OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
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CORVALLIS - A long list of exceptional Oregon State University animal sciences alumni and others who have given outstanding service to the state's livestock industry were honored today by the OSU Department of Animal Sciences as charter members of a new honorary association called the Withycombe Club.
The induction ceremony was part of an awards luncheon held on the OSU campus. The event included presentation of a large donation to the OSU Animal Sciences Department.
"The department established the club as a way to give special recognition to individuals who have made significant contributions to animal agriculture," said Jim Males, department head. "Launching the Withycombe Club is also an opportunity to celebrate our long and productive history as one of the first departments formed, established in 1907, in the OSU College of Agricultural Sciences."
New members of the Withycombe Club will be inducted annually, Males added.
OSU alumni inducted as charter members include:
Dan Warnock graduated with a bachelor's degree in animal science in 1953. He has served as treasurer and regional vice president for the Oregon Cattlemen's Association and was a recipient of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association "Western Regional Land Steward" award.
James Oldfield received a doctorate in animal science in 1951. He served as head of the OSU Animal Sciences Department from 1967-87. A noted researcher and civic leader, Oldfield is internationally known for his research on the role of selenium in white muscle disease, and is a past president of the American Society of Animal Science.
James Harper received his poultry science bachelor's degree in 1940 and was an OSU poultry scientist from 1942-82. His research contributed to development of the Oregon and national turkey industries, and he authored numerous scientific publications on turkey biology.
Glenn Harvey graduated with a bachelor's degree in animal science in 1950 and operated Harvey Ranch, Inc. in eastern Oregon for more than 40 years. Harvey received the "Commercial Beef Producer of the Year" award in 1985 from the Beef Improvement Federation. He and his wife Mildred donated their ranch to OSU in 1987 for research to benefit the cattle industry.
Bryan Wolfe graduated from OSU with a degree in agricultural economics in 1975. A long-time farming and ranching businessman in Hermiston, Wolfe was recently honored as "Man of the Year" by the Hermiston Chamber of Commerce and has served as president of OSU's Agricultural Engineering Foundation.
Bob Skinner graduated with an animal sciences degree in 1941. A fourth generation Oregon cattle rancher, Skinner served as both president and vice president of the Oregon Cattlemen's Association and was honored as "Voice of the Cattle Industry" by the Portland Chamber of Commerce Agriculture Committee in 1988.
Don Hotchkiss received a bachelor's degree in animal science in 1941 and has been very involved with OSU throughout his lifetime. He served as president of the Oregon Cattlemen's Association, and the Lake County Stock Growers.
Sam Dement graduated 1942 with a bachelor's degree in animal husbandry. A sheep and cattle rancher on Oregon's south coast, Dement served as an Oregon state senator, and is a past president of the Coos County Livestock Association, Western Oregon Livestock Association, and Oregon Cattlemen's Association.
John Nyberg graduated from OSU in 1970. The western Oregon cattle rancher has served as vice president of the Western Oregon Livestock Association, president of Yamhill County Livestock Association and is on the board of directors of the Oregon Cattleman's Association.
George Arscott graduated 1949 with a bachelor's degree in poultry husbandry. He served as head of the OSU Poultry Science Department for 19 years and is currently Professor Emeritus of Poultry Science. He was inducted into the Oregon Poultry Hall of Fame in 1990.
Scott Campbell earned his bachelor's degree in animal science in 1980, and doctorate in veterinary medicine in 1985. Raised on a cattle ranch in Burns, today Campbell is chairman and CEO of Banfield Pet Hospital, Portland, the largest private veterinary practice in the world.
Jack Long earned his animal science bachelor's degree in 1960. He worked in Oregon's sheep industry and nursery industry, serving as president of the Oregon Purebred Sheep Breeders, and later, president of the Northwest Horticultural Congress, the Oregon Association of Nurserymen, and the American Association of Nurserymen.
Gary Costley earned his doctorate degree in animal science in 1970 and is currently chairman and CEO of International Multifoods, based in Minnesota. He serves on the advisory board for Duke University Medical School, and received the Kentucky Colonel Award from the state of Kentucky for his contributions to veterinary medicine.
Walther Ott earned his bachelor's degree in poultry husbandry in 1934, master's degree in animal nutrition in 1936, and then launched a successful career in basic poultry science and developmental animal science research. He was named a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 1964. Ott and his wife, Maxine, have contributed many gifts to OSU for activities including an endowed faculty position in poultry science, the OSU Presidential Scholarship program, and the Sigurd H. Peterson Memorial Scholarship in English.
Club members recognized for service to animal agriculture include:
Bob Thomas, a long-time eastern Oregon cattle rancher and owner of Thomas Angus Ranch, which has become recognized as a premier Angus Breeding ranch. The Thomas Ranch is the largest purebred Angus producer in Oregon and the sixth largest Angus producer in the United States.
Doc and Connie Hatfield, owners of the High Desert Ranch, are co-founders of Oregon Country Beef and have been nationally recognized speakers on sustainable beef production.
George Lamont operates Featherland Farms Hatchery in the Coburg area, an independent egg production hatchery. He served on the State Board of Agriculture from 1986-94 and established a scholarship for OSU College of Veterinary Medicine students interested in poultry, as well as serving on that college's advisory board for 12 years.
Lynn Barnes helped set high quality standards in Oregon's sheep industry through a sound breeding program coupled with importation of rams from New Zealand. He developed one of the premier Romney sheep flocks in the United States and was a Suffolk sheep breeder for over 30 years.
Raymond French, a cattle rancher in the Heppner area, served as a district vice president and president of the Oregon Cattleman's Association. He was also a member of the Oregon legislature and a Morrow County commissioner.
Dayton "Hawk" and Gerda Hyde are both active in the Klamath County Cattleman's Association and Oregon Cattleman's Association. Dayton served on the National Board of Directors for the Defenders of Wildlife. Gerda served as president of the Oregon Cow Belles and American National Cattlewomen.
Anne S. Bergholz served 19 years as executive director of the Oregon Dairy Council and 11 years as an OSU Extension Service home economist. She was head of the Oregon Nutrition Council, Oregon Public Health Association, Portland Home Economists in Business, and the Oregon Home Economist Association.
Jack Wilson is a fourth generation Union County rancher and supporter of agriculture and higher education. He has served as a member of the board of directors of the First Interstate Bank, Oregon Historical Society, and Oregon Beef Council. He is currently a board member of the Oregon Community Foundation and Willamette University Foundation.
Denny Jones, an Ontario cattle rancher, served as president of the Oregon Cattlemen's Association and the American Cattlemen's Association and also represented Harney, Lake and Malheur Counties in the Oregon House of Representatives for 26 years.
Tom Hartung, a 1950 agricultural economics graduate from OSU, served as director of the Oregon Meat Council, and a member of the President's U.S. Department of Agriculture Livestock Council. He also was a state representative and senator for Washington and Yamhill counties for many years.
Rudy Fenk, a Holstein breeder, is recognized locally and state-wide for his management ability and leadership. He has received numerous conservation awards and has served on five state agricultural committees and as a member of the Tillamook County Creamery Association and the Dairy Herd Improvement Association.
Doug Chambers provided leadership to Oregon's sheep industry throughout his life-long career as a commercial sheep producer. He served as director and president of the American Shropshire Registry Association and also was appointed to the first Oregon Sheep Commission, later serving as commission chairman.
Wayne Mosher is widely known in Oregon and the United States for his innovative efforts to increase sheep production from forage. During 31 years as Douglas County livestock Extension agent, he greatly advanced livestock grazing management and agroforestry.
James Wilson graduated 1950 with a bachelor's degree in animal economics. In 1972 he and his brother Jack founded Wilson Cattle Company, which became the largest stocker cattle operation in the Pacific Northwest. Wilson has served on the board of directors of the Oregon Cattlemen's Association and Oregon Beef Council.
Club members recognized posthumously are:
Herbert Chandler was a premier breeder of Hereford cattle. He was twice president of the American Hereford Association, as well as president of the Oregon Cattlemen's Association and the Baker County Livestock Association. He was also a noted cattle judge.
Hollis Mast, a progressive sheep and dairy cattle producer, worked closely with OSU and the OSU Extension service to improve pasture and livestock production on his south coast century farm. He served as president of the Western Oregon Livestock Association and became a life member of the Oregon Sheep Producers Association.
Don Kessi, a lifelong farmer and purebred sheep breeder, served as president of the Oregon Purebred Sheep Breeders Association and leader of many county-level livestock and conservation groups. He also gave strong support to youth activities, including 4-H programs and Future Farmers of America.
H.S. (Beale) Dixon managed the Tillamook County Creamery Association for 25 years, helping it to become one of the best marketing organizations in the United States.
Stafford Hansell served in the state legislature from 1957-1974. In 1960, in partnership with his brother, he established one of the country's largest swine enterprises on the site of the Umatilla Ordnance Housing Project in eastern Oregon. Long a supporter of higher education, he was presented with a Distinguished Service Award by OSU in 1978.
Eldon Riddell, a third generation Willamette Valley sheep producer and breeder. His Romney, Border Leicester, and Suffolk sheep flocks were some of the best known in North America.
Chauncey Hubbard, a 1916 honors graduate in animal husbandry, was nationally recognized for many years as a premier breeder of Hampshire and Suffolk sheep. He was the first recipient of the Benton County "Stockman of the Year" award, and in 1961 he and his son Chauncey, Jr. were recognized as "Livestock Men of the Year."
Herman Oliver, a progressive and successful rancher, was a founding member of the Oregon Wool Growers Association and the Oregon Cattle & Horse Growers Association (which later became the Oregon Cattlemen's Association). He also served 10 years as president of the Oregon Cattlemen's Association.
John Scharff, manager of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge for many years, served as a U.S. Forest Service assistant supervisor and pioneered effective methods of fire control, range and game management, and wise resource use. He also co-authored, with E.R. Jackman, books about the Steens Mountains in Oregon's high desert country.
Bill Wolfe, an outstanding producer and exhibitor of Polled Hereford cattle, was active in the Polled Hereford Association at the national and regional level. He was selected as Wallowa County "Cattleman of the Year" in 1960.
Jim Males, 541-737-1891
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