner noted that a total of 2,377 farms with 5,864 chicken houses were tested in the days after Feb. 5, when it was discovered that a flock owned by an independent Harrington-area producer was infected with the H7 influenza.

The majority of the tests, she said, were done at Lasher Lab in Georgetown, under the leadership of Mariano Salem, director of UD’s Poultry Diagnostic Center.

Minner said UD’s involvement was part of a coordinated effort that also included the University of Maryland, the Delaware Department of Agriculture, the Delmarva Poultry Industry and the USDA Veterinary Services.

“We were praised nationwide for the way and the speed with which we handled the situation,” Minner said. “Needless to say, we learned even more quickly how important the Lasher Lab is and how important it is to have the University of Delaware work with us.”

Robin W. Morgan, dean of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, also noted the contributions of UD and the many groups who worked together during the avain flu crisis.

“It set a new standard for government, industry and University cooperation,” Morgan said. “I want to thank all the groups who contributed, and I’m proud that UD was a part of that effort.”

Carvel entered Delaware politics in 1944 as lieutenant governor and served as governor from 1949-53 and 1961-65. Among the accomplishments during his tenures in office are the building of the first span of the Delaware Memorial Bridge, developing numerous roads and highways, establishing the Public Service Commission and initiating the State Development Department. He served on UD's Board of Trustees from 1945-85 and was vice chairman from 1972-85.

Article by Jerry Rhodes
Photo by Duane Perry

E-mail this article

To learn how to subscribe to UDaily, click here.