Purdue News
Purdue NewsJanuary 23, 1998
Certificates were awarded to Bill Baumgardt of West Lafayette , director of Purdue's Agricultural Research Programs; Pete Clark, a Frankfort, Ind. , pork producer; Marvin Phillips of West Lafayette , former head of Purdue's Department of Agronomy; and Vance York of Zionsville, Ind ., a retired Pioneer Hi-Bred executive.
Bill Baumgardt
Baumgardt has worn many hats during his career -- researcher, animal scientist, administrator, agricultural spokesman and church leader. After Feb. 1, you can add the hat that says "retired."
As associate dean and director of Agricultural Research Programs at Purdue, Baumgardt provides leadership to 272 faculty with research expenditures of $45.5 million.
"As a scientist and administrator of people and public funds, he has always demonstrated the highest level of integrity and commitment to excellence," said Edward L. Veenhuizen, past president of the Purdue Council on Agriculture, Extension and Teaching.
Jack L. Albright of the Indiana Commission of Farm Animal Care said: "Bill is a tireless, unselfish, state-of-the-art person. He epitomizes what the Certificate of Distinction represents by recognizing service to Indiana and our nation's agriculture above and beyond the call of duty."
Baumgardt earned bachelor's and master's degrees from Purdue and a Ph.D. from Rutgers in 1959. He came to Purdue in 1980 from Penn State University, where he was professor of animal nutrition, head of the department of dairy and animal science and associate director of the agricultural research station and associate dean for research.
"Bill has been a strong advocate for the land-grant university system and its agricultural research and education programs," said Charles R. Krueger, agronomy researcher at Penn State. "He has articulated convincingly the important role these programs have made to improving the agricultural industry of the United States for the benefit of all its citizens."
Baumgardt is a past president and director of the American Dairy Science Association. The group honored Baumgardt in 1993 with its Award of Honor and again in 1997 by naming him a Fellow of the association.
"Bill grew up on a dairy farm," recalled H.L. Thacker, director of the Purdue Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratories. "He has not forgotten his roots. He has shown remarkable dedication to honoring those roots through service to the agricultural community of this state."
Russell J. (Pete) Clark
Clark has worked on the family farm near Frankfort, Ind., since 1958, but his impact on agriculture is nationwide. Clark has shared his knowledge of the pork industry with fellow producers through numerous Extension and pork producer seminars, meetings, workshops and field days.
Clark graduated from Purdue in 1958. After a stint in the Navy, he returned to the 1,200-acre family farm to manage the family's 200-sow farrow-to-finish operation.
"I know of no one in the state who is more highly respected among his peers," said Wayne L. Singleton, Purdue professor of animal sciences. "When tough decisions are needed, industry leaders still consult with him for advice. Pete has been an informal mentor for many younger pork producer leaders as they become involved in state and national activities."
Clark was named a Pork All American in 1973. In 1984, he served as president of the Indiana Pork Producers and was named a master farmer by Prairie Farmer Magazine. He helped organize the Clinton County Pork Producers and served as its president.
He is a member of the Swine Advisory Committee to the State Animal Health Board, working with the state veterinarian to establish animal health regulations for Indiana.
Clark also helped establish the Clinton County Area Plan Commission and served on the commission for 12 years.
Professor Marvin Phillips
Under Phillips' guidance from 1971 to 1991, the agronomy department added multimedia resource centers for crops and soil courses; teaching seminars for graduate teaching assistants; computer hardware and software to assist research, teaching and Extension programs; and closed circuit television for delivery of courses and Extension programs at off-campus locations.
Colleagues said Phillips was known for his enthusiasm, positive approach, fairness and dedication to those with whom he worked and for his ability to create and maintain a collegial and supportive environment for scholarly work.
Phillips sandwiched two years of military service between earning bachelor's (1953) and master's (1958) degrees from Purdue. He earned his doctorate in soil fertility and chemistry from the University of Minnesota.
Phillips joined the agronomy department at Purdue as assistant professor and Extension soil fertility specialist in 1961. He was promoted to associate professor in 1965, then to professor and assistant department head in 1969.
Throughout his career, Phillips has been involved in the American Society of Agronomy, the Crop Science Society of America and the Soil Science Society of America by chairing and serving on several committees.
Nationally, Phillips was active in the United States Department of Agriculture Joint Task Force on Soybean Advancement and the National Soybean Crop Improvement Advisory Board, and he served as a consultant on international projects in Brazil, Burkina Faso and Niger.
Retirement in 1994 did not slow Phillips. He served three years as special assistant to the dean of agriculture, where he helped organize Executives in the Classroom, a seminar for seniors in agriculture. He currently is involved with the Greater Lafayette United Way campaign as a member of its finance committee.
"I cannot remember a single time he ever was too busy to provide our organization with guidance, counsel or any other assistance when we asked," said Larry Svajgr, executive director of the Indiana Crop Improvement Association (ICIA).
"Even in his retirement, he has assisted the ICIA with projects. I have been associated with Dr. Phillips for more than 22 years and have first-hand knowledge of his significant contributions to Purdue University, the agriculture profession and the entire agricultural community."
Vance York
After graduating from Purdue in 1952, York began a 42-year career with Pioneer Hi-Bred International as district sales representative in Mount Vernon, Ind. York retired in 1996, but not before accumulating a resume full of professional achievements.
From 1957 to 1963, he was the editor of KERNELS magazine. From 1963 to 1973, the Odon , Ind ., native was Pioneer's manager of agronomy services, conducting 30 to 50 meetings per year with farmers to discuss corn-growing techniques.
From 1989 until his retirement, he was manager of Pioneer's product management group in Des Moines. "Vance was a very dedicated Pioneer employee for 42 years. Besides his contributions to Pioneer, Vance made considerable contributions to Indiana agriculture and to the seed industry," Pioneer vice president Bob Wichmann said.
York is past president of the Indiana FFA Foundation, Indiana Seed Trade Association and the American Forage and Grassland Council. He is a past board member of the Indiana Crop Improvement Association and co-chair of the Indiana 4-H Foundation Corporate Development Council.
York received the Merit Award from the American Forage and Grassland Council. The FFA honored his dedication and service with the Honorary American Farmer and Honorary Hoosier Farmer awards, as well as the Distinguished Service Award.
He is the treasurer and manager of York Farms Inc. of Worthington, Ind., and he is active in the Pioneer Village held annually at the Indiana State Fair.
"Vance York is one of my most effective volunteers," said Mauri Williamson, Pioneer Village director. "He is there almost every day. He expects nothing in return, except the opportunity to be an ongoing force in the agriculture that he loves so much. You can absolutely count on Vance York when there is a job to be done."
As a member of the Des Moines Choral Society, York fulfilled a dream in 1995 of singing in New York's famed Carnegie Hall. He currently sings first tenor in the Indianapolis Scottish Rite Chorus.
York and his wife, Reba, live in Zionsville, Ind. They have three children and seven grandchildren.
Source: Donya Lester, executive secretary, Ag Alumni Association, (765) 494-8593;
e-mail, dcl@admin.agad
Writer: Tom Campbell, (765) 494-8084; e-mail, tc@aes.purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; e-mail, purduenews@purdue.edu
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