Alumnus of the Year 2014
Edward O. Garton, PhD, known as “Oz” by his family, friends and colleagues, graduated from Orland High School in the class of 1964. After graduation, Oz attended Stanford University and completed his Bachelor’s Degree in Biology in 1968. From 1968 to 1971, Dr. Garton served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Malaysia working in tuberculosis control.
After returning, Dr. Garton completed his Master’s Degree in Ecology in 1973 at the University of California, Davis and then continued his education at UC Davis receiving his Doctoral Degree in Ecology in 1976. He served as a Post-Doctoral Fellow in 1976 at UC Davis. In 1977 he began his impressive 35 year career at the University of Idaho as a professor in the Fish and Wildlife Science and Statistics department, retiring in 2011. He is currently an Emeritus Professor.
In his career with the University of Idaho, Oz has taught undergraduate and graduate courses, professional workshops and many topical graduate and honors seminars. Dr. Garton has received numerous professional honors and awards including a Fulbright Fellowship to Kenya. He has published and/or contributed to over 93 papers and has copyrighted a significant software application in his line of work for his company ABSEARCH. He is a consultant to multiple state Departments of Fish and Wildlife, USDA Forest Service, Saskatchewan and British Columbia Wildlife branches, National Park Service, Biological Resources Division-USGS and the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
Dr. Garton is an active member of the United Church of Moscow in Idaho. His wife, Virginia Murray Garton (OHS class of 1964), is a registered nurse working in OB/GYN. Together they have raised two children. Their daughter graduated from Stanford University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Conservation Biology and lives in Moscow ID with her husband and two children. Their son graduated from Stanford University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science and lives with his wife in Portland, OR.
