Malcolm (Tommy) Sanford

See a March 6, 2010 update on Malcolm's bio in his own comment below (in the comment section)

Original Bio Info

Malcolm has given us some resources to learn about his very interesting life. Click on the links to his website and to his blog to learn about his acting career and his recent trip to Australia. The following biographical information was copied and added from Malcolm’s website:

Folks often ask me how I got started in beekeeping. As a graduate student in Geography at the University of Georgia, I was given a fellowship to study fishing technology in the Yucatan. Arriving there, however, revealed that little data was available. Before leaving from Athens, GA I took a beekeeping course from Dr. Alfred Dietz in the Department of Entomology and had installed my first colony and collected my first swarm.

Yucatan it turned out at the time was one of the world's largest honey exporters, principally through the efforts of honey exporter R.B. Wilson who had visited the region and saw its potential. While in Yucatan I met one of beekeeping's pioneers, J.F. Martinez Lopez and with his and others' help, so I switched topics and wrote my thesis, A Geography of Apiculture in the Yucatan Peninsula, not published. Another by Calkins was also written about the same time, but was more ethnographic than economic in focus. There was an update on the topic published in Mexico on the subject in Bee World 1997 by Carlos Echazarreta González. I returned to the region as an invited speaker in 1998.

Later, I decided to become more involved in Beekeeping and was admitted to the Department of Entomology at the University of Georgia and became a technician for Dr. Dietz, administering the University Bee Program when he was on sabbatical in Germany and taking his place for the period he was absent. Next I took a job at The Ohio State University as Extension Specialist in Apiculture after meeting Dr. Walter Rothenbuhler. As part of my exploration into beekeeping, I worked for Rossman Apiaries for a short period in 1977.

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Comments

[Karla Lofgren Davis]

It's Wednesday, Jan 9th, and I just checked out Malcolm's Australian Travel blog link(doing a little routine maintenance of the blog). Seems I caught it just as he is departing on another trip, one that seems to have great importance to his industry. His work fascinates me - I love honey and I was stung by a bee once - or twice - or more. Anyway, check it out. He has two links in the website section, so browse through the website links in the right sidebar, being sure you get the Australian one first. Karla

[Malcolm T. Sanford]

Dear Folks,

Notice my e-mail change [email protected]

Just off a stint of being in the play Greetings! here at Gainesville, Florida's Acrosstown Repertory theater http://acrosstown.org/

After that, I attended the National Beekeeping Convention in Sacramento, CA and was able to visit my cousin who lives in Sonoma.

You can check out my blog for the latest on that event:

http://abeekeepersblog.blogspot.com/

[Karla Lofgren Davis]

Makes me wish I lived closer to Gainesville, Florida. Malcolm's theater group seems to have a lively offering, and it would be fun to see one of our own performing there.

Speaking of which, check out the website for Jimmy Post - Milby Class of 1958 - that is linked in our righthand sidebar. I'd love to see one of his shows as well. Karla

[Malcolm T. Sanford]

The great honey bee dieoff has generated a lot of press and this has stimulated more research, which so far has given us no "smoking gun," revealing a cause. Many people are asking me about this and those interested should see both http://beeculture.com/content/ColonyCollapseDisorder.cfm and http://www.ento.psu.edu/MAAREC/ColonyCollapseDisorderInfo.html

[Malcolm T. Sanford]

Yet some more activity to report. I am currently doing a run of On Golden Pond at the High Springs Community Theater in High Springs, FL. I play the part pioneered by Henry Fonda in the movie, Norman Thayer, Jr. This is a difficult role in some ways as I am not 80, but nevertheless it is relevant to my life as I have several relatives in this age group.

When this concludes, I will again participate in The Generation Connection camp, now going into it's sixth year http://thegenerationconnection.com/

After that it's off to adult ball room dance camp at Brigham Young University. I continue to add material to my Squidoo site http://www.squidoo.com/apis

I am invited to Ohio, New York and Turkey in the fall on beekeeping related assignments, which I will put up on the blog
http://abeekeepersblog.blogspot.com/

[Karla Lofgren Davis]

What a full and interesting life Tommy is leading!!! I am so happy that I clicked on his blog link today (http://abeekeepersblog.blogspot.com/). You'll have to copy and paste that URL into your browser, but there are true links elsewhere in this bio page and at the bottom of the right sidebar (he has two - it's the one that has Australia in the title.)

Here's the deal...now he is off to Israel, and the entries on his blog make for fascinating reading. I can say, 'I KNOW THAT GUY!!!" Scroll to the bottom of the current section of his blog to read the day by day report as his trip unfolds.

Hmmm, let's see... the most exciting thing in MY day today is the little boy that is currently in the office crying and screaming because...He just wanted to see what it was like in the girl's bathroom and if we call his daddy he'll get a whuppin'. :-) Karla

[Larry Smith]

Give him a break, Karla. I always wanted to see what it was like...but never had the cajonies to go in.

Addendum: You will be happy to know that the principal let this precocious 4 year old off with a stern warning, and did not call his Dad...THIS time! Karla

[Linda Strickland]

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas, much love and joy with family and friends.

[Malcolm (Tommy) Sanford]

I am back from Israel and Turkey; most of my trip can bee seen on the blog http://abeekeepersblog.blogspot.com
. I am off again to Reno, Nevada on 13 January 2009 to give a presentation on the History of Varroa mites in the U.S. to the American Beekeeping Federation http://abfnet.org

My acting career is taking a break after a run as Dr. Watson in the classic piece, The Hound of the Baskervilles.

I will MC the annual awards ceremony of the High Springs Community Theater on February 7, 2009, see http://myhsct.com

Malcolm

[Karla Lofgren Davis]

Every few weeks I visit Malcolm (Tommy) Sanford's blog to see if there is anything new. There had been nothing new since July 15th, but this morning I was rewarded for my faithfulness by a new addition, the report of his trip to France. Check it out at:

http://abeekeepersblog.blogspot.com/

(or scroll to the bottom section of the right sidebar for a direct link. He has a website and a blog listed there)

I am truly fascinated by Malcolm's involvement with Apimondia, and in the case of this blog entry I got a double treat as he mentions his travel itinerary in France. One site he mentions is Avignon.

Years ago (like 45 years ago!) Ed and I were touring France by rental vehicle and I saw a road sign for Avignon - definitely not on our intended route, and definitely off the beaten path. I seldom interfere with Ed's travel plans as he works so diligently to develop them. But this time I insisted. WHY??? Because when I was a kid taking piano lessons I had to memorize a piece entitled, "On the Bridge at Avignon". Ed had never heard of either - the song or the bridge. Nevertheless he acquiesced and off we went.

We found a delightful, quaint village - with a bridge - and an ancient castle complete with mote. As it was evening, the site was closed, but a caretaker allowed us to enter the castle grounds... where we were promptly chased by a pack of wild dogs. Amazing how I could scramble up that stone wall.

But I digress. No need to go into the details of our tiny pension room with sink hanging over the narrow bed or the dwarf-like, somewhat grotesque country folk assembling in the town square for a celebration that evening.

Enough! Just check out Malcolm's RECENT travels and scientific information. And Malcolm, I'd be interested in your description of present day Avignon and other places you visited on this trip. Karla

Lyrics:
"On the bridge at Avignon,
We are dancing, we are dancing.
On the bridge at Avignon,
We are dancing in a row.

Ladies all dance this way,
Gentlemen dance this way,...repeat chorus"

Brilliant!!! Have you ever sung this song???

Perhaps...

Sur le pont d'Avignon
L'on y danse, l'on y danse
Sur le pont d'Avignon
L'on y danse tous en rond
Les beaux messieurs font comm' ça
Et puis encore comm' ça

OMG, Wikipedia has a fascinating piece on the town, the bridge, and the song. if you have interest, or nothing else to do today, check this out at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pont_Saint-B%C3%A9nezet

Or for a photo tour, go to http://www.virtourist.com/europe/avignon/index.html

WOW!!! Can't wait to show this site to Ed - maybe after all these years I will be vindicated - he will agree that Avignon IS a place of interest - we missed a LOT of features by setting off early the next morning to get back on his scheduled route.

Whether literal (on a trip) or figurative (on a blog) I just love chasing rabbits!!! (and I DO have a life!!!) Hey! Tell us about some delightful out-of-the-way and off-the-beaten-path places you have serendipitously discovered along the intended routes of your life. KD

B-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z ... don't forget to check out Malcom's blog!!!

[Malcolm (Tommy) Sanford]

I didn't mention that I stayed in my friend David Carpita's bed and breakfast Mas de Cornud http://www.mascornud.com/ for a couple of nights. This is a really great place; if one can get six people interested, David and his Egyptian wife Nito will design a cooking tour and teach technique as well. David and I were classmates at the American Institute of Foreign Trade in 1967, now the Thunderbird Graduate School of Global Management. http://www.thunderbird.edu/. David retired from a banking career to move to San Remy de Provence; as his e-mails state: "every one has two countries, his own and France."

[Karla adds: Thank you so much for the additional information, Malcolm. WOW!!! The place where you stayed sounds incredible. Wish I was in the market for a trip to France - I'd sure enough consider making Mas de Cornud the centerpiece of the adventure!]

[Malcolm T. Sanford]

The latest from Gainesville is one of the coldest winters on record and we moved to the Sunshine state for other reasons. The next situation is the budget crunch in Gainesville with teachers being laid off as well as police and fire fighters.

I am cast as Stanley in the High Springs Community Theater of Run for your Wife http://highspringscommunitytheater.com

I continue my bee work; I gave a talk in Moultrie, GA during a snow storm. I am due to go to Ghana and Brazil in the fall. My blog is getting a little old; I should keep it up more, but instead concentrate on the Global Beekeeping Calendar http://my.calendars.net/bee_culture and Apis newsletter http://apis.shorturl.com

I can't make the reunion this year, but got a nice call from Chairman Ray; always glad to hear from him.

Malcolm T. Sanford