Here's the scoop on the hybridizer
from Region 6 tributes
"Dr. Eugene Bernard "Gene" Orgeron
Region 6 RVP 1990-91
April 30, 1919 - January 24, 2016
by Ray Houston
Gene Orgeron was born April 30, 1919, in Port Arthur, Texas, the son of Camile & Stella Orgeron.
Gene served in the U.S. Army 162nd Infantry during World War II in Australia, New Guinea, and the Philippines.
After the war he attended Lamar University and Rice University for premed education and then Northwestern University Medical School in Chicago where he met his wife, Nancy Marie McGill. They were married January 10, 1953, in Cook County, Illinois.
He returned to Houston for his Internship at Jefferson Davis Hospital and Pediatric Residency at Hermann Hospital. He was in private practice of Pediatrics in Port Arthur from 1955 to 1985.
Gene's interest in daylilies first started in 1964 and he grew and hybridized them for many years. He was an active member of the Gulf Coast Daylily Society and was a member of American Hemerocallis Society since 1972.
Gene registered 13 daylilies and his Hemerocallis 'Ming Empress' was runner-up for the President's Cup Award at the 1988 American Hemerocallis Society Convention in Houston. His seedling which was later registered as H. 'Oh Nancy', named for his wife, was winner of the 1990 Region 6 Edna Lankart Award
He served as 1986-1990 Region 6 Puzzle Chairman, and served as 1990-91 Region 6 RVP and Newsletter Editor.
Gene & Nancy's garden was on tour during the 1985, 1991, and 1997 Region 6 Meetings hosted by the Gulf Coast Daylily Society.
In 1996, Gene was honored as the recipient of the American Hemerocallis Society Region 6 Service Award for his service to Region 6 and American Hemerocallis Society.
For many years Gene served as Garden Judge, Exhibition Judge, and Exhibition Judges Clinic Instructor"
In addition he was the pediatrician for our two kids. I don't have any of his daylilies.
