Ralph E. Webb

Dr. Ralph E. Webb, of Greenbelt, MD, passed away on July 25, 2024. Ralph, the son of Homer H. and Adelaide L. Webb of Ellicott City, MD, was born on Jan. 15, 1941. He was a 1959 graduate of Howard High School. That fall, Ralph enrolled at the University of Maryland College Park, graduating in 1964 with a BS in Botany. In July of that year, Ralph married Helen “June" McArthur of Arlington, VA. In the summer of 1964, Ralph was hired as a student employee with Ornamental and Truck Crop Entomology Laboratory at the Beltsville Agricultural Center (BARC) of the USDA. Mentored by his Research Leader, the noted entomologist Dr. Floyd F. Smith, Ralph was soon converted to permanent full time. While working full time, Ralph earned his MS (1967) and PhD (1972), both in Entomology, from the University of Maryland. He and June welcomed children Helen and Matthew while living in an apartment in Bladensburg, and moved to Greenbelt in 1972.

Early in his career, Ralph studied the biology, host plant relationships, and chemical and alternative control of insect pests of ornamental and vegetable crops in field and greenhouse settings. His work on white fly control was cited in the Congressional Record as saving growers over $20M a year; this work resulted in several awards.

In 1975, Ralph was appointed Coordinator of Gypsy Moth Research for the Agricultural Research Service (ARS), coordinating his agency’s program with similar programs in USDA sister agencies. In this role, Ralph had both research and administrative responsibilities. As an administrator, Ralph allocated funding for several ARS, state, and university labs in the USA and abroad. As a research scientist, Ralph led field studies developing the sex attractant of the gypsy moth, “disparlure,” as a detection tool in traps, and for a direct control as the “mating disruption technique,” which became widely used in the USDA’s “Slow the Spread” program. In cooperation with a number of other ARS, USDA Forest Service, APHIS, state, and university scientists, Ralph studied and utilized a number of gypsy moth natural enemies including insect parasitoids and viral, fungal, and other microbial diseases in a program that brought this once major defoliator under effective natural control.

Ralph ultimately authored or coauthored over 200 research publications that were collectively cited over a thousand times in the scientific literature.

Ralph was a Fellow of the Washington D.C. Academy of Science, and a 50 year member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and was inducted into Sigma Xi, the science research honor society. He was a voracious reader of books and journals, including Science Magazine, the American Scientist, and the journal Foreign Affairs. He was a 50 year member of the Mowatt Memorial United Methodist Church of Greenbelt, MD, where he served for many years as the Treasurer and Chair of the Administrative Council, and soloed in the choir. He and June were avid gardeners, for years growing most of their own vegetables. Ralph also enjoyed chess, classical music, and good conversation.

Ralph was predeceased in 2023 by June, his wife of 59 years, and his brother Thomas Webb.

Ralph is survived by his daughter Dr. Helen F. Webb (Thomas “Chris” Murphy), his son UA Local 602 Instructor Matthew T. Webb (Jo), sister-in-law Ardella Webb, grandchildren Erin Murphy, Genevieve Murphy, Sophia Webb, and Garrett Webb, and many nieces and nephews.

A celebration of Ralph’s life will be held on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024 at 11 a.m. at New Deal Cafe, Greenbelt, MD. A visitation will be held from 10-11 a.m., and a meal will follow. 

Gifts may be made in Ralph’s name to the religious institution of ones choice, or to WETA.