The Alpha Gamma Rho Hall of Fame stands as the ultimate accolade granted to the most distinguished members of the Fraternity. It commemorates individuals within Alpha Gamma Rho who have made truly exceptional contributions to agriculture, the Fraternity, and humanity. Every two years, the Hall of Fame Committee handpicks nominees to enshrine at National Convention who embody the Promise & Values of Alpha Gamma Rho, serving as exemplary role models To Make Better Men.
2024 Hall of Fame Class
Neil Fruechte
Lambda Chapter, University of Minnesota
Brother Neil Fruechte was born April 22,1939. He attended the University of Minnesota where he joined the Lambda Chapter of Alpha Gamma Rho and received his Bachelors in 1961, majoring in Agricultural Economics. He served as Noble Ruler for the Chapter between 1960 and 1961. Later in 1990, he attended the Graduate School of Banking at Colorado.
Over the course of his 46-year tenure, Brother Fruechte built his career in banking and agriculture finance. He spent the first half of his career with Farm Credit System and the second half as the president of Roundbank, a community bank in Waseca, MN. He started out as a loan officer with Farm Credit System and worked his way up the chain to senior vice president. He served as the president of Roundbank from 1985 to 2003.
Brother Fruechte had many achievements and received recognitions for a variety of things over the course of his career. He helped grow Roundbank’s assets from $41 million in April 1987 to $190 million by December of 2003. He was named the acting president of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines in December 2005, which he served until June 30, 2006.
He was named Businessman of the Year in 1995 by the Waseca Chamber of Commerce. Brother Fruechte resided on a number of bank boards including Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines, Waseca Bancshares, Inc., American Savings, Inc. and more.
Brother Fruechte is also very active in his communities. He was a member of several organizations and participated in various committees, many of which were tied to the finance industry. He was a board member and sat on the finance committee for the Waseca Medical Center – Mayo Health System for 10 years. He was also a co-chairman and on the finance committee for Republican Minnesota State Representative Connie Ruth. These are just a few of the numerous positions he served in over the years.
The community of Waseca recognized him for his efforts with the Don Eustice Memorial Award for Community Service in January of 2006. This award is given to a community member who has shown creative and active leadership roles in the Waseca community and has stepped in and served in various areas as he/she saw a need.
Brother Fruechte is now retired and lives in Waseca, Minnesota with his wife, Sharon. He is the father of three children and has six grandchildren.
Rick Carpenter
Gamma Chapter, Pennsylvania State University
Brother Richard Carpenter was born October 1, 1939. He was initiated into Gamma Chapter at Pennsylvania State University February 8, 1959, where he graduated with his Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Education. He later studied at Bucknell University in 1964.
Upon graduating with his bachelor’s, Brother Carpenter began his career with the Farm Credit Banks and Associations where he managed field operations, credit operations, aided in restructuring to improve effectiveness and efficiency, as well as handled the facilitation of institutional mergers and liquidation of troubled assets for more than 30 years.
In 1991, Brother Carpenter joined Red Bud Cove, Inc. There, he constructed and operated a bed and breakfast on Table Rock Lake near Branson, Missouri.
Throughout Brother Carpenter’s career, he held several, high-ranking positions with Farm Credit Bank at different locations, including, assistant vice president, vice president, senior vice president and CEO. He also was a vice president for Western Farm Credit Bank.
Brother Carpenter was also part of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard for six years of his career, where he was selected as the Outstanding Enlisted Man of the Year of the 104th Armored Calvary Division.
He is also deeply involved with his communities as a Cub Scout pack leader in Maryland, a lecturer and an educational director for Our Lady of Grace Church, a Board member of the Greater Baltimore Area YMCA, a member of the Lion’s Club in Goddard, Kansas, president of the Bed and Breakfast Inns of Missouri and more.
Brother Carpenter was active within the Fraternity on the chapter and national levels. He was on the Gamma Chapter Housing Fund Committee. He was the Beta Omega Chapter Adviser from 2006 to 2018, and he was Southwest Missouri Alumni Corporation of AGR’s Board Treasurer in 2003 and from 2016 to present day.
At the national level, Brother Carpenter was a director on the board of the Educational Foundation for 6 years and the Foundation’s President from 1998 to 2000. He was the Fraternity’s Grand President from 2004-2006 and resides on the National Nominating Committee to this day, since 2016.
Brother Carpenter currently lives in Branson, Missouri with his wife Carol. He is the father of five children with eight grandchildren.
Alpha Gamma Rho Hall of Fame Inductees
1974
1. Sleeter Bull, Beta Chapter, Ohio State University
2. Maynard H. Coe, Lambda Chapter, University of Minnesota–Twin Cities
3. Earl L. Butz, Delta Chapter, Purdue University
1976
4. J. Holmes Martin, Omicron Chapter, University of Kentucky
5. J. Clyde Driggers, Alpha Gamma Chapter, University of Florida
6. Nathan L. Rice, Alpha Chapter, University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign
1978
7. Frank E. Mullen, Eta Chapter, Iowa State University
8. David C. Pfendler, Delta Chapter, Purdue University
9. Paul K. Bresee, Alpha Chapter, University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign
1980
10. Emil M. Mrak, Chi Chapter, California Polytechnic State University
11. W. Elmo Baumann, Pi Chapter, Oklahoma State University
12. Harold R. McCulloch, Gamma Chapter, Pennsylvania State University
1982
13. E. T. York, Xi Chapter, Auburn University
14. Clifford Hardin, Delta Chapter, Purdue University
1984
15. A. B. Hamilton, Alpha Theta Chapter, University of Maryland–College Park
16. A. B. Sawyer, Alpha Chapter, University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign
17. Don Paarlberg, Delta Chapter, Purdue University
1986
18. Russ Mawby, Tau Chapter, Michigan State University
19. Harold White, Alpha Eta Chapter, University of Georgia
20. Vern Freeman, Delta Chapter, Purdue University
21. Jerry Litton, Theta Chapter, University of Missouri
1988
22. Wallace Jerome, Lambda Chapter, University of Minnesota–Twin Cities
23. William B. Sayre, Eta Chapter, Iowa State University
24. Orville Redenbacher, Delta Chapter, Purdue University
1990
25. Lindley Finch, Eta Chapter, Iowa State University
26. True Morse, Theta Chapter, University of Missouri
27. Lee Morgan, Alpha Chapter, University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign
28. Ovid Bay, Theta Chapter, University of Missouri
1992
29. Doyle Conner, Alpha Gamma Chapter, University of Florida
30. Ed Lidvall, Eta Chapter, Iowa State University
1994
31. L. Gene Lemon, Alpha Chapter, University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign
32. Herbert Plambeck, Eta Chapter, Iowa State University
1996
33. Dean C. DeCarli, Phi Chapter, University of California, Davis
34. Roland C. Ferguson, Eta Chapter, Iowa State University
35. Milton G. Soper, Zeta Chapter, Cornell University
1998
36. John D. Fuqua, Alpha Gamma Chapter, University of Florida
37. Loren K. Robinson, Alpha Tau Chapter, Western Illinois University
38. Ivan K. Strickler, Alpha Zeta Chapter, Kansas State University
2000
39. Dale Bruhn, Iota Chapter, University of Wisconsin–Madison
40. Karl E. Gardner, Delta Chapter, Purdue University
41. Ted A. Priebe, Delta Chapter, Purdue University
2002
42. Warren D. Nichols, Alpha Zeta Chapter, Kansas State University
43. L.S. "Bill" Pope, Tau Chapter, Michigan State University
44. Thomas M. Sutherland, Rho Chapter, Colorado State University
45. Charles L. Thompson, Pi Chapter, Oklahoma State University
2006
46. Zane Akins, Theta Chapter, University of Missouri
47. Bobby N. Duck, Alpha Upsilon Chapter, University of Tennessee–Martin
48. Robert L. Oehrtman, Beta Chapter, Ohio State University
49. Gerald C. Puppe, Epsilon Chapter North Dakota State University
2008
50. Gene L. Swackhamer, Delta Chapter, Purdue University
51. Marvin J. Walter, Eta Chapter, Iowa State University
52. J. Brent Hurd, Alpha Kappa Chapter, University of Tennessee-Knoxville
2010
53. R. Kirby Barrick, Beta Chapter, Ohio State University
54. Jack Brown, Epsilon Chapter, North Dakota State University
55. Allan R. Johnson, Epsilon Chapter, North Dakota State University
56. Paul S. Weller, Jr., Alpha Theta Chapter, University of Maryland–College Park
2012
57. James C. Borel, Eta Chapter, Iowa State University
58. Doyle Jacklin, Sigma Chapter, Washington State University
59. Charles Napier, Theta Chapter, University of Missouri
2014
60. Keith Bjerke, Epsilon Chapter, North Dakota State University
61. Ole Meland, Chi Chapter, California Polytechnic State University
62. David Van Wert, Eta Chapter, Iowa State University
2016
63. Erwin Clark, Alpha Rho Chapter, University of Vermont
64. Hale Moss, Alpha Kappa Chapter, University of Tennessee–Knoxville
65. Loren Kruse, Alpha Zeta Chapter, Kansas State University
66. Thad Kuhfuss, Alpha Chapter, University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign
2018
67. Bill Boehm, Alpha Psi Chapter, University of Wisconsin–River Falls
68. Jim Driscoll, Alpha Delta Chapter, Montana State University
69. Phil Josephson, Alpha Psi Chapter, University of Wisconsin–River Falls
2020
70. Jack Britt, Alpha Chi Chapter, Western Kentucky University
71. A. L. Hutson, Pi Chapter, Oklahoma State University
72. Glenn Stith, Omicron Chapter, University of Kentucky
2022
73. Bernie Staller, Iota Chapter, University of Wisconsin-Madison
74. Tim Heiller, Eta Chapter, Iowa State University
