Landscape Architect Articles

Bruce Usrey (1939 "??AE 2015)07-09-15 | News

Bruce Usrey (1939 – 2015)

Usrey served Monrovia in several capacities including COO, president, and CEO.

Monrovia, one of the largest plant growers in the U.S., recently announced the passing of its former CEO, Bruce Usrey, who helped guide the growth and expansion of the company for nearly fifty years.

After serving in the United States Air Force, Usrey joined Monrovia in 1968 and managed plant production. From 1986 to 1998, he was chief operating officer, overseeing the company's expansion of new growing locations in Dayton, Ore., and Visalia, Calif.

In 1998, Usrey was named president and later, in 2002, chief executive officer. Under his leadership, Monrovia saw another surge in growth with its merger with Wight and Berryhill Nurseries, adding three East Coast growing fields to Monrovia's production. In recent years, he served as a managing director of the company, and was based in Dayton, Oregon.

"Bruce was a true horticultural craftsman," says Miles Rosedale, current CEO of Monrovia. "He will be greatly missed."

Usrey is survived by his wife, Susie, who has also worked for Monrovia for nearly 40 years.