The IR-4 Project honored Ken Trammel in 2023 with a Special Recognition Award. Trammel, owner of ACDS Freezer Transport Services, has been a longtime partner and steadfast supporter of IR-4’s work. Marylee Ross, IR-4’s Northeast Regional Field Coordinator, wrote the following piece to highlight and celebrate Trammel’s work so that we might all take a moment to celebrate his pioneering career. Pictured above: Trammel (center) and his ACDS team.
Dr. Kenneth Trammel obtained his Ph.D. in Entomology from the University of Florida, followed by three years as a citrus entomologist at Lake Alfred, FL. He then worked for two and a half years as a research entomologist for CIBA Agrochemical Co. before becoming a tree fruit specialist for Cornell College of Agriculture and Life Sciences in Geneva, NY. He resigned from that position in 1975 to devote full time to his custom research firm, Agricultural Chemicals Development Services, Inc. (ACDS). Dr. Trammel was one of the original Contract Research Operations (CROs) conducting Magnitude of Residue (MOR) studies. He pledged that there was no room for anything but top-caliber, professional work on every detail and that collection, labeling, packaging and shipping samples must receive the utmost care.
Soon CROs were established throughout the US and Canada. The residues portion of his research generated huge amounts of crop and soil samples that needed to be transported on dry ice. He soon saw the need for a better way to transport large quantities of samples so he “invented” his first frozen sample transport vehicle by lining the interior of a cube truck with insulation and packing his samples in hundreds of pounds of dry ice.
A pinned map of ACDS’ stops shows the company’s impressive reach. Courtesy of Ken Trammel.
As demand for MOR trials increased, Ken saw a need and an opportunity. Recognizing and addressing this demand, Ken sprouted a freezer transport service. He bought his first freezer truck and began shipping samples from research sites to labs nationwide. Ken and his team have been delivering IR-4 frozen samples to laboratories since 1982. He has been operating in compliance with Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) regulations for those samples from the very beginning. Ken and the ACDS team have also delivered samples to labs in Canada, sparing IR-4 the challenge of shipping through Customs on dry ice.
When we think about transporting IR-4 magnitude of residue samples safely across the U.S. and Canada, we think about ACDS. This is a family operation with Ken’s wife as Vice President, his daughter as Secretary/Treasurer and HR, and a son and son-in-law involved as drivers and mechanics. A dedicated staff and four full-time drivers round out the ACDS team. We probably know the drivers best because they are the ones we see the most, but there is a group of dedicated people behind the scenes doing big things!
Ken is a pioneer in the world of contract agricultural research and transport of frozen samples. He is rightfully proud that he has never lost a sample. In fact, Ken saved many samples when one of the strongest tornadoes ever to hit the Mid-Atlantic struck the ARS Beltsville, MD Agricultural Research Center, severely damaging 15 buildings—including the analytical laboratory—on April 28, 2002. The lab director called Ken, who immediately sent a freezer truck to hold the samples until they were able to restore power and secure storage for the samples. There are many more examples of how Ken has so expertly served the needs of IR-4 for safe, reliable transport of our valuable samples.
We have come to depend heavily on the quality of service ACDS has provided for decades. As Ken plans his retirement, he has taken great care to find the right buyer for his business. As Lange Research and Consulting, Inc. takes over the reins under Ken’s tutelage, the intent is to seamlessly carry forward Ken’s legacy of quality service. Ken understands and he cares.
IR-4 was honored to present Ken with a 2023 Special Recognition Award for over 40 years of service to the IR-4 Project and the crop protection community. Ken and his service are one of the reasons the IR-4 Project has been so successful.
Thank you, Ken!
Marylee Ross presents Ken Trammel with his Special Recognition plaque, accompanied by Bess Trammel, ACDS Vice President and Ken’s wife.
Ken Trammel was presented with IR-4’s special recognition award in 2023 after 40+ years of service to IR-4 and the specialty crop community.