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Turfgrass Innovator Passes Away12-10-08 | News

Turfgrass Innovator Passes Away

Dr. Rod Riley devoted his professional career to the development of superior strains of bermudagrass (called ?EUR??,,????'?????<

Sod Solutions is sad to announce the passing of Australian turfgrass developer Rod Riley. He died Wednesday after a lengthy illness. Riley is best known in the United States as the developer of Celebration???????(R)???????+???? Bermudagrass.

Even at age 14, as an aspiring greenskeeper in his native Australia, Dr. Rod Riley knew the bermudagrasses he maintained needed improvement. His keen eye longed for consistent texture, darker color and better fall color retention. His workman?EUR??,,????'?????<

During the years that followed, Dr. Riley used his eye, his instinct, his education and his greenskeeping experience to craft better bermudas. Riley?EUR??,,????'?????<

At the turn of the millennium, Dr. Riley released a grass called Riley?EUR??,,????'?????<

Riley was a turfgrass innovator who literally changed the Australian landscape. His influence on the rest of the world is still being felt, as Celebration is one of the fastest growing bermudagrass cultivars on the market. We wish to send our thoughts and prayers to the Riley family.