It is with heavy hearts that Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity announces the passing of Brother Bill Richards of Beta Chapter at Ohio State. Brother Richards was 93 years old when he passed November 12, 2024.
Brother Richards graduated from Ohio State in 1953 with a degree in agriculture economics. He began his career running his family farm near Circleville, Ohio in 1954 where he spent his time diversifying farming operations and finding innovative ways to grow crops while protecting the soil. He would later become one of the first people to showcase the potential of no-till farming in the United States. By 1957, he had completely switched his farm to a no-till method.
He founded Ohio Top Farmers, a cooperative that became a model for farmers to collaborate and improve their margins. His passion for no-till farming led him to promoting his methods nationally and was selected as the chief of the USDA’s Soil conservation service (now the Natural Resources Conservation Service) in 1990.
“Bill was a leader in soil conservation at every level including as the Soil Conservation Service Chief in the HW Bush Administration in Washington, DC,” Brother Al Johnson, Epsilon Chapter (North Dakota State) said. “In addition, he found time to serve Alpha Gamma Rho at his home Beta Chapter at Ohio State and also on the National AGR Board of Directors from 1984-1988. He and his wife Gracie were always gracious hosts opening their farm for numerous agricultural organizations and events."
“Bill was a leader in soil conservation at every level including as the Soil Conservation Service Chief in the HW Bush Administration in Washington, DC. In addition, he found time to serve Alpha Gamma Rho at his home Beta Chapter at Ohio State and also on the National AGR Board of Directors from 1984-1988. He and his wife Gracie were always gracious hosts opening their farm for numerous agricultural organizations and events."
Brother Richards worked under President George H.W. Bush until 1993. During his time as SCS Chief, he created the highly successful National Alliance for Crop Residue Management and was the driving force behind the formal partnership agreement between SCS, the National Association of Conservation Districts and the National Association of State Conservation Agencies.
His influence led to farmers getting more opportunities to be treated as customers and allowed agribusinesses to be part of agricultural solutions.
Bill’s passion extended beyond the SCS as he was part of various agriculture organizations including AGR, National Outstanding Farmers of America, the Farm Foundation Bennett Roundtable, National Corn Growers Association, American Farm Bureau, the Soil and Water Conservation Society and more.
Beyond his position with the USDA, Brother Richards would teach about conservation agriculture as a visiting lecturer and spokesperson, he was a contributing writer to Farmer Journal, Top Producer and monthly articles in Agrifinance.
For his dedication and passion to conservation agriculture, Bill was selected as the U.S. Jaycees Outstanding Young Farmer of America in 1967.
Within the Fraternity he was a Lifetime donor with donations totaling more than $50,000 to the Educational Foundation of Alpha Gamma Rho. He is a Brother of the Century, recognized in 2004 at the Fraternity’s 100th anniversary during the 2004 National Convention.
Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity recognizes Brother Richards as someone who looked to the future of agriculture and shaped it. We would like to extend our condolences to the Richards family.
