Richard and Rita Porterfield

The Porterfield Endowment for the Bruce J. Zobel and Robert C. Kellison Scholarship was established in 2012 by Richard and Rita Porterfield.

Dr. Zobel and Dr. Kellison were professors, mentors, and friends to enumerable NC State students over their decades of service to the profession of forestry and will be recognized in perpetuity through this endowment. These “teachers” positively affected the lives and work of many natural resources managers at NC State and around the world.

Dr. Zobel served NC State 55 years in the field of forest genetics and founded the Camcore program in gene conservation and forest genetics. During his tenure, Dr. Zobel received numerous awards including the Alexander Quarles Holladay medal for career achievements and contributions to the university.

Dr. Kellison, Professor Emeritus of Forestry, came to NC State in 1966 to pursue his MS and Ph.D. He joined the faculty and also became a leader in the areas of forest genetics and silviculture.

Due to Drs. Zobel and Kellison’s extensive contributions, forest industry, our natural environment and the populous of the world have greatly benefitted.

Richard Porterfield receives annual updates on the continuing impact of the endowment in the College of Natural Resources at NC State. He is the retired Executive Vice President of Champion International Corporation. Dr. Porterfield graduated NC State in 1970 with an MS in Forestry and serves on the Natural Resources Foundation Board.