Alvin Bogdansky was born near Nekoosa and worked for many years in the Wisconsin Rapids area.  Starting in 1970, he began collecting plants in Wood County.   He is the most prolific plant collector in that county's history, collecting (to date) over 10,000 specimens.  All are deposited in the UWSP herbarium.  He also assisted Bob Freckmann, his botanical mentor, in the collection of several thousand more specimens.  In 2002 he was honored by the UWSP Biology Department for his volunteer services to the University.