The Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES) at USDA inducted
ten individuals into a newly created Hall of Fame recognizing their outstanding support for
research, education, and extension in advancing knowledge for agriculture, the environment,
human health and well-being, and communities.
"These ten individuals have provided leadership, commitment, and support, throughout their
varied and stellar careers, for the development and transfer of knowledge in partnership with
this Agency and the land-grant university community," said Colien Hefferan, CSREES
Administrator. "Their individual contributions are seen in the success and impact of myriad
programs throughout the United States and worldwide."
The CSREES Hall of Fame was created in 2004 to recognize the Agency's tenth
anniversary. In 1994 two USDA agencies, the Cooperative State Research Service and the
Cooperative Extension Service were joined by Congressional mandate. CSREES is the USDA's
chief research and education agency. The Hall of Fame recognizes outstanding work by an
individual who has advocated and supported the fundamental efforts of CSREES to integrate
research, education, and extension in fulfilling the Agency's mission to advance knowledge
for agriculture, the environment, human health and well-being, and communities. The
inductees are nominated by their peers.
The 2004 CSREES Hall of Fame inductees are:
Leodrey Williams, Louisiana. Williams has made a career of helping deliver educational
programs and service to citizens outside the mainstream of society. During the reorganization
of USDA and the merger of the Extension Service and the Cooperative State Research
Service, Williams was appointed Associate Administrator of the newly formed CSREES.
He held this position until he returned to the state extension administrator's role at
Southern University in July 1995. He currently serves as Chancellor at Southern University
Agricultural Research and Extension Center.
Jane Coulter, Virginia. Coulter's leadership helped to develop the Agriculture
in the Classroom program, Higher Education Programs, and the Multicultural Alliances program
which today form a key programmatic unit within CSREES. Coulter served as the Deputy
Administrator of Science and Education Resources Development and ended her 22-year career as
Deputy Administrator of Families, 4H, and Nutrition.
Dan Dooley, California. Dooley served as a member and Vice Chair of the USDA,
National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board (NAREEEAB)
for a number of years. He also served as chairman and remains an active member of the Council
for Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching (CARET) Board. Prior to forming his law
firm in 1993, Dooley served as member and chair of the California Water Commission and as
Deputy Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture.
Rodney Foil, Mississippi. After a long and distinguished career at Mississippi
State University, Foil came to CSREES to help oversee the Initiative for Future Agriculture
and Food Systems (IFAFS). He accomplished his mission and awarded more than $240 million in
multidisciplinary, multi-institutional grants to address high-priority agricultural problems.
In 1994, as chair of the Board on Agriculture, Foil worked with board members and advocacy
groups to create a separate and strengthened CSREES as an agency, rather than a subdivision
of the Agricultural Research Service.
Vic Lechtenberg, Indiana. Lechtenberg has been a leader in integrating the
research and extension missions. Lechtenberg served as chair of the National Agricultural
Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board for six years and was
instrumental in crafting the legislation that authorized the IFAFS program as part of the
Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998. As Purdue's new Vice
Provost for Engagement, Lechtenberg will continue to provide leadership to and support for
CSREES.
Martin Massengale, Nebraska. Massengale currently serves as the chairman of
USDA's National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board.
From the beginning of his long career as a teacher/research assistant to an administrator at
the University of Arizona to Vice Chancellor of Agriculture and Natural Resources at Nebraska
to Chancellor and President of the University of Nebraska System, he has been an effective
leader and supporter of the concept of integrating research, education, and extension.
Madeline Mellinger, Florida. Mellinger has served as the Florida delegate to
the Council for Agriculture Research, Extension, and Teaching (CARET) of the Board on
Agriculture at NASULGC since 1997. She also serves on several University of Florida advisory
boards and has been a strong supporter of many of CSREES programs. She has been an advisor
to the U.S. Congress, National Academy of Sciences, the Environmental Protection Agency, the
federal and state Extension Service, and various universities.
Rubie Mize, Maryland. Mize played a vital role in the management and
re-engineering of the National Information Management and Support System (NIMSS), which was
originally developed for the Northeast Region State Agricultural Experiment Station Directors
but has been transformed into a national system for the management of information related to
the multistate research portfolio. Mize has served in this role since 1996, which also
included initiating and managing partnerships with various federal agencies, regional state
land grant universities, and the private sector.
Eldon Ortman, Indiana. For three decades Ortman has worked unselfishly to
promote the nation's agricultural system. His efforts in Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
have broad-ranging significance. Beyond his efforts for IPM he has provided leadership in
roles including service as a USDA/ARS Center Director, a university department head, as Chair
of the North Central Experiment Station Directors, as advisor to regional research committees,
and as the president of his scientific society. In 2001, Ortman came to CSREES on an
Interagency Personnel Agreement.
Edward M. (Ted) Wilson, Florida. Wilson's career in academic and public
service spanning three decades exemplifies effective leadership in government. Wilson's
involvement with agricultural science and knowledge includes formal studies at McGill
University in Canada and at The Ohio State University, where he has been named a
"Distinguished Alumnus" by the OSU Agricultural Alumni Association. Wilson taught at Tuskegee
University and served as Dean at Lincoln University before coming to Washington, DC. He
retired as CSREES Deputy Administrator for Competitive Programs in January 2003.
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