Alpha Gamma Rho

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Fraternity Information
Name:	Alpha Gamma Rho
Founding Date:	{{{founding_date}}}
Founding Campus:	{{{founding_campus}}}
Number Chapters:	{{{number_of_chapters}}}
Council:	{{{council}}}
Website:	{{{website}}}
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NAME	Alpha Gamma Rho
LETTERS	ΑGR
NICKNAME	"AGR"
FOUNDING DATE	1904
FOUNDING UNIVERSITY	Ohio State University
TYPE	Social
SCOPE	National
COUNCIL	NIC
MOTTO	"To Make Better Men"
COLORS	Growing Green       Harvest Gold
SYMBOL	Sickle and Sheaf
FLOWER	Pink Rose
CHAPTERS	72
HEADQUARTERS	10101 North West Ambassador Drive Kansas City, Missouri, USA
WEBSITE	alphagammarho.org

Contents 1 Founding 2 Purpose 3 Executive board 4 Famous Alumni 4.1 Musicians 4.2 Actors 4.3 Agriculture 4.4 Commerce 4.5 Education 4.6 Medicine 4.7 Military 4.8 National FFA Presidents 4.9 National FFA Secretaries 4.10 National FFA Vice President 4.11 Nobel Peace Prize 4.12 Sports 4.13 Politics

Founding

The Fraternity considers the Morrill Act of 1862 to be the instrument of its inception. Having been signed by President Abraham Lincoln in 1862, it provided land and other financial supports to establish one institution of higher learning in the agricultural and mechanical sciences within each state. Alpha Gamma Rho, referred to as "AGR", was founded when two local fraternities from Ohio State University (Alpha Gamma Rho, founded 1904) and the University of Illinois (Delta Rho Sigma, founded in 1906) met at an International Livestock Competition in Chicago. Sixteen men originally signed the Fraternity's charter at the Claypool Hotel in Indianapolis on April 4, 1908. Expansion increased dramatically over the next 3 decades to almost all land-grant universities in the country. The first chapter at a non-land-grant university was chartered in 1959 at Arizona State University. The National Fraternity has expanded to many smaller agricultural colleges and departments in the last 45 years as a measure to increase its membership and influence in agricultural communities. Its members typically pursue agricultural careers upon completion of college, but many have gone on to have careers in other natural sciences, education, economics, law, medicine, business administration and politics. Five easily recognizable alumni from Alpha Gamma Rho are Orville Redenbacher, Norman Borlaug, J. C. Penney, Earl Butz and Sam Brownback.

Purpose

“To make better men, and through them a broader and better agriculture by surrounding our members with influences tending to encourage individual endeavor, resourcefulness and aggressive effort along lines making for the development of better mental, social, moral and physical qualities; to promote a wider acquaintance and a broader outlook on the part of agriculture men through fellowship in a national organization that stands for the best social, mental, and moral development ”

Executive board

There are at least 9 officers for every chapter of Alpha Gamma Rho on the Executive Board. The hierarchy results in a shape similar to many corporations. The board leaders are the Alumni President, Noble Ruler, and Chapter Advisor or Advisors. Several "vice noble rulers" head subdivisions of responsibility, under which are members in charge of specific areas of responsibilities.

Minor committees and offices

• Philanthropy
• Chaplain
• Public Relations
• Interfraternity Council or North-American Interfraternity Conference Representative
• Risk Management

Famous Alumni

Musicians

Garth Brooks - (Oklahoma State University) Country singer

Actors

Travis Brorsen (Oklahoma State) - Actor and winner of America's Greatest Dog

Agriculture

Dr. Walter Clore (Oklahoma State)- The Father of Washington Wine Dr Clore was a pioneer in wine growing and agricultural research in Washington State and has been formally recognized by the Washington State Legislature as the "Father of Washington Wine." Among his contributions to wine growing in Washington state was his extensive research into what areas of the state that premium wine grapes (particularly Vitis vinifera) would most thrive in.

Frank Mullen - (Iowa State University) Director of NBC's Farm and Home Hour, the first National Radio Program on the air

Doyle Conner - (University of Florida) Served as the Florida Commissioner of Agriculture from 1961-1991. Also served as the Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives

Commerce

Fred Addy - Former VP Finance of Amoco

William Boehm - Senior Vice President of Kroger Co. and President of Kroger Manufacturing

Taylor Brown - (Montana State University)Owner of Northern Ag Network (broadcasts 42 radio stations and 5 TV stations)

Tom Davis - Director of Advertising for Successful Farming Magazine

Mike Jackson - Founded Agribusiness Group

Wallace Jerome - Founder of "The Turkey Store", of Jennie-O Turkey Store Company

Dean Kleckner - president of the American Farm Bureau's 3.1 million members

Bill Knox - publisher of Hoard's Dairyman

Loren Kruse - editor for Successful Farming

Russ Mawby - (Michigan State University) CEO of W.K. Kellogg Foundation

Lee Morgan - CEO of Caterpillar Corporation

Ted McKinney - Manager of Global Affairs for Dow Agrosciences

Peter Oppenheimer - C.F.O., Apple Inc.

James Cash Penney (University of Missouri) - founder of JC Penney Department Stores

Kent Prickett (Oklahoma State University) - Manager of Farmers Grain Company

Orville Redenbacher (Purdue University) - popcorn magnate

Orion Samuelson - internationally known farm broadcaster

Kevin Schulz (South Dakota State University) - editor of The Land magazine in Minnesota

Michael Bret Thurmond - Founder, Electrostatic Spraying Systems, Inc.

Jay Vroom - President of National Agricultural Chemicals Association

William J. Lipinski (Cornell University) - CEO, First Pioneer Farm Credit

James M. Papai (Cornell University) - VP, First Pioneer Farm Credit

Alan Murphy (University of Illinois) - President, King Research

Eric Deese (Auburn) - Indirect Commodity Buyer, AGCO Corporation

James Jirak (Kansas State University) - General Manager and President of Pro-Ag Marketing Association

John L. Benefield II (UGA) - Technology Consultant, Hewlett Packard (AGCO Corporation Account)

Kirk Thompson - (University of Arkansas) CEO of J.B. Hunt Transport

Education

Jeff Armstrong - Dean of College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at Michigan State University

Dr. Phil Berkenbile (Oklahoma State) - Director of Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education

Don Cawthon - Dean of the College of Agriculture and Human Sciences at Tarleton State John Hardin - Board of Trustees, Purdue University

David Pfendler - Dean of Agriculture at Purdue University & Namesake of Pfendler Hall of Agriculture, the second oldest building at Purdue University

Robert Peterson - Board of Trustees, Purdue University

Fred Poston - Vice President of Finance & Operations and Treasurer of Michigan State University

Dr. Francis Tuttle (Oklahoma State) – As the Director of Oklahoma Vo Tech System. Dr Tuttle served Oklahoma from 1967 until 1986. He distinguished himself internationally as an innovator and pacesetter in vocational education.

Dr. Ed Richardson (Xi Chapter, Auburn University) President of Auburn University. Graduated from Auburn University in 1962; Bachelor of Science, Education.

Dr. Kenneth Koonce (Alpha Epsilon Chapter, Louisiana State University) Dean of College of Agriculture at LSU

Medicine

Lavern Merrifield (Oklahoma State) - Co-developed the orthodontic technique known as the Tweed-Merrifield Directional Force System and leader who contributed and advanced the field of orthodontics.

Military

Edgar Lloyd - Medal of Honor Recipient

Harry Michael - Medal of Honor Recipient

National FFA Presidents

Vernon Howell (Oklahoma State)-1932-33 (1st Oklahoman elected President of the National FFA Organization)

Oliver Kinzie (Oklahoma State)- 1944-45

Bobby Tucker (Texas A&M)- 1975-1976

James Bodie (Oklahoma State)- 1976-77

Chris Vitelli (University of Florida) 1999-2000

Tim Hammerich (UC-Davis) 2002-2003

Travis Jett (Oklahoma State)- 2005-2006

National FFA Secretaries

Fred McClure (Texas A&M) 1973-1974 (First Black National FFA Officer)
Danny Grellner (Oklahoma State University) 1992-1993

National FFA Vice President

Sam Brownback (Kansas State University) 1976-1977

Dee James (Kansas State University) 1977-1978

Don Trimmer (Va Tech) 1979-1980

Marshall Baker (University of Florida) 1999-2000

Nobel Peace Prize

Norman Borlaug - Nobel Peace Prize winner

Sports

Allie Reynolds (Oklahoma State) - Professional Baseball Player. Allie P Reynolds was the 1st Oklahoma State University athlete to earn a professional athlete contract. In 1951 Reynolds became the first AL pitcher to hurl two no-hitters in one season and won the Hickock Belt in 1951 as the top professional athlete of the year.

Spud Chandler (University of Georgia) - Professional baseball player. He pitched for the New York Yankees from 1937 to 1947. He won the AL MVP award in 1943 and holds several New York Yankee records.

Scott Hatteberg (Washington State University) - Professional Baseball Player. Was a first baseman for the Boston Redsox, Oakland A's and the Cincinnati Reds. A career .273 hitter.

Politics

Wayne Allard - United States Senator for Colorado

Samuel Brownback - (Alpha Zeta) United States Senator for Kansas, Former Sec. of Agriculture of the State of KS (youngest ever), Also former U.S. Representative.

Conrad Burns - United States Senator for Montana

Earl Butz (Purdue) - former Secretary of Agriculture

Charles Grassley - United States Senator for Iowa

Ken Givens (Alpha Kappa)-Tennessee Commissioner of Agriculture

Thomas Latham - United States House of Representatives for Iowa

Jerry Litton - United States House of Representatives for Missouri

Jefferson Miller - United States House of Representatives for Florida

Devin Nunes - United States House of Representatives for California

Donald Paarlberg - Assistant US Secretary of Agriculture

Rick Perry (Texas A&M) - Governor of Texas

John D. Perdue (West Virginia) - State Treasurer of West Virginia

Adam Putnam - United States House of Representatives for Florida

Nicholas Smith - United States House of Representatives for Michigan

Gerald Weller - United States House of Representatives for Illinois

Tommy Irvin - (University of Georgia) - Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture

Charles H. Bronson - (University of Georgia) - Florida Commissioner of Agriculture

Robert L.F. Sikes - (University of Georgia) - Former U.S. Representative from Florida