Obituaries

William 'Mr. Bill' ChristianBroadcaster

William "Mr. Bill" Christian, 64, former news director at Howard University's WHUR radio station and WHUT-TV and an adjunct communications professor, died Feb. 12 of complications of diabetes at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Washington.

Mr. Christian was born in Akron, Ohio, and served in the Air Force in Vietnam. After his military service, he worked for General Tire Rubber Co. in Ohio before attending Kent State University. He graduated from Kent State, where he worked at the radio and television stations. In his senior year, he became press secretary for Rep. Morris K. Udall (D-Ariz.) during Udall's 1976 presidential campaign.

At the campaign's end, Mr. Christian moved to Washington and began working at WHUR. He worked there until the early 1980s and then freelanced at several other radio and TV stations in the Washington area, including Radio One.

In the past five years, during his many visits to the VA Medical Center, Mr. Christian would discuss the military and politics with fellow veterans and soon became known there as "The Mayor." He attended air shows all over the world and enjoyed other travel. He was a member of the Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Air Force Society.

His marriages to Lillian Christian and Gera Thompson Christian ended in divorce.

Survivors include two children from his first marriage, Diann Marie Christian and Mark Edward Christian, both of Columbus, Ohio; a daughter from his second marriage, Shannon Marie Christian of Forestville; a brother; and three grandchildren.

Bernard A. 'Pete' TwiggProfessor, Food Expert

Bernard A. "Pete" Twigg, a food industry expert who was chairman of the University of Maryland's horticulture department until retiring in 1983, died of complications from diabetes Feb. 28 at his home in College Park. He was 79.

Dr. Twigg, who also spent his college years at Maryland, was a food science professor and extension specialist for Maryland's canning industry.

During his retirement, he traveled extensively while consulting with General Foods Corp., Asgrow Seed Co. and others in the food industry. He also was the scientific adviser to the World Food Logistics Organization until last spring.

Dr. Twigg was co-author of the book "Fundamentals of Quality Control for the Food Industry" (1966), which is still used in the industry and in graduate programs around the world.

He was instrumental in developing many of the hybrid tomatoes on the market today, including the famed Maryland tomato.

Dr. Twigg was born and grew up on a farm in Oldtown, Md. After high school, he spent two years in the Army as part of the occupation forces in Japan. He then went to the University of Maryland, where he obtained three degrees and spent his career.