William Bickley

William Bickley

William Elbert Bickley, 96, Professor Emeritus in Entomology at the University of Maryland at College Park, died August 2 at home in Annapolis.

He was born in Knoxville, Tenn. He earned a B.S. in agriculture from the University of Tennessee in 1934, a M.S. in entomology from the University of Maryland in 1936, and a Ph. D. in entomology from the University of Maryland in 1940.

Dr. Bickley was employed as an entomologist for the University of Maryland Extension service from 1940 to 1942, a Captain in the U.S. Public Health Service during World War II, Assistant Professor of Biology at the University of Richmond from 1947 to 1948, and Associate/Full Professor of Entomology at the University of Maryland from 1949 to 1978. He also served as Head of the Entomology Department at the University of Maryland from 1957 to 1972.

Dr. Bickley was President of the American Mosquito Control Association from 1961 to 1962 and edited its' journal, Mosquito News, from 1973 to 1981. He was also President of the Entomological Society of Washington in 1963. Dr. Bickley published numerous academic articles, enjoyed teaching and assisting graduate students, and was active in professional associations. Following his retirement, he was an active member of the Rotary Club of College Park, where he was named a Paul Harris Fellow, and volunteered at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 56 years, Elizabeth Macgill Bickley, who died in 1998.

He is survived by four children, Lucretia Bickley Pope of Mount Pleasant, S.C., James Macgill Bickley of Annandale, Va., David Clarke Bickley of Austin, Texas and Edith Clarke Bickley Robb of Annapolis; nine grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. There will be a family graveside service in Dublin, Va. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Chesapeake, 445 Defense Highway, Annapolis, MD 21401 (410-987-2003), or to the charity of one's choice.