Former University of Nebraska professor of botany and horticulture Charles E. Bessey (1845-1915) was inducted into the Nebraska Hall of Fame on Friday in a ceremony at the Capitol.

The Hall of Fame was established in 1961 to officially recognize those who have made significant contributions to Nebraska and the nation. Individuals must be deceased thirty-five years to be considered.

Other inductees include author Willa Cather, politician William Jennings Bryan and Ponca Indian chief Standing Bear.

Here are some facts about Bessey:

* He was born in Ohio.

* He was a professor at NU from 1884 to 1915, where he also served as acting chancellor from 1888 to 1891. When he arrived, the university was 15 years old; the student body numbered 373.

* Bessey's vision was "Science with Practice." He believed scientific discovery is most useful when put into practice.

* He sent botany students across the state, gathering data on the flora of Nebraska.

* He persuaded the Board of Regents to establish an agricultural experiment station to take university research to Nebraskans.

* He wrote congressional legislation requiring land-grant universities to distribute new knowledge and research to the public through agricultural experiment stations across the nation.

* He fought efforts to create two separate state universities.

* He developed the system of modern plant classification.

* He suggested in 1890 that the federal government should plant trees in the Sandhills.

* His success led to two forest reserves on the Dismal and Niobrara rivers, which became the Nebraska National Forest. The Dismal River reserve near Halsey was later renamed for Bessey.

For a full list of all members of the Nebraska Hall of Fame, visit www.nebraskahistory.org/admin/hall_of_fame/bluebook.pdf.