W.D. Knox, Michigan State, passed away August 5, at age 85. Knox guided an international dairy magazine for six decades, was an active civic and business leader and served as an advisor on agricultural and trade issues to six presidents. He was still serving as editor and publisher of Hoard’s Dairyman, as well as president of W.D. Hoard & Sons Co. in Fort Atkinson, parent company of the Daily Jefferson County Union in Wisconsin.

    Knox was born June 9, 1920, on his family farm outside of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. Knox attended country school and was a 4-H member for 10 years. He owned his own herd of dairy animals and received several awards for his dairy cattle judging. He graduated from high school at 15. Between high school and college, which he entered at age 16, he helped his father with farming and running a milk delivery route.

    During college, he was a member of the Dairy, Agriculture, Economics and 4-H clubs and the dairy cattle judging team. He became a member of Alpha Zeta, and was named to the Blue Key national junior and Excalibur senior honorary societies. Knox graduated at age 20 with a degree in agricultural economics and dairy in 1941. In 1941, Knox joined the Hoard’s Dairyman staff as youth editor.

    Knox enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1942. After the war ended he was discharged as a lieutenant in the U.S. Naval Reserve. Knox rejoined Hoard’s Dairyman as associate editor. In 1949, at the age of 29, he became the third editor of the magazine.

    Knox was founding chairman, secretary and president of the National Brucellosis Committee and chairman of the Wisconsin Brucellosis Committee. He also developed the Self-Help Dairy Stabilization program in 1954. In 1972, Knox took on the additional titles of president and general manager of W.D. Hoard & Sons Co., publisher of Hoard’s Dairyman and the Daily Jefferson County Union, and the operator of the Hoard’s Dairyman Farm.

    Serving many agricultural organizations from the local to national levels, Bill was honored with great recognition for his achievements.

    Bill and his wife, Jane, who died in 1987, had four children, 12 grandchildren and three great grandchildren. Knox became a member of the Tau Chapter at Michigan State University in 1938.

    Dr. James Karl Bletner, West Virginia, passed away Friday, May 27, 2005 at the age of 92. Bletner was the adviser for the Alpha Alpha Chapter and financial advisor for the Alpha Kappa Chapter at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. He became a member of the Alpha Alpha Chapter at West Virginia University in 1931.

    Bletner received bachelors and masters degrees from West Virginia University and his Ph.D. in Poultry Nutrition from Ohio State. He worked for WVU, Quaker Oats, served in the US Navy from 1944 –1946. He then taught Poultry Science at the University of Tennessee from 1958 through 1978.

    Dr. Bletner was also a member of seven professional societies and four honor societies and was involved in the writing of 87 different publications. He received numerous honors from the Interfraternity Council including the Outstanding Greek Faculty Member. To honor his many years of service, his picture hangs in the Alpha Alpha Chapter house.

    Bob and his wife, Blanche, raised two children. Bob served many agricultural organizations on local and state levels, he was honored with great recognition for his achievements.

    Evringham retired from active farming in 1986. Everingham became a member of the Zeta Chapter at Cornell University in 1938. He received the Brother of the Century award from the Fraternity.