October 3, 2005

Gift honors alumnus, endows deanship for agriculture

Glenn W. Sample

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The family of Glenn W. Sample, a pioneer of Indiana agriculture for more than 50 years, has given Purdue a $3 million gift to honor him and lend his name to a deanship for the university's College of Agriculture.

The gift, which will provide funds to support programs and efforts designated by the dean, was announced Monday (Oct. 3) during an invitation-only ceremony at the university's Dauch Alumni Center.

"Purdue's College of Agriculture has an international reputation," said Purdue President Martin C. Jischke. "This gift will help Purdue Agriculture maintain its preeminence in research, engagement and learning."

Randy Woodson, dean of the college, will become the Glenn W. Sample Dean of Agriculture, pending ratification by the university's board of trustees in November.

Joseph T. Sample, a 1964 Purdue alumnus from Garner, N.C., said the Sample family's deferred gift honors his late father, Glenn, and his many ties to Purdue. Members of the Sample family include Glenn's wife, Mary Catherine of Indianapolis; sons James of Rosemont, Minn., and Joseph; and daughters Louise Hass, a 1960 Purdue alumna of Indianapolis, and Elizabeth Yegerlehner of Carmel, Ind. The family previously established the Glenn W. Sample/Purdue Ag Alumni Scholarship for Purdue students pursuing a major in agricultural communication.

"This endowment embodies my father's life and his lifelong commitment to Purdue," Joseph Sample said. "I believe my dad's two proudest Purdue moments were when he earned his bachelor's degree in 1935 and when Purdue awarded him an honorary doctorate in 1972."

Funds from an endowed position, such as chairs, professorships and deanships, enable the university to provide extra incentives to attract and retain world-class faculty, said Provost Sally Mason.

"Named endowments help Purdue recruit and retain top scholars," Mason said. "Randy Woodson is an innovative leader whose credentials as a leading scientist will keep Purdue at the forefront as one of the top agriculture colleges in the nation."

Endowed funds remain intact in perpetuity, and yearly earnings are used to augment salaries and other operations. A portion of the earnings is reinvested each year so inflation does not degrade the endowment principal.

"The endowment of the dean's position is a symbolic connection between Purdue and one of the pioneers of Indiana agriculture," Woodson said. "The gift will allow us to support and expand programs in priority areas. We deeply appreciate the generosity of the Sample family."

The announcement is part of a two-week celebration leading up to Purdue's Oct. 15 Homecoming. Events focus on ways Purdue is improving education and helping the state of Indiana as part of the university's strategic plan and $1.5 billion fund-raising campaign.

Glenn W. Sample (1912-80) was a household name in Indiana agriculture for many years. He traveled throughout the state for speaking engagements, was host of a daily farm radio program on WBAA and launched a travel service that enabled farmers to travel around the world and study agricultural practices in other countries.

Sample helped establish agricultural communication as a career field, serving as a farm journalist with the Richmond (Ind.) Palladium-Item, an agricultural editor at Purdue and information director and "Hoosier Farmer" editor at Indiana Farm Bureau.

In 1957 Sample was elected vice president and secretary of Indiana Farm Bureau and became a leader in developing Indiana agricultural policy. During his tenure, he held close to 30 gubernatorial appointments to state boards, committees and commissions, including the Post-High School Study Commission from 1959-61. His work on the commission led to legislation creating Indiana Vocational Technical College (Ivy Tech). He served as chairman of Ivy Tech's board of trustees from the college's inception. He was named its president in 1975 and served in that capacity until his death at age 67 in January 1980.

A Centerville, Ind., native, Glenn Sample lived in Wayne County until leaving home to attend Purdue in 1931. Other than a year he spent working at the University of Maryland, he was a lifelong Hoosier. He was named a Sagamore of the Wabash by two Indiana governors.

Woodson joined the Purdue faculty in 1985. He previously served as head of the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture and director of Agricultural Research Programs. He was appointed dean of Purdue Agriculture in November 2004, succeeding Victor Lechtenberg, who was named vice provost for engagement.

Writer: Olivia Maddox, (765) 496-3207, maddoxol@purdue.edu

Sources: Joseph Sample, (919) 772-5631, josamprop@aol.com

Randy Woodson, (765) 494-8391, woodson@purdue.edu

Ag Communications: (765) 494-2722;
Beth Forbes, forbes@purdue.edu
Agriculture News Page

Note to Journalists: Media are invited to attend the announcement, which will take place at 10 a.m. Monday (Oct. 3) in the Prusiecki Banquet Room at the Dauch Alumni Center, 403 W. Wood St.

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