Rapee Sagarik

Rapee Sagarik (

botanist and orchid expert. He was a professor at Kasetsart University and served as its president from 1972 to 1980. In addition to scientifically studying and cataloging orchids, for which he became known as the "father of Thai orchidology", he also worked in rice cultivar development and agriculture research, and served as Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives.^[2]

Early life and education

Rapee Sagarik was born on 4 December 1922 in Worachak Sub-district,

Pom Prap Sattru Phai District

, Bangkok. He is the eldest son of Nueng Sagarik and Sanit Phamornsut, out of six children.

Rapee started primary education at Samsen Witthayakhan School and then in 1953, he moved to Satri Chulalak school until 1928. From 1928 to 1930 he studied at

Chiang Mai Province (which was established as a five-year bachelor's degree program of Kasetsart University in 1943). In 1947, he graduated in pedology from the Faculty of Agriculture, Kasetsart University. He later received an honorary doctorate degree in Agricultural Innovation from Rangsit University on 23 February 2015.^[3]

Career

Orchid flower

commemorating the cremation ceremony of Rapee Sagarik

Rapee was approached by Kasetsart University to become a full-time instructor. However, due to his passion for fieldwork, he chose to work at an agricultural experiment station in Mae Jo as a temporary employee assigned to conduct research on rice, vegetable and tobacco varieties. Meanwhile, he also conducted research on

orchids

using his own funds, an activity which would later become a fixture in his life. He was devoted to orchid research, and would become internationally recognized in the field of orchidology as one of its foremost experts. Having done research at the station for two years, he returned to government service as a full-time lecturer at Kasetsart University.

His work on research and promotion of orchids, both in cultivar development and propagation, as well as development as an export industry, made Thai orchids an important agricultural export product of Thailand. In recognition, Rapee received the

King Bhumibol^[4]

for agriculture work. He was named a professor in 1970.

Rapee served as the President of Kasetsart University, and as Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives in the government of Prime Minister Kriangsak Chamanan.^[5] He held many other positions, even after retiring. He was widely recognized for his work, especially in education and orchidology, and was popularly named the "father of Thai orchidology".

During the

2006 political crisis, he jointly signed a royal petition asking for the king's intervention in naming a prime minister, and was a consultant to the People's Alliance for Democracy.^[6]

Personal life

Rapee Sagarik was married to Kalaya Montriwat (daughter of Phichai Montri, Chief of the Free Thai Movement in Kanchanaburi during World War II). They had four children.

After 1990, he resigned from the various public and private positions he held, to turn to a peaceful and simple life, though he continued to accept invitations for lectures, especially in rural and youth development, focusing on morality and ethics.

Death

Rapee died on 17 February 2018 due to blood poisoning at the age of 95.^[7]

Royal decorations

Rapee received the following royal decorations in the

Honours System

of Thailand:

Knight Grand Cordon (Special Class) of The Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand
Knight Grand Cross(First Class) of the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant

References

^ "Rapee Sagarik, father of Thai orchids, passes away at 95". The Nation.
^ "ศาสตราจารย์ ระพี สาคริก". ฐานข้อมูลบูรพาจารย์มหาวิทยาลัยเกษตรศาสตร์. Kasetsart University. Archived from the original on 28 March 2016. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
^ "ม.รังสิต มอบปริญญาดุษฎีบัณฑิตกิตติมศักดิ์ 3 บุคคลสำคัญ". Manager Online. Archived from the original on 2015-01-04.
^ ราชกิจจานุเบกษา, แจ้งความสำนักนายกรัฐมนตรี เรื่อง พระราชทานเหรียญดุษฎีมาลา เข็มศิลปวิทยา, เล่ม ๘๕, ตอน ๙๑ ง, ๘ ตุลาคม พ.ศ. ๒๕๑๑, หน้า ๒๙๙๖
^ "พระบรมราชโองการ ประกาศ แต่งตั้งรัฐมนตรี (จำนวน ๔๔ ราย)" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on September 23, 2019.
^ "เปิดตัว "พันธมิตรกู้ชาติ" สานภารกิจขับไล่ "แม้ว"". Manager Online.^{[dead link]}
^ "บิดากล้วยไม้ ศ.ระพี สาคริก โลหิตติดเชื้อ เสียชีวิตสงบ! (คลิป)". www.thairath.co.th. February 18, 2018.

External links

Professor Rapee Sagarik’s 97th Birthday at Google Doodle

[1] "Rapee Sagarik, father of Thai orchids, passes away at 95". The Nation.

[2] "ศาสตราจารย์ ระพี สาคริก". ฐานข้อมูลบูรพาจารย์มหาวิทยาลัยเกษตรศาสตร์. Kasetsart University. Archived from the original on 28 March 2016. Retrieved 9 February 2018.

[3] "ม.รังสิต มอบปริญญาดุษฎีบัณฑิตกิตติมศักดิ์ 3 บุคคลสำคัญ". Manager Online. Archived from the original on 2015-01-04.

[4] ราชกิจจานุเบกษา, แจ้งความสำนักนายกรัฐมนตรี เรื่อง พระราชทานเหรียญดุษฎีมาลา เข็มศิลปวิทยา, เล่ม ๘๕, ตอน ๙๑ ง, ๘ ตุลาคม พ.ศ. ๒๕๑๑, หน้า ๒๙๙๖

[5] "พระบรมราชโองการ ประกาศ แต่งตั้งรัฐมนตรี (จำนวน ๔๔ ราย)" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on September 23, 2019.

[6] "เปิดตัว "พันธมิตรกู้ชาติ" สานภารกิจขับไล่ "แม้ว"". Manager Online.^{[dead link]}

[7] "บิดากล้วยไม้ ศ.ระพี สาคริก โลหิตติดเชื้อ เสียชีวิตสงบ! (คลิป)". www.thairath.co.th. February 18, 2018.

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

Authority control databases
International	FAST VIAF
National	United States
Other	IdRef