Paul R. Harding, Jr. passed away Monday afternoon at the age of 86. Paul was one of the LAMS members of longest tenure and certainly one of the most loved.

I doubt very much that many of us realize just how fortunate we have been to have had Paul Harding as an active member of LAMS. Many mycological societies around the country do not even have a professional mycologist as a member, let alone one who has been as active and creative a member as Paul has been. It is difficult to conceive of what LAMS would be like today without the contributions of Paul Harding.

Paul was educated as a mycologist at the University of Michigan as a student of Alexander H. Smith, and received his doctorate in 1951 with a dissertation on Gymnopilus. Paul carried on the tradition of working with amateurs for which Dr. Smith was so much loved.

Paul says that he was persuaded to join LAMS by the late Bob Tally in 1974. Apart from co-founding LAMS with Ed Margraff, (also deceased) this may be Bob's greatest legacy to LAMS.

Any effort to list ALL of the contributions of Paul Harding to LAMS is bound to fall short but here are some of the highlights. Paul led literally hundreds of mushroom forays for LAMS in good years and bad, in fair weather and foul. He was a great believer in the principle that even when conditions are not promising, members need to get out into the woods to keep their mushroom hunting skills well honed.

Many members enjoyed their first forays with Paul at the legendary El Cariso "Big Woods" on Ortega Highway. Paul led each foray with enthusiasm and skill as well as a concern that each participant benefit from the experience. Paul's broad background as a naturalist was evinced not only by his encyclopedic knowledge of the fungi encountered, but also his comprehensive knowledge of the native plants that were encountered.

In addition to serving as an indefatigable foray leader, Paul patiently identified thousands of fungi at forays and mushroom fairs, carefully showing the distinctive features of each to all in his audience. No question about fungi was too basic or too arcane to not merit a thoughtful and conscientious response from Paul.

Paul also led field trips and provided invaluable identification expertise at mushroom fairs for the San Diego Mycological Society.

Paul and Mary Harding received the first Honorary Life Memberships in the Los Angeles Mycological Society in 1996 and Paul received the Harry and Elsie Knighton Award in 1999 from the North American Mycological Association for outstanding service to a mycological society.

Paul Harding was a man of great personal integrity, unfailingly generous with his time and expertise. He was an inspiring teacher and a dear friend. We will all miss him. Please join me in extending heartfelt condolences to Mary, Paul's wife of 48 years and to his son, Gordon.

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