Years: 

1931–2024

Year Hutchinson Medal awarded:

1992

Chair of Southern Illinois University's botany department 

Mohlenbrock was an American botanist, educator, author, and leading authority on the flora of Illinois. In 1957, he was hired to temporarily fill a teaching vacancy at Southern Illinois University Carbondale—a position that became permanent. He remained at SIU for 33 years, retiring in 1990. 

Key contributions:

• Widely considered the leading authority on plants of Illinois, specializing in:
  • Floristics
  • Plant taxonomy
  • Endangered species
  • Wetland flora
• Cofounded the Illinois Native Plant Society (originally Southern Illinois Native Plant Society) and its journal Erigenia in his lab
• Published 81 books and nearly 700 scientific and popular articles, extending his influence far beyond academia
• Other major honors:
• SIU Outstanding Scholar
• AMOCO Outstanding Teacher Award
• SIU Alumnus Teacher of the Year