Karl Gardner, initiated in to the Delta Chapter in 1933, passed away the morning of September 3, 2004. Karl fell at his home August 28, and suffered a severe head injury, he never fully regained consciousness.
    Karl was still living in his home with his wife June, married for 65 years. Karl and June had two daughters, a son, Jim, and two grandchildren. Jim is also a brother of the fraternity.
Gardner was a retired professor of Dairy Science and Associate Dean of the University of Illinois College of Agriculture. He received his B.S. degree with highest honors from Purdue University in 1936, and his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees form Cornell. Karl served as Alpha Chapter Adviser from 1941-1956.
    Karl also served as a Captain in the Third Army in WWII. He aided in establishing colleges of agriculture in India, Indonesia, and Sierra Leone. He was Mayor of Tolono and President of the area chapter of SAR.
    Karl Gardner received the AGR Hall of Fame Award in 2000, and is a Brother of the Century.

David Berry grew up in Hopkinsville, Kentucky where he graduated from high school in 1992. He was an officer in his local FFA Chapter. David grew up on a local grain farm where his family raised corn, soybeans, and wheat.
    David became a member of the Alpha Omega Chapter of AGR at Murray State University in the spring 1993. He graduated with a BS Degree in Ag Mechanization. He was very active in his chapter. He was always the first one to donate his time, leadership and money. While at Murray State, David was two-time president of the Ag Mech. Club.
    After graduation, David accepted a job with Case IH near Chicago, Illinois doing what he loved to do, tearing up equipment! However, David's love for the farm soon took over and he moved back home to farm with his father. David soon took over the farm while his father concentrated on the family trucking business.
    David and his father, Ronnie, also loved tractor pulling. David's tractor was Berry's Beast. On October 16, 2004 while returning from a tractor pull in Portland, Tennessee, David and Ronnie were killed in a wreck when their semi ran off the road.
    David and Ronnie will be greatly missed. We have lost a great brother and friend. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the entire Berry family.
    Written by the Bothers of Alpha Omega, Murray State University

 

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