- Author: Kathy Keatley Garvey
CA&ES Dean Helene Dillard presented them with the "Friends of the College" award as the crowd applauded in a standing ovation.
The Sacramento couple recently donated $1 million to support the museum's insect collection, a gift that will provide the museum with the financial security to support staff and resources, said Lynn Kimsey, director of the Bohart Museum and a UC Davis distinguished professor of entomology. The Bohart Museum, the seventh largest insect museum in North America, houses a global collection of eight million insect specimens.
Patterson, a Bohart associate since 1993, has collected some 50,000 butterfly, moth and other specimens. To date, he has donated more than 15,000 specimens to the Bohart Museum.
During his talk, Patterson related how much he enjoyed researching and collecting butterflies and moths, and working with the Bohart Museum scientists. The $1 million gift represents an inheritance (sale of farmland).
A native of Oakland, Bill began collecting butterflies at age 6. He received a bachelor's degree in entomology from the University of Arizona, Tucson, in 1962. He worked as a technician for UC Davis entomology professor Howard McKenzie from 1958 to 1968, retiring from UC Davis in 1963. Patterson also holds a teaching credential from Sacramento State University and taught math and science as a substitute teacher for 15 years, retiring from teaching in 1985.
Doris Brown, born in Seattle, holds a bachelor of arts degree in political science (Washington State University) and a master's degree in counseling. She worked as an analyst and manager for the federal and state goverment and a private consulting firm. She retired as the chief of Fiscal Programs Division, California Employment Development Department.
Entomologist Jeff Smith, the volunteer curator of the Lepidoptera collection at the Bohart Museum, won the 2015 "Friend of the College" award." (See news story)
The Bohart Museum, founded in 1946, is located in Room 1124 of the Academic Surge Building, 455 Crocker Lane, UC Davis campus. Named for UC Davis professor and noted entomologist Richard Bohart, it is open to the public from 8 a.m. to noon, and 1 to 5 p.m., Mondays through Thursdays.
Among those honored at the CA&ES Award of Distinction ceremony was honey bee geneticist Robert E. Page Jr., named the recipient of the Exceptional Emeriti Award. A UC Davis-trained scientist whose academic career spans UC Davis and Arizona State University, he is known as “the leading honey bee geneticist in the world." (See news story)
Other award winners:
- Alumnus of the Year, Marko Zaninovich (Class of 1964)
- Exceptional Faculty Award, Daniel Sumner, the Frank H. Buck, Jr. Distinguished Professor of Agricultural and Resource Economics
- Exceptional Staff Award, Shannon Tanguay, budget fiscal officer with CA&ES. (See more on CA&ES website)
CA&ES, directed by Dean Helene Dillard, is globally recognized for its expertise, educational opportunities, and contributions to society, according to its website. "Much of that is due to the great dedication and efforts of our faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends of the college. Each year CA&ES recognizes individuals for their achievements, support, leadership and service to the college with an Award of Distinction honoring those contributions."
- Author: Kathy Keatley Garvey
The couple recently donated $1 million to support the museum's insect collection, a gift that will provide the museum with the financial security to support staff and resources, according to Lynn Kimsey, director of the Bohart Museum and a UC Davis distinguished professor of entomology. The Bohart Museum, the seventh largest insect museum in North America, houses a global collection of eight million insect specimens.
Patterson, a Bohart associate since 1993, has donated more than 15,000 specimens to the museum.
"Doris and Bill have been incredibly supportive of the Bohart," Kimsey said today. "Bill has collected butterflies and moths for many years and sees the museum as the place he wants to be home to his collection. Doris isn't a collector herself, but she strongly supports his interests and has been enthusiastic about his collection coming here as a permanent home."
“I hope my donation will help educate the community about the importance of butterflies and moths,” Patterson said in a news story written by Ashley Han of the CA&ES. “I believe scientifically valuable collections should not stay in private hands. The museum is the perfect place for my collection to be permanently protected and studied."
Patterson, a native of Oakland, began collecting butterflies at age 6. He received a bachelor's degree in entomology from the University of Arizona, Tucson, in 1962. He worked as a technician for UC Davis entomology professor Howard McKenzie from 1958 to 1968, retiring from UC Davis in 1963. Patterson also holds a teaching credential from Sacramento State University and taught math and science as a substitute teacher for 15 years, retiring from teaching in 1985.
Patterson is an active member of the international Lepidopterists' Society, which met in 2019 at the Bohart Museum for its 68th annual conference.
Doris Brown, born in Seattle, holds a bachelor of arts degree in political science from Washington State University. She also has a master's degree in counseling. She worked as an analyst and manager for the federal and state goverment and a private consulting firm. She retired as the chief of Fiscal Programs Division, California Employment Development Department.
The Bohart Museum, founded in 1946, is located in Room 1124 of the Academic Surge Building, 455 Crocker Lane, UC Davis campus. Named for UC Davis professor and noted entomologist Richard Bohart, it is open to the public from 8 a.m. to noon, and 1 to 5 p.m., Mondays through Thursdays.
Among the six honored at the CA&ES Award of Distinction ceremony will be honey bee geneticist Robert E. Page Jr., named the recipient of the Exceptional Emeriti Award. A UC Davis-trained scientist whose academic career spans UC Davis and Arizona State University, he is known as “the leading honey bee geneticist in the world." (See news story)
Others in the spotlight at the Nov. 3 awards celebration:
- Alumnus of the Year, Marko Zaninovich (Class of 1964)
- Exceptional Faculty Award, Daniel Sumner, the Frank H. Buck, Jr. Distinguished Professor of Agricultural and Resource Economics
- Exceptional Staff Award, Shannon Tanguay, budget fiscal officer with CA&ES. (See more on CA&ES website)
CA&ES, directed by Dean Helene Dillard, "is known throughout the world for its expertise, educational opportunities, and contributions to society," according to its website. "Much of that is due to the great dedication and efforts of our faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends of the college. Each year CA&ES recognizes individuals for their achievements, support, leadership and service to the college with an Award of Distinction honoring those contributions."
Marketing and Communications
UC Davis College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
Bill Patterson, longtime butterfly collector and supporter of the University of California, Davis, is giving $1 million to the university's R.M. Bohart Museum of Entomology to help maintain its permanent insect collection. This gift will provide the museum with the necessary financial security to support its ever-growing collection.
“I hope my donation will help educate the community about the importance of butterflies and moths,” Patterson said, adding that with this gift, his aim is to benefit researchers and the museum's extensive collection of almost 8 million insect specimens.
Patterson has been a museum volunteer since 1993, contributing to the California Insect Survey, a storehouse of the insect biodiversity in California. He has also donated his personal foreign butterfly collection for student and research use. Patterson plans on supplying the rest of his collection, almost 40,000 butterflies and moths, to the museum in the future.
I believe scientifically valuable collections should not stay in private hands. The museum is the perfect place for my collection to be permanently protected and studied,” said Patterson, who lives in Sacramento with Doris Brown, his wife.
Lynn Kimsey, professor of entomology and the museum director since 1989, said their vast and diverse collection requires intense, hands-on labor.
“Bill's gift is a huge contribution and it's really sweet of him to give during our most challenging years,” Kimsey said. “It's going to give us working capital to support a much-needed full-time position, as well as ensure that we have essential supplies.”
Founded in 1946 by and named after the late Richard Bohart, a professor of entomology, the museum houses the seventh largest insect collection in North America. It also serves most of Northern California through its educational outreach programs and provides identification services across the nation.
Patterson's lifelong hobby of collecting moths and butterflies began at age 6, when his mom gave him a butterfly net. Now in his early 80s and retired, he's still an avid collector.
“I remember always going to this great big bush in the field next door to my childhood home in 1951 and seeing all these little butterflies flying around,” Patterson said. “My father also had a collection of butterflies in the attic that I later added to my own.”
This childhood interest led Patterson to study entomology at the University of Arizona. He eventually made his way to UC Davis to work as a technician for Howard McKenzie, an entomology professor from 1958 to 1968, the year of McKenzie's death.
“I was a member of the Delta Sigma Phi fraternity in Arizona and founded a chapter in Davis. They needed people to fill up rooms in their house so some of my best memories in Davis were just living with the guys and getting to know this nice group of people,” Patterson said.
Patterson later earned his teaching credential at Sacramento State University and spent 15 years working as a math and science substitute teacher. He was also an active volunteer for the Sierra Club and the California Native Plant Society.
“I've seen what a great operation the Bohart Museum is, and the people here have been very helpful right from the start,” Patterson said. “I always feel welcomed and enjoy helping out in any way I can.”
Patterson's gift is part of UC Davis' $2 billion fundraising campaign, Expect Greater: From UC Davis, For the World, the largest philanthropic endeavor in university history. Together, donors and UC Davis are advancing work to prepare future leaders, sustain healthier communities, and bring innovative solutions to today's most urgent challenges.