Darrell Sparks, professor in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, is widely known as “Mr. Pecan” for his research in the physiology, management and development of new cultivars that contributed in large part to making Georgia No. 1 in pecan production. Over the last 10 years, he has patented eight cultivars in the United States—the first in more than 50 years—that are grown under 24 license agreements. Sparks has published over 500 scientific and popular articles and authored Pecan Cultivars: The Orchard’s Foundation.