WWW.WA S .ORG • WORLD AQUACULTURE • DECEMBER 2022 19 ( C O N T I N U E D O N P A G E 2 0 ) get to know him and appreciate who he really was. — Lou D’Abramo and Steve Watts Dr. Addison Lawrence was known to me not only as an accomplished and worldrenowned scientist in shrimp mariculture, but also as a loving father. Hearing him talk about the economic importance of aquaculture and its potential for solving world hunger, inspired my own career in fish health. His passionate teaching also encouraged me to “break out of my shell” and learn to become an effective speaker and teacher. I am forever indebted to his love and support for me, my wife and my children. — Mark Lawrence (son) My 25 years with Addison at his A&MShrimp Mariculture Project (SMP) were some of the most adventurous, educational and fun times of my life. Addison was brilliant. Love him or not, Addison challenged everyone in his orbit to excel beyond their perceived limits, think outside the box, and he would move heaven and earth to help staff and students who met the challenges to move upward to their highest potential. Addison loved to laugh! He laughed at the oddities and ironies of life. He enthusiastically joined in the practical jokes we (staff, students, and colleagues) would play on each other. Addison loved to teach and he taught every chance he got in every venue he could. He loved learning even more. He loved to explore new horizons. His eyes would light up at some new discovery or opportunity to expand the research into shrimp nutrition and production. It was an honor being a part of Addison’s team and family, helping to make the world a better place and being able to expand my lifetime friends and family circles with some of the closest friends I’ve ever had. To this day, we all still have each other’s backs. It’s a rare and precious gift. — Patty Waits Beasley Addison Lawrence was responsible for one of the largest research programs on marine penaeid shrimp the body of science and industry will likely ever see. This effort is and will be perpetuated by his many students around the world for years to come. Addison was a true pioneer and helped create the shrimp farming industry we have today. — Joe Fox There can be no doubt that Addison was an iconic figure in the field of shrimp mariculture. But on a more personal level, Addison was a pivotal character at the start of my own career (and the careers of many others), hiring me as the Research Associate in charge of the hatchery at the NMFS Galveston Laboratory that Texas A&M leased for the TAMU Shrimp Mariculture Project. Addison’s fame meant that the core group of researchers at the Shrimp Mariculture Project at that time—George Chamberlain, Bill Bray, Michael Johns and me—as well as all the other staff members and students who worked in the project, got to meet and network with many other professionals in the field. Addison’s confidence in me, and the opportunity he gave me to design and lead research projects and present results at international conferences was invaluable in jump-starting my 37 years of work in shrimp mariculture and algae biomass research and commercial production. — Josh Wilkenfeld Addison was passionate about his research and had a work ethic that felt more like a graduate student than a tenured professor. This spirit was contagious and led to higher productivity of our whole team. I recall Addison joining me on one of a series of offshore research cruises on a commercial shrimp vessel to collect adult shrimp at various stages of maturity. Addison, like me, was susceptible to seasickness. During his first few days at sea, when other seasick members of our teamwould have to stop and lie down, Addison kept working, taking turns with me to run to the gunwale to take care of our rebelling stomachs. Addison also enjoyed connecting with everyone on a personal level and frequently hosted holiday potluck dinners, which were especially nice for foreign students who were away from their families. — George Chamberlain I always thought that Addison missed his calling by not being an evangelical preacher or politician. His energy, belief, and enthusiasm for shrimp aquaculture were beyond compare. This was evident whether speaking in public or in private. He could take the most mundane study on some feed additive and whip a crowd into a fervor. Addison’s enthusiasmwas surpassed by his vast knowledge of shrimp biology, especially nutrition. He must have had over 200, 300 publications and served as a committee chair or member of over 100 graduate students. Addison served on my M.S. committee. I consider Addison a lifelong mentor who helped shape my 40+ year career. We met during my first year at TAMUwhen he invited me to come to Corpus, stay with his family and visit the labs with him. My first hatchery experience was working for him under Joe Fox and JoshWilkenfeld at the NMFS Galveston lab. Over the years he has consulted for companies where I have worked, we have done projects together and socialized together. He was always available with a laugh and good humor to give me advice or an opinion. — Scott Horton One of my fondest memories of Addison was seeing him dance with his wife. He was a great dancer but what really impressed was the obvious joy with which he tore up the floor. To me, this exemplified so much of the decades over which I had the privilege to be his friend and colleague. He went after life with the same joy, gusto and incredible skill. He was the world expert on shrimp and nutrition who, by leveraging grants, mentoring so many students and publishing, basically built the foundation upon which many of us stand today. He did not stop there, constantly looking to apply his discoveries commercially. As recently as this year he always had a few projects he Outside the Texas A&MMariculture Lab with colleagues, staff, students and friends.
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