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CORVALLIS - Research scientists, teachers and administrators were among honored as Diamond Pioneers by the Oregon State University College of Agricultural Sciences Tuesday, Oct. 14.

In all, 41 men and women were added to the College's Diamond Pioneer Agricultural Achievement Registry following a luncheon hosted by Dean Thayne Dutson at the CH2M HILL Alumni Center. Guest speaker was John V. Byrne, OSU president emeritus and a 2003 Diamond Pioneer.

Eight of those awarded live in the Corvallis area. Their addition brings the list to 746 persons who have been listed on the registry since it started 20 years ago when the college observed its 75th anniversary. The registry honors those 75 and older for their contributions to agriculture, their communities and OSU.

Byrne heads the list of Corvallis residents in the 2003 group. An oceanographer, he served as OSU's 12th president from 1984 until he retired in 1995. After retiring, he became executive director of the Kellogg Commission on the Future of State and Land-Grant Universities. He also served as U.S. commissioner to the International Whaling Commission and as administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in Washington, D.C.

Alfred Haunold came to OSU in 1965 as hop geneticist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In 1968, he added hop breeding and agronomic studies to his work. He worked closely with the Oregon Hop Commission as well as individual growers over the years. In 2001, Haunold received the Award of Distinction from the American Society of Brewing Chemists and the Honorary Cross First Class for Science and Arts from the Government of Austria upon recommendation of the Gregor Mendel Society. Haunold is an Austrian native.

Charles M. Leach joined the OSU faculty in botany and plant pathology in 1957 and retired in 1987. Prior to his faculty appointment, Leach was an instructor and research assistant in the department.

Leach was an active member of the American Phytopathological Society, the American Association of Official Analysts, and Sigma Xi.

William McGuire joined the OSU faculty in crop science in 1956 to do research and teaching in forage crops. He came to OSU after appointments at Mississippi State and New Mexico State universities. McGuire was able to draw upon his training and experiences in New Zealand as well as the United States in developing new understanding of forages under Oregon conditions.

H. Joe Myers served as leader of 4-H youth programs for the OSU Extension Service from 1971 until he retired in 1980. He began his Extension career in Linn and Marion counties working with 4-H. Myers has continued to be active in the development of the Oregon 4-H Conference and Education Center near Salem, serving on the center advisory and development committees.

Burdette Peterson was at OSU from 1951 to 1955 as information specialist working with Extension specialists and agents as a news writer in the School of Agriculture. Peterson left OSU to become an editor in the Max Fleischman College of Agriculture at the University of Nevada in Reno.

Roger Peterson served on the faculty in statistics from 1955 to 1962 and then from 1965 until his retirement. He was statistician with the Agricultural Experiment Station as well as a popular teacher. A widely published author, Peterson consulted with industry and government in the U.S. and abroad. In 1988, he received the R.M. Wade Award for Excellence in Teaching.

Dale Weber was cited for his work as an outstanding teacher and adviser in the OSU Department of Animal Sciences from the time of his first appointment until he retired. Among other innovations, he instituted a self-learning center and internships for students. Weber received recognition for his work from the College of Agricultural Sciences, OSU and the American Society of Animal Science. In 1998, he served as president of the National Association of Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture, which named him the outstanding teacher in the western region in 1982.

Others honored are Virginia Tubbs, Adams; Fred Warner, Baker City; Kenneth Beebe, Central Point; Don B. Anderson, Cornelius; Peter Jensen, Halsey; Vincent D. Dobbin and Glen Grossen, Hillsboro; Ralph Hart, Island City; Arlene Oliver, John Day; Andrew Greeley, Jordan Valley; Harold Youngberg, Keizer; James Elings and James Kerns, Klamath Falls; John Shipley and Donald Thompson, Moro; Keith Gressley, Isao Kameshige and William Panike, Ontario.

Robert Ramig and Virgil Rupp, Pendleton; David Lowry, Phoenix; H. Ronald Cameron, Portland; Len Forster and Floyd Smith, Shedd; Don Grabe, Sisters; John R. Thienes and Eldon Wagenblast, The Dalles; Carl Froude and Beverly Froude, Tigard; Carl and Irene Bosch, Tillamook; John Bishop, Vale; and Everett Metzentine, Wamic.