K-State hort professor Mattson dies

Richard Mattson, distinguished professor of horticulture and horticulture therapy program director, passed away Feb. 23 at Via Christi Village in Manhattan. Mattson, 72, worked at K-State since 1969, and founded as well as directed the horticulture therapy program at the university.

"He was a really great professor," Ariel Whitely, senior in horticulture, said. "I don’t know that I’ve encountered many people that knew as much about what they did as he did."

K-State’s horticulture therapy program, one of the few in the nation, offered on-campus and distance education courses.

Horticultural therapy, according to the American Horticultural Therapy Association, is the gardening and plant-based activities led by a trained therapist to "achieve specific therapeutic treatment goals."

Mattson’s loss will be felt deeply, Whitely said.

"It’s a huge loss," he said. "Not very many colleges offer the program; it’s going to be a big loss to not have someone with as much experience as Dr. Mattson had."

Funeral services were held Feb. 27 at the First Baptist Church, 1001 Prairie St., in Chapman, Neb. Condolences may be sent to the family at soltfh.com.

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