Pest Management Professional, September 2017

Dr Klotz names Drs Karen Vail David Oi Lloyd Davis and Jim Moss as also being instrumental in my success in Florida From 1996 until his retirement and relocation to Sedona Ariz in 2009 Dr Klotz was a research and extension entomologist at UC Riverside It was also during this period that Dr Klotz was the co author of three books Carpenter Ants of the United States and Canada co written by Dr Laurel Hansen Urban Ants of North America and Europe co written by Drs Hansen Reiner Pospischil and Mike Rust and Urban Pest Management of Ants of California co written by Drs Hansen Rust and Oi and Ken Kupfer and Herb Field I always kidded John that this trilogy was almost as popular as Star Wars teases fellow PMP Hall of Famer Dr Rust Class of 2007 who also worked with Dr Klotz at UC Riverside Dr Bennett agrees noting these books in particular are invaluable to both academics and practitioners and the medical community with chapters on ant stings There is a wealth of information on the value of this largest group of animals on the face of the earth and how many ant species have adapted to the structures of man Dr Hinkle teases that Dr Klotz might be an ant pied piper of sorts Interestingly a couple of years after he moved to the University of California red imported fire ants Solenopsis invicta were first found invading southern California This was shortly after John had made a trip back to the Southeast Coincidence I then razzed John mercilessly about ensuring his job security at UCR Dr Klotz notes that he did do some research on fire ants with the expertise of Dr Les Greenberg a University of Kansas classmate and a UC Riverside colleague In addition to his work on insect research teaching and extension Dr Klotz organized UC Riversides annual urban pest management conference from 1997 to 2009 John was an outstanding researcher and colleague and made a number of important contributions to the program says Dr Rust But one of his biggest accomplishments was the modernization of our annual conference increasing its attendance and participation by the industry This conference has now become a major extension event in California Throughout his career Dr Klotz kept up with industry pest professionals at conferences and meetings Dr Gerry Wegner who recently retired from Varment Guard in Columbus recalls how he and Dr Klotz used to discuss ant baiting strategies back in the 1990s John helped pioneer boric acid percentage rates in liquid baits for ants including carpenter ants so that the rate of active ingredient would not be too high After retirement Dr Klotz still kept a hand in research In 2010 he worked with his medical professor brother Dr Stephen Klotz as The klotzes and their beloved dogs in sedona ariz well as Drs Jack Pinnas Justin Schmidt and Mark Mosbacher on investigating anaphylactic and other reactions to kissing bugs The unThinkable occurs An avid swimmer Klotz often logged 2500 yards a day at his local gym But in 2011 he went into sudden death cardiac arrest in the pool Thankfully he was given CPR on the spot by fellow swimmers but Dr Klotz remained in a coma for eight days with chemical pneumonia and anoxia He has no memory of any of it Suffering from a traumatic brain injury took me back to square one and gave me a new perspective on the struggles of others to overcome their handicaps Dr Klotz told PMP Through it all my wife Jenny has never wavered with her support and I owe my life to her It was good to see him doing so well says frequent collaborator and fellow PMP Hall of Famer Class of 2015 Dr Laurel Hansen Its a miracle that he is still alive Today the Klotzes focus on his daily progress in recovery Dr Klotz was thrilled humbled and honored to learn of his PMP Hall of Fame induction status The pest control industry has provided me the opportunity to contribute in a small way to its success PMP You can reach GOOCH at hgooch@ northcoastmedia net or 330 321 9754 clockwise from left are steve Margaret holding Peter arthur suzanne and John mypmp net Pest Management Professional September 2017 29