T. L. Senn

Dr. Taze Leonard SennClemson, South Carolina   Dr. Taze Leonard "Tee" Senn, 98, of 201 Strawberry Lane died Tuesday, January 12, 2016.  Tell the people that you saw him passing through.  Born in Newberry, SC, Dr. Senn was a son of the late George Walter and Rebecca Reeder Senn.    Tee graduated from Clemson College in 1939 and earned his Masters and Ph.D. from the University of Maryland. He also proudly served in the Corps of Cadets at Clemson and in the U. S. Navy in World War II.  He was a long time member of Clemson United Methodist Church.  At Clemson University Dr. Senn was a Professor of Horticulture and was also named Chair of the Department of Horticulture. He was a mentor to his students who, not only taught his students academics, but also taught them that “no matter what you do, you have to be happy.”   Dr. Senn received the Danforth Teaching Fellowship, the only South Carolinian in Agriculture to ever receive this Award.  Among the many awards Dr. Senn received over the years regarding both his academic and agriculture careers, the Thomas Green Clemson Medallion was bestowed upon him, the highest award given by Clemson University.                 Many have stated that it was a privilege to know and work with Dr. Senn. He was an inspirational colleague and friend at home and abroad. His words and actions kept his students, colleagues and friends focused on whatever matter was at hand.  Following his academic career, Nature's NOG was created and refined by Dr. Senn, a well-known scientist, researcher, educator and horticulturist.  After forty years of research and hundreds of lab and field tests, Dr. Senn researched  the positive impact certain seaweed extracts and humates can have on plant growth.  Dr. Senn was instrumental and invaluable with the conception, establishment and implementation of the Class of 1939 Award for Faculty Excellence at Clemson University.  This Award is presented annually to one distinguished member of the faculty whose outstanding contributions have been judged by her/his peers to represent the highest achievement of service to the student body, university and community, state or nation.  The recipient also becomes an honorary member of the class, therefore, the Great Class of 1939 will live forever because of the foresight of the original members of the Class with this Award.  Guided by Tee Senn, Jim Sweeney and others, the Great Class of ’39 had and continues to have an uncommon devotion to Clemson University proven by the many scholarships bestowed to students over the years.  An innovative concept of Dr. Senn’s, also its founder, was the South Carolina Botanical Gardens located on the Clemson Campus of which the original 44 acres are dedicated in his honor. His talents and tenacity as an administrator, educator and innovator went beyond formal plan collections to create a progressive public garden. The Horticultural Gardens integrate nature, recreation and therapeutic resources with preservation, conservation teaching and research.   He leaves in God's care, his loving wife of eighteen years, Betty Connor Senn of the home; son, David L. (Virginia) Senn of Central; stepdaughter, Pamela Y. (Rick) Polhemus of Atlanta, GA; grandchildren, Shane (Sarah) Senn, Richard A. (Ann) Senn, Jr. and Rusty (Kimball) Senn; stepgrandchildren, Stephanie L Polhemus and Jason C. Polhemus; great-grandchildren, Emma Y. Senn, Trevor D. Senn, C.J. Senn, Gabe Senn and Axton Senn; and daughters-in-law, Cleve Ann Senn of Clemson and Sonya Senn of Six Mile, SC.  In addition to his parents, Dr. Senn was predeceased by his first wife and partner, Marguerite Busby Senn; and two sons, Richard A. "Dickie" Senn and Thomas L. "Tommy" Senn.  Funeral services will be 3 PM, Saturday at Clemson United Methodist Church with burial to follow in Woodland Cemetery on the campus of Clemson University, which he loved so much.  The family will receive friends from 1 to 2:45 PM, Saturday prior to the service at the Church.  Memorials may be made to the South Carolina State Botanical Gardens, 150 Discovery Lane, Clemson, SC 29631  In the spirit of a true ‘39er, let’s all make a toast to honor Tee Senn: a great friend, a great ‘39er, a great man, a Great American, and most of all, a beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather.  Condolences may be expressed online at www.robinsonfuneralhomes.com or at Duckett-Robinson Funeral Home, Central, SC.