Professor Rapee Sagarik was a Thai horticulturist, botanist and orchid expert. He was a professor at Kasetsart University and served as its president from 1972 to 1980. In addition to scientifically studying and cataloging orchids, for which he became known as the “father of Thai orchidology” Professor Rapee was approached by Kasetsart University to become a full-time instructor. However, due to his passion for fieldwork, he chose to work at an agricultural experiment station in Mae Jo as a temporary employee assigned to conduct research on rice, vegetable and tobacco varieties. Meanwhile, he also conducted research on orchids using his own funds, an activity which would later become a fixture in his life. He was devoted to orchid research, and would become internationally recognized in the field of orchidology as one of its foremost experts. His work on research and promotion of orchids, both in cultivar development and propagation, as well as development as an export industry, made Thai orchids an important agricultural export product of Thailand. In recognition, Rapee received the Dushdi Mala Medal from King Bhumibol [4] for agriculture work. He was named a professor in 1970.
