Dr. Bennett gets roasted

This summer, Dr. Gary Bennett (PMP Hall of Fame Class of 2006) retired from his post as coordinator of Purdue’s Urban and Industrial Pest Management Center. This week’s Purdue Pest Management Conference is the first in more than four decades that he attended as an attendee, not overseeing the conference itself.

To mark the end of an era, a special retirement reception and “roast” of Dr. Bennett took place Tuesday night in the Purdue Union. The stories and laughter shared were plentiful, but it was a good move on Dr. Bennett’s part to bring his wife of 55 years, Milta, as well as daughter Nikki and young granddaughter Addison to the reception, so that the stories didn’t turn too bawdy. Below is the event in pictures:

Dr. Bennett’s reception was made possible by these sponsors. PHOTO: HEATHER GOOCH

 

Portrait of the roastee (on cake) as a young man… PHOTO: HEATHER GOOCH

 

… And in his prime. There was a third cake, but this reporter got to the reception too late to prevent Dr. Bennett’s young granddaughter from joyously eating her grandpa’s face! PHOTO: HEATHER GOOCH

 

Purdue colleague Tim Gibb served as Roastmaster, pinch hitting for Tom Turpin. PHOTO: HEATHER GOOCH

 

Holly Fletcher-Timmons crowns Dr. Bennett with a cockroach-embellished crown. PHOTO: HEATHER GOOCH

 

Fletcher-Timmons then presents Dr. Bennett with a scepter, which Gibb notes can be used to determine the veracity of the various tales being told throughout the evening. PHOTO: HEATHER GOOCH

 

Fletcher-Timmons also presented Dr. Bennett with a stuffed cockroach pillow, which Gibb reported the PMP Hall of Famer could not sleep without. (Dr. Bennett disputes this, of course.) PHOTO: HEATHER GOOCH

 

A rogue’s gallery of Dr. Bennett’s friends(?!) sit at the ready to roast. PHOTO: HEATHER GOOCH

 

First at the lectern is Mike Corbitt, Univar. PHOTO: HEATHER GOOCH

 

Corbitt is followed by Kevin Puetz, Fowler Pest Control, who got a few digs in at Gibb as well. PHOTO: HEATHER GOOCH

 

Recently retired JR Campbell follows Puetz. PHOTO: HEATHER GOOCH

 

Purdue professor emeritus Dr. Harlan riffs on a fun fishing trip. PHOTO: HEATHER GOOCH

 

A special video message was played from Adam Salyer. PHOTO: HEATHER GOOCH

 

Purdue’s Dr. Morrie Levy, who has known Dr. Bennett since 1973, gave an overview of their softball team history. PHOTO: HEATHER GOOCH

Tim “Preacher” Rodriguez admitted he really had nothing to roast Dr. Bennett about! PHOTO: HEATHER GOOCH

Ralph Williams was the final roaster of the evening. PHOTO: HEATHER GOOCH

Gary and his girls: Daughter Nikki, granddaughter Allison and wife Milta. PHOTO: HEATHER GOOCH

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from Pest Management Professional https://www.mypmp.net/2020/01/08/dr-bennett-gets-roasted/
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