Bryant (July 4, 1925 β October 16, 2000), also known as βMarvβ, was an American microbiologist and bacteriologist, Professor in the Departments of Dairy Science and Microbiology at the University of Illinois, a member of the National Academies of Science, editor in chief of the American Society of Microbiology Publications.Bryant was recognized as the most prominent rumen bacteriologist in the world for his seminal contributions in the fields of the ecology, physiology and metabolism of anaerobic rumen bacteria.
He was also elected an honorary member of the American Society for Microbiology, the highest honor awarded by the ASM.The National Academies Press called him "the gentle giant of rumen microbiology".