Lambert Cornelius Erickson was born May 30, 1910 in Goodridge, Minnesota the youngest of the 11 children of Johan and Anna Udstrand Erickson. He received his B.S. degree in agronomy and agricultural botany from the University of Minnesota in 1940, his M.S. in botany from the University of Wyoming in 1943, and his Ph.D. from Minnesota in 1962. He came to Moscow as associate agronomist in 1945 and retired August 15, 1975. In Moscow he was active in professional and civic affairs. He became an associate member of the FarmHouse fraternity in 1958, and in 1978 was elected "Master Builder of Men," the highest honor bestowed by the International FarmHouse Fraternity. He was also associated with the Campus Christian Center, Lions Club, First Presbyterian Church and United Fund. He was a member of the Weed Science Society of America, Idaho Academy of Science, American Society of Agronomy, and American Men of Science. In 1970 he held Fulbright lectures on weed science in Europe. He married Hazel Marie Markuson on October 19, 1940; they had one son. Erickson died on July 9, 1986 following a heart attack.