FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Alfred E. "Al" Einert, who established the ornamental horticulture teaching and research programs at the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and the U of A's Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences, died Aug. 22 in Fayetteville. He was 79.

For more than three decades, beginning in 1970, Einert coordinated the landscape design and urban horticulture teaching program for the Bumpers College department of horticulture. He intitiated programs to assist nursery and horticultural industries in Arkansas and taught the basic principles and practices in landscape design, landscape construction techniques and wood plant identification.

Einert was the first licensed landscape architect in Arkansas, receiving "License No. 1" and trained several generations of landscape architects in the state.

A native of Norwood, New Jersey, Einert developed his passion for landscape architecture from a love of nature, agriculture and art.

After a stint in the U.S. Air Force, Einert earned his undergraduate degree at Arkansas State College (now Arkansas State University) and his master's and doctoral degrees at Mississippi State University. He served as a post-doctoral researcher at Michigan State University before coming to the University of Arkansas and the Division of Agriculture in 1970.

In 1975, Einert developed a new undergraduate major in landscape design and urban horticulture. Graduates established their own landscaping businesses or found jobs with municipal parks or recreation departments. The program also benefitted extension agents in urban areas.

In 1987, Einert took over the Undergraduate Honors Program for Bumpers College. In the 1990s, he worked with Roy Rom and Curt Rom to develop a "freshman experience" program in the department of horticulture and forestry. Shortly after that, Einert developed an upper-level course in landscape and turfgrass management that was team-taught with the department of agronomy.

Einert received the Arkansas Alumni Association Distinguished Faculty Achievement Award for Teaching in 1987 and the John W. White Outstanding Teaching Award in 1988. He retired in 1999.

Einert is survived by two daughters, LeeAnn Einert Deemer, of Colombo, Sri Lanka, and Kathryn Michaels Shaffer of Bentonville, Arkansas; five grandchildren, Felix Deemer, Eleanora Deemer, Louisa Deemer, Holden Shaffer, and Skylar Shaffer; and three siblings, Martin Einert of Boulder City, Colorado, Roslind Stone of Woodland, California, and Richard Einert of Bentonville.

About the Division of Agriculture: The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture's mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation's historic land grant education system.

The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on five system campuses.

The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs to all eligible persons without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.

About the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences: Bumpers College provides life-changing opportunities to position and prepare graduates who will be leaders in the businesses associated with foods, family, the environment, agriculture, sustainability and human quality of life; and who will be first-choice candidates of employers looking for leaders, innovators, policy makers and entrepreneurs. The college is named for Dale Bumpers, former Arkansas governor and longtime U.S. senator who made the state prominent in national and international agriculture.