Spartan Profiles: Harrison "Red" Kennicott
He has been in the floral industry for half a century and won every industry award. This past fall, he received the highest possible honor—induction in the Floriculture Hall of Fame by the Society of American Florists.
Indeed, Harrison “Red” Kennicott, III, ’59, CEO of Kennicott Brothers in Chicago, has been lauded as someone who has influenced every facet of the industry. “I was very surprised, and obviously very pleased,” says Kennicott, who credits MSU with helping him succeed. “Given our family business, I was interested in horticulture, and I went to MSU because it had a strong floriculture program. (Renowned MSU floriculturist) Dr. Paul Krone was a great leader and a strong influence in my career.”
Kennicott Brothers is one of the leading flower wholesalers in the Midwest, with 10 distribution outlets and with farms in places from Alaska to Chile. “We grow peonies, which are very trendy right now,” notes Red’s wife Katie, ’58.
Red is the great grandson of Robert Kennicott, the explorer who commanded the Smithsonian’s Scientific Corps during the Western Union Telegraph Expedition in 1865-67 and was largely responsible for the purchase of Alaska. “His papers were available to Secretary (of State) Seward and they helped build the case to buy Alaska from the Russians,” notes Red, who is equally proud of his great, great grandfather John Kennicott. “In 1836 he received a 200-acre property, The Grove, about 25 miles northwest of Chicago,” recalls Red. “It was a government land-grant given to attract farmers to the area. Today it’s a national historical landmark and we’re all very proud of it. John was instrumental in the creation of land-grant colleges like Michigan State.”
That advocacy has paid dividends, considering that much of MSU’s research has helped advance the floral industry. “I can give you many examples,” says Red, a member of MSU’s Landon Society. “For example, (Plant Pathology Professor) Dr. Mary Hausbeck has done research on the control of mildew in plants, which has led directly to growing better plants.”