Thanks to the generous donation of a lifelong farmer and alumnus, the College of Agriculture Health and Natural Resources (CAHNR) will have a newly renovated hub for public facing activities and research related to plant and soil health.

Slated to open in the Roy E. Jones Building in spring 2026, the George Leigh Minor Plant and Soil Health Center will support and expand the College’s existing efforts to process soil samples and generate diagnostic reports for community members, and support research and learning.

The renovated space will serve as a centralized location for demonstration gardens and displays, public education about plant pests and pathogens, diagnostic services, and research labs.

“We are grateful to Mr. Minor for his belief in UConn’s mission and the impact our programs have on the public,” says Kumar Venkitrayananan, CAHNR’s interim dean. “Through the generosity of his gift, we will continue to serve our communities, both with our students and the residents of Connecticut.”

Minor ’56 (CAHNR) passed away at the age of 90 in January, leaving a generous donation to the College, which will be used to fund the renovations necessary to open the center.

“This means there’s something there that he would be proud of,” Minor’s sister, Elizabeth Baker says.

“It helps instill just how much time and effort he put in toward UConn,” Linda Hart, Minor’s niece, says. “We’re just so proud and happy that we’ll be able to go there and know that this is something he made possible.”

Minor was a lifelong farmer. As a child, he began selling eggs in his neighborhood.

“He always loved everything related to the farm,” Baker says. “From a very young age he was out driving a tractor.”

At UConn, Minor learned about new farming techniques that he brought home to his family farm. Minor’s father, Leigh Minor, also attended UConn, graduating in 1916.

One of Minor’s favorite traditions was going on Sunday “joyrides” with his family, often to the UConn Dairy Bar, where a plaque still bears his name honoring an earlier donation.

Jim Murdock, Minor’s friend of more than 50 years, remembers his friend’s dry sense of humor and intelligence.

“He was a character,” Murdock says. “He was a local fixture.”

Minor would come visit Murdock at his antique boat shop every afternoon.

“He’d sit there and tell stories,” Murdock says. “It was just fun listening to him. And if I had an engine electrical issue, he’d love to dive into that…He was a really, really smart guy.”

Aside from farming, Minor’s other lifelong passion was watching the stock market.

“He spent every day so focused on the stock market, on his portfolio, knowing it was all someday going to UConn,” Hart says.

Self-declared “Uncle Scrooge,” Minor lived modestly himself.

“He lived a good life,” Hart says. “He lived it his way. He wasn’t one to spend money on much of anything. But he was always happy with what he had, and it’s amazing to see what it’s making possible now.”

This work relates to CAHNR’s Strategic Vision area focused on Ensuring a Vibrant and Sustainable Agricultural Industry and Food Supply.

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