For 50 years, Wilhelm G. Solheim dedicated his professional life to the University of Wyoming. He served as head of the Department of Botany for 20 years and held the position of dean of the College of Arts and Sciences for one. Dr. Solheim earned his B.A. from Iowa State Teacher’s College, and his M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Illinois. He came to UW in 1929, taking over as Botany department head in 1932. His research led to a world-famous collection of plant parasitic fungi. The Solheim Mycological Herbarium, now housed in the Botany department, contains some 50,000 specimens. After his retirement in 1963, Dr. Solheim headed the UW US-AID Program in Afghanistan. He then taught for two years at the University of Arizona before returning to Laramie where he continued his involvement with the Department of Botany. In 1978, UW awarded him an honorary Doctor of Laws degree in recognition of his service to the University and state, and for his international reputation as a mycologist. Dr. Solheim died that same year.