People
Auburn Alumnus Writes Award Winning Novel
Beta
Mu Chapter Initiates Honorary Member
Finstad Elected as Minnesota Representative
Laatsch
accepts Outstanding Agriculture Education Award
Hoffsis to Depart
for Iams
E.T. York
Awarded Honorary Doctorate
Tarleton State Alumnus Receives Medal
On The Move
Auburn Alumnus Writes
Award Winning Novel
Dr. Jere Hoar, Auburn, is the author of The Hit, a noir crime
novel which has been selected a notable book of 2003 by the Kansas City Star
and nominated by the editors of Deadly Pleasures magazine for the Barry
Award as best first crime novel of the year.
Dr. Hoar is professor emeritus of journalism at the University of
Mississippi, where he received the university-wide teacher of the year award
and the Silver Em, a national honor for those who have made significant
contributions to journalism. He has previously received awards for short
fiction, including the Pirate's Alley William Faulkner prize and the Kansas
Arts Council's KQ award. His unpublished novel, "The Levitation and
Ascension of Brother Wevel Snopes," was first prize winner in the Deep South
Writers Conference Competition.
Beta Mu Chapter initiates Honorary Member
Born in 1933, Jack Caldwell was raised on a farm in White
Bluff. The family row cropped, grew tobacco as a cash crop and raised swine.
When Caldwell was seventeen he enlisted in the United States Air Force.
After twenty-two years of service to his country, he retired from the
military. Following his retirement, he returned to Tennessee and enrolled at
Austin Peay State University in 1973. While at APSU, Caldwell received a
B.S. in General Agriculture and a minor in chemistry. He then went on to
graduate school at the University of Clemson in South Carolina, receiving
his M.S. and Ph.D.
After receiving his Ph.D. in 1984, Caldwell took a job with the U.S. Food
and Drug Administration in Washington DC. In 2001, Caldwell retired from the
FDA and again moved back to Tennessee. He started teaching animal science
classes in the Agriculture Department at Austin Peay. During the spring 2003
semester, he became an adviser for Beta Mu chapter. Caldwell was initiated
on September 28, 2003. He currently lives in Dickson, Tennessee with his
wife of forty-five years, Mary Ann.
Finstad elected as
Minnesota Representative
University of
Minnesota alumnus, Brad Finstad, was recently elected to the Minnesota House
of Representatives.
Brother Finstad was initiated at Lambda chapter in 1995 and graduated with a
BS in Agricultural Education in 1999.
He is currently serving on Agriculture and Rural Development Finance;
Agriculture Policy; Health and Human Services Finance; Health and Human
Services Policy committees.
He and his wife Jaclyn have one daughter, Greta.
Laatsch
accepts Outstanding Agriculture Education Award
David R. Laatsch, Wisconsin, Madison, accepted the Outstanding
Agriculture Education Program Award in December in Orlando, Fla., at the
National Convention of the National Association of Agriculture Educators.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime honor, to be recognized by one's peers like
this,” Laatsch said Thursday in a telephone interview from his Beaver Dam
classroom. “I am humbled and honored by this recognition.”
Laatsch has been teaching at Beaver Dam High School ever since he graduated
from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1976.
Agriculture has changed a great deal in the near-three decades Laatsch has
been teaching the subject, and so has the field of education as a whole.
“That's one of the reasons I think I've kept teaching,” he said. “It changes
all of the time, and each and every year I face new and different challenges
- kind of like farming.” n
The award recognized Beaver Dam High School's agriculture program for
excellence in three areas of instruction: its progressive curriculum, its
award-winning leadership development through the FFA and the outstanding
opportunities in career education it provides through the Supervised
Agriculture Experience program.
"Our program has a long tradition of excellence, dating back to the
beginning of vocational education in secondary schools," Laatsch said,
crediting his predecessors, Lloyd R. Larson and Fred V. Meinke, with
establishing a strong foundation for the program that exists today.
Laatsch said he has seen many changes in the agriculture industry over the
past three decades, but he still sees it as a vibrant, growing industry, and
he feels that fundamental agriculture education is a vital element that
exposes students to global as well as local opportunities.
The Beaver Dam teacher currently serves as vice president of the Wisconsin
Association of Agriculture Educators, and also serves on the Wisconsin FFA
Center Board of Directors.
"The honor is especially rewarding because it is selected by peers in a
professional organization," Laatsch said.
NAAE is a national organization of agriculture teachers, representing 14,000
instructors who serve in more than 10,000 programs.
Hoffsis to Depart for Iams
Dr. Glen F. Hoffsis, Ohio State, will begin his position as the
director of veterinary services at the Iams Company in Dayton, Ohio, and
will leave his position after 34 years. He became the
dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine in 1993, after he was an
instructor at the school for 23 years, since 1970.
“Dr. Hoffsis is very well respected in the veterinarian community, and he
will bring a lot to our business,” said Kurt Iverson, a spokesman for the
Iams Company.
The company supplies high quality pet foods and pet care products and
collaborates with veterinarians to help make the lives of dogs and cats
better, Iverson said.
“I have a great deal of respect for the Iams Company and have had for some
time,” Hoffis said. “They have exciting ideas for the future.”
However, Hoffsis added that it would be hard to leave the OSU community.
Hoffsis helped realign the College of Veterinary Medicine into three
departments and planned the creation of three buildings. He also produced a
new budget for the college.
There have been more than 3,500 graduates of the OSU veterinarian school
under Hoffsis' tenure at OSU as a teacher and dean.
At the Iams Company, Hoffsis will oversee the company's Veterinary Technical
Services team along with the company's undertakings, imaging centers and pet
insurance. He also will be in control of arranging the company's products
and services with the veterinarian profession.
Despite his decision to leave, Hoffsis said he has enjoyed his time spent at
the university.
“It was a 10-year period of tremendous activity and advancement in the
college,” he said. "(It was) the best job I ever had."
E.T. York Awarded Honorary
Doctorate
E.T. York, center, chancellor emeritus of Florida’s
state university system,
and his wife Vam, right participated in the December 2003 graduation
ceremonies at North Carolina State University in Raleigh. NCSU Chancellor
Marye Anne Fox, left, presented York with an honorary doctor of sciences
degree at the ceremony. (NCSU photo by Roger Winstead)
E.T. York, Auburn, chancellor emeritus of Florida State University system,
has been awarded an honorary Doctor of Sciences degree by North Carolina
State University.
In awarding the degree at the university’s December 17, 2003, graduation
ceremonies, NCSU chancellor Marye Anne Fox cited York’s more than
half-century of efforts to combat world hunger.
“After a career spanning more than 50 years, York is admired worldwide as an
innovative educator, tireless humanitarian, and an effective advocate for
the use of international agricultural development as a weapon against hunger
and malnutrition,” said Fox.
York became the University of Florida’s provost for agriculture in
1963, and later went on to become the university’s executive vice president
and interim president. In 1975, he left UF for a five-year term as
chancellor of the state university system. He retired early to devote
himself full-time to working on problems of Third World development.
Throughout that time, York built a reputation as a champion in the effort to
modernize agriculture in developing countries as a means of ending world
hunger. He served as an advisor to six presidents – Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon,
Ford, Carter and Reagan – and has served as a consultant for the U.S. Agency
for International Development, the U.S. Department of State, the United
Nations, private foundations and many foreign governments.
In 1997, York was named a “Great Floridian” by the Florida History
Associates of the Florida State Museum of History. The organization cited
York as one of the twelve individuals “who have made notable contributions
to shaping the state of Florida as we know it today.”
Tarleton State Alumnus Receives Houston Fire Department Meritorious Medal
Jason
“Bear” Wilson, Tarleton State, was awarded the Houston Fire Department
Meritorious Medal.
On Saturday, January 4, 2003, he was among the crew that rescued a husband
and wife who were trapped under a patio cover. It collapsed while they were
dismantling it. The heavy patio, made out of two by six inch treated lumber
and covered with tar and gravel, weighed in excess of 2,000 pounds.
Both victims were extricated safely and treated for possible spinal injuries
at the local hospital.
The entire crew was commended for their determination and dedication.
Christopher M.F. Pierce, Ph.D., Southern Illinois, graduated with his
Ph.D. in Entomology on December 21, 2003 from the University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign. His doctoral dissertation specialized in Integrated Pest
Management of agriculture and horticulture crops. He was hired by the
Department of Entomology at Purdue University as the Indiana
CAPS(Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey) State Coordinator. He and his
wife, Kelly, are expecting the birth of their first child in May of 2004.
Greg Stacey, Wisconsin-Madison, has recently received certification
as a Six
Sigma Master Black Belt. He is currently employed as the Asst. Director of
Continuous Process Improvement for Temple-Inland's sixteen panel products
facilities. Temple-Inland, Inc. is a $3.5 billion forest products and
financial services company. Six Sigma is a process improvement methodology
that was made popular by Motorola and General Electric. It uses high powered
statistical tools to improve processes and products with substantial
bottom-line results. Greg will be responsible for training, mentoring and
leading projects as well as the corporate wide Six Sigma deployment.
Ronnie Green, Virginia Tech, currently leads the national research
program for USDA’s Ag Research Service in food and animal production. This
program encompasses 91 scientists working in over 100 research projects at
17 federal labs across the U.S. in dairy, beef, shep, swine and poultry
production.
J. Christian Robertson, Auburn, had a daughter, Elizabeth Ann, on
February 19, 2004. She weighed 8lbs 5oz.
David Roney, Kansas State, recently accepted the position of Plant
Engineer with the Juice Division of Grimmway Enterprises Inc., Bakersfield,
CA. David and wife Deborah have their two youngest daughters still at home,
Andrea 14 and Joahna age 9.
Douglas Roney, Kansas State, recently moved from Minneapolis,
Minnesota to Auburn, California, as the Northwest U.S. and Western Canadian
Sales Engineering Manager for Buhler Inc. USA. Douglas and his wife Jenni
have three sons, Dylan 5, Reed 3, and Grant age 1-1/2.
Bradley Jenne, Vermont, was married on October 18, 2003, to Blanca
Kalandros and purchased Robert and Lucille Williams Christmas Tree farm
(13.6 acres) and a house.
Rocky Gilbert, Idaho, was promoted to the Superintendent position of
the Helena Interagency Hotshot Crew on the Helena National Forest, in
Helena, Montana. This is one of seventy-eight, 20-person, federal crews, in
the country that respond to wildfires across the nation.
John McComb, Clemson, is a LTC in the US Army, Stationed in
Heidelberg, Germany. He is currently assigned as the 26th Area Support Group
Director of Public Works. He arrived in Germany in July 2002 and expects to
move in June 2005 to another duty assignment. He currently lives in
Schwetzingen, Germany with his wife and four children.
Jeff Jarrett, Purdue, and his wife of 16 years, Christine, have six
children and reside in Washington, IN. He has recently joined Preferred
Buyers Association, Inc., a fertilizer purchasing, consulting and management
firm as executive vice president, sales and marketing. Formerly, he spent 14
years with Monsanto as a retail sales manager.
Kyle McGregor, Tarleton State, recently received his Ph.D. and is a
professor at Tarleton State University. He and his wife Jennifer also just
had his first child, a daughter, Maggie.
Willard Waldo and Max Waldo, Nebraska, were recipients of the
Rural Radio Association’s 17th Service to Agriculture Award presented in
Lexington, Nebraska, in November.
Larry Gerdes and Steve Gerdes, Illinois, were Award of Merit
recipients from the ACES Alumni Association. These outstanding graduates
will be honored during the Paul A. Funk College of ACES Awards Gala on April
28.
Doyle S. Speer, Truman State, and his wife purchased Trimble Funeral
Home in July of 2003 in Aledo, Illinois and renamed it Speer Funeral Home.
They are currently building a 6700 sq ft. facility to be opened in the
spring of 2004.
Steven Thornton, New Mexico State, started as a contractor on his own
in January 2004. He is the owner and driver for the #51 Southwest Super
Truck at the Southern New Mexico Speedway and El Paso Speedway Park. He was
the Rookie of the Year in the supertruck class in 2002. He is the owner and
operator of www.jollyrogeriron.com.
Mark Johnson, Nebraska, is beginning his 4th year with Cargill in
Ravenna, Nebraska, as a Farm Marketer, helping farmers with grain marketing
and also providing variable rate fertilizer and seed inputs.
Chuck Rackerby, California State - Chico, recently was promoted to
estimator at North Bay Construction, which is a general engineering
contractor, in Petaluma, CA. He has also been part of the GPS program.
Bernie Staller, Wisconsin - Madison, has been selected Agribusiness
Leader of the Year for 2004 by the National Agri-Marketing Association. In
addition to honoring Bernie, the award provides important recognition of the
value placed on FFA and agricultural education by the agribusiness
community.
Max Armstrong, Wisconsin - Madison, was honored by the Purdue
University Agricultural Alumni Association on Feb. 7 during its annual
Purdue Ag Alumni Fish Fry for significant contributions to their profession,
agriculture and to society. Armstrong is one of the most widely recognized
agricultural radio and television journalists in America. He co-hosts the
"U.S. Farm Report" weekly television broadcast and for 26 years was heard
daily across the Midwest on WGN Radio's “Noon Show.”
Henry "Hank" A. Wadsworth, Cornell, was honored by the Purdue
University Agricultural Alumni Association on Feb. 7 during its annual
Purdue Ag Alumni Fish Fry for significant contributions to their profession,
agriculture and to society. Wadsworth was in Purdue's agricultural economics
department for 11 years and then left to serve at Cornell University and
Oregon State University
Robert Volk, Nebraska, was elected Trustee of the American Simmental
Association. Volk represents the membership in Iowa, Kansas, North Dakota,
South Dakota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota and Canada. In 2003, Nebraska
Governor, Johanns, appointed Volk to the Nebraska State Racing Commission.
The commission oversees thoroughbred Quarterhorse racing in Nebraska. Both
jobs are three year terms.
Tyson Ochsner, Oklahoma State, completed his Ph.D. in soil science at
Iowa State University in August 2003. He now works as a research scientist
for the Agricultural Research Service at the St. Paul Campus of the
University of Minnesota. He lives with his wife Stephanie and daughter Audry
(2 1/2) in Hastings, MN.
Jay Brown, Illinois, started Pro Brands, LLC, a “company owned by
veterinarians” which sells unique animal health products exclusively through
practicing veterinarians. This Manufacturer's Representative Company is also
developing its own brand line of products under the trademark VETERINARIAN's
Rx™ and recently formed a joint venture to bring a unique, web-based
communication product to U.S. veterinarians.
Earl Bowerman, California State - Fresno, is is a Republican
candidate for U.S. Senate from Oregon. His web site address is
http://www.bowerman4senate.com/.
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