Brad Vinson

Dr. S Bradleigh Vinson, a distinguished figure in the scientific community and a professor at Texas A&M University for 47 years in Bryan, TX, has passed away.

Born in Mansfield, OH on April 8, 1938, Dr. Vinson spent his early years collecting wildlife and insects around his grandfather’s farm. This childhood passion led him to develop a small zoo in his basement and backyard. His dedication to science earned him first place in the high school biology state exam and third place in chemistry, inspiring him to pursue a B.S. degree in Entomology at The Ohio State University in 1961. During college, he joined Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity, serving as Vice President.

Continuing his education at Mississippi State University (MSU) in the zoology department, Dr. Vinson earned his M.S. degree for his work on brown recluse spiders. His research demonstrated the first case of vertebrate insecticide resistance, published in Science in 1963. He received his Ph.D. in 1965 for his research on parasitoids and imported Fire Ants (IFA).

Dr. Vinson remained at MSU as an assistant professor, also studying radio-isotope use at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and pesticide chemistry at the University of North Carolina. In 1969, he became an associate professor and then moved to Texas A&M University, where he discovered polydnaviruses. He became a full professor in 1975, a faculty fellow in 1999, and a senior faculty fellow in 2006. Elected as a Fellow of the Entomological Society in 1995, his international recognition stemmed from his research on parasitoid Hymenoptera, imported fire ants, and solitary bees of Costa Rica.

Dr. Vinson served in various capacities, including program chair for the ESA Annual Meeting (1973), president of the Entomological Foundation (2007–2010), and multiple roles within ESA. He chaired several conferences and committees, including a governor’s conference on IFAs (1988) and the 5th International IFA Conference (1995).

He contributed significantly to scholarly publications with 741 papers, 87 book chapters, 12 book reviews, and edited 7 books. He organized numerous symposia and was invited to speak at 206 events. In 2012, he received the International Society of Hymenopterists Distinguished Research Medal.

Dr. Vinson’s 77 students and 44 postdoctoral fellows have achieved successful careers across academia, industry, and government, with several receiving major awards themselves. He has been cited over 30,000 times, reflecting his substantial impact on the field of entomology.

He was also an avid collector of works by American writer Edgar Rice Burroughs, a collection that was started by his father, enjoyed traveling, and exploring the outdoors. Dr. Vinson is survived by his wife of 64 years, Pat (Kidner) Vinson, their daughter Shirleigh, her husband Steve Bechtolt and their three daughters Carleigh, Kimberleigh, and Emileigh, and their son Stuart Brentleigh (Ozzy), his wife Candy and their three daughters (Carly (Auston Luther)), Shayleigh, and Sabriel, and four great-grandchildren, Olivia, Laikyn, Axl and Alice.

We have lost one of the giants in the science world.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Alzheimer’s Disease Research.