Alumni group honors 7

Broadcaster, professors, educator, executives receive certificates

BY JULIE DOUGLAS

The Purdue University Agricultural Alumni Association recognized seven individuals at the Purdue Ag Alumni Fish Fry on Feb. 7 in Indianapolis.

The Ag Alumni association honored seven recipients of the Certificate of Distinction award. From left to right, recipients are Ted Woehrle, Hank A. Wadsworth, William Stinson, F. Vince Harrell, Otto C. Doering III, Max Armstrong and James N. BeMiller.

Since 1938, the ag alumni association has awarded the Certificate of Distinction, its highest honor, to those who have had a significant impact on their profession, on agriculture or on society.

The 2004 certificate recipients are Max Armstrong of Naperville, Ill.; James N. BeMiller of West Lafayette, Ind.; Otto C. Doering III of West Lafayette; F. Vince Harrell of Wabash, Ind.; William “Bill” Stinson of Indianapolis; Henry A. “Hank” Wadsworth of West Lafayette, Ind.; and Ted Woehrle of Troy, Mich.

Armstrong is co-host of the U.S. Farm Report weekly television broadcast. For 26 years, Armstrong was heard daily across the Midwest on WGN Radio's Noon Show. Armstrong has originated broadcasts from every state in the country and at least 30 other nations. He supports youth development through 4-H and FFA. In 2002, Armstrong was presented with the Sagamore of the Wabash Award, Indiana's highest civilian honor.

BeMiller, who received his bachelor's, master's and doctorate degrees in biochemistry from Purdue, helped establish the Whistler Center for Carbohydrate Research and served as its first director from 1986 until last year. His research includes work in wood pulping to prevent pulp loss and river pollution. His work on starch granule structure, reactivity and behavior also has had an impact on the food industry. BeMiller is a past president of the 4,000-member American Association of Cereal Chemists.

Doering, a Purdue professor of agricultural economics, has spent time as a visiting professor and consultant overseas and has held multiple posts in the U.S. Department of Agriculture working in the areas of public policy. He has brought groups and individuals with divergent interests together and promoted education on important economic and policy issues. He has been recognized with national awards from the American Agricultural Economics Association for both Extension and teaching and has received the Career Award from the Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service Specialists Association.

Harrell, BS '66, was honored for bringing strategic planning to farmers during his 24-year career as Wabash County educator for Purdue Extension. He helped develop and teach the Positioning the Farm Business Workshop, which benefited many farmers. The National Association of County Agricultural Agents twice awarded him the Distinguished Service Award in Farm Management. Since his retirement, Harrell has continued to be involved in 4-H programs in his community.

Stinson, executive director of the Indiana State Fair, has been skilled in getting funds, grants-in-aid and government grants to remodel and rebuild portions of the fairgrounds. He played a role in updating and enhancing the Pioneer Village and the West and East pavilions. Stinson raised money for improvement of the 4-H boys dorm and 4-H Exhibit Hall. Stinson also served as assistant to two U.S. congressmen, was chief deputy of Marion County voter registration, and was director in the Indiana Secretary of State's Office.

Wadsworth was in Purdue's agricultural economics department for 11 years and then left to serve at Cornell University and Oregon State University. He returned to Purdue as director of the Cooperative Extension Service and associate dean of the College of Agriculture in 1983 until his retirement in 1999. Wadsworth led the reorganization of the state's Extension districts. In his retirement, Wadsworth is involved in the Museums at Prophetstown project and Food Finders in the Lafayette area.

Woehrle, BS '54, was golf course superintendent at four different clubs. His record of being host superintendent for nine United States Golf Association tournaments over a period of four decades is unprecedented. He is a member of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America and in 1997 served as the organization 's president. Through his leadership, the Midwest Regional Turf Foundation has supported turf research at Purdue. Woehrle has mentored more than 30 young superintendents and many student interns during his career.

Stinson spoke for all Certificate of Distinction winners when he said: “My acceptance of this honor is accompanied by my greatest humility. I accept it on behalf of countless people ... many of whom are members of the Ag Alumni Association, who make the Indiana State Fairgrounds one the finest fairgrounds in the country.

“I am proud to find myself among such a fine caliber of dedicated individuals, and pledge that we will continue to excel to the best of our abilities.”