Gordon Hobbs Inducted into ANLA Hall of Fame

From left: ANLA Hall of Fame inductee Gordon Hobbs with ANLA Executive Vice-President Mr. Bob Dolibois.

The American Nursery & Landscape Association (ANLA) inducted Gordon Hobbs, former president and owner of C.M. Hobbs and Sons, into its Hall of Fame. Established in 1966, the ANLA Hall of Fame Award is given to an outstanding nursery and landscape industry professional.

The award is the highest honor ANLA can bestow on its members. The honor is a testament to his commitment to leadership and service, to family and business and to the green industry and its associations.

Mr. Hobbs has served as president of ANLA, the Wholesale Nursery Growers of America (WNGA), the Indianapolis Landscape Association and the Indiana Association of Nurserymen, which presented him with their Award of Merit in 2007. Mr. Hobbs served as secretary-treasurer of the American Nursery Credit Association (ANCA) for 17 years, as regional vice-president of the Central Indiana Better Business Bureau, and president of the Plainfield, Ind. Chamber of Commerce. He was president of the Indianapolis chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution in 1976.

After completing studies at Purdue University that included a BS in horticulture and an MS in plant pathology, he worked in the family's business - C.M. Hobbs and Sons, Inc., founded in 1812. Gordon Hobbs represented the sixth generation of family ownership of the firm. The company was sold to Larry Becker, owner of Becker Landscape, in 2006. Mr. Hobbs continues to work there part time to assist in the transition and, in his words, ''so I have something to keep me busy!''

''When I was young and just getting started, he was one of the first industry leaders to make time for me before I felt I was far enough up the food chain to approach him,'' recalls William Studebaker, president of Studebaker Nurseries. ''That feeling of welcome has stayed with me these many years.''