45 January-June 1997 Awards

American Society of

Sugar Beet Technologists

AWARDS

presented at the 29th General Meeting

March 2 ..5,1997 Phoenix, AZ

46 Journal of Sugar Beet Research Vol 34 Nos. 1-2

Honorary Membership

Mr. Rich was born in Lon­don, England, was educated in England and received a Me­chanical Engineering Degree from Durham University. In 1950 he joined British Sugar and became Assistant Control Engineer, responsible for all in­strumentation and control at 18 beet sugar factories. Duties included design, procurement installation and commissioning of instruments and electrical switchgear.

In 1963, Mr. Rich was in­vited by Holly Sugar to join its

J.E.A. "BOB" RICH staff as Corporate Instrument ~

Engineer with initial responsibility for the design, installation and commissioning of all controls at its new factory in Hereford, Texas. In 1966 he was promoted to Eastern District Superintendent respon­sible for all factory operations at the Delta, CO, Harding and Sidney, MT, Torrington and Worland, WYand Hereford, TX Factories.

In 1974, Mr. Rich relinquished responsibility for the Eastern District Factories in exchange for the Western District Factories at Alvarado, Hamilton City, Tracy, Santa Ana and Brawley, CA.

In 1978, he was promoted to Asst. General Superintendent and in 1980 to General Superintendent responsible for all Holly's beet sugar operations. In 1980, he also managed Holly's High Fructose Corn Syrup plant in California.

In January of 1981, Mr. Rich resigned from Holly to pursue Pro­ject Engineering, but returned in December as Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Operating Officer. In 1988, with the merger of Holly Sugar Corporation with Imperial Sugar Company, Mr. Rich became Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Holly Sugar Company. On May 1, 1991, Mr. Rich retired after more than 40 years of service to the beet sugar industry.

Mr. Rich became a U.S. citizen in 1969. He has been awarded both Meritorious Service Award and 40 Year Veteran Award from the ASSBT and was a Director of ASSBT in 1979 and 1988. From

47 January.June 1997 Awards

1982 to 1991 he was on the Board of Directors of the Beet Sugar Development Foundation, of which he served as President in 1989. He was a Director of the Bighorn Limestone Company from 1982-91 and served as President from 1987-89. He has been a Director and Treasurer of the Pikes Peak Regional Science Fair since 1984. He evaluates rugby referees for the United States Rugby Football Union and restores and races vintage British sports cars.

Mr. Rich is married to Marjorie, has two sons, two grandsons and two granddaughters.

Dr. Clarke was born in Irelend and her early education took place in Ireland and Canada. She received a B.Sc. with honors in Chemistry from the University of Western On­tario, an MBA from Loyola University and her Ph.D. in Physical Inorganic Chamistry from Tulane University.

Dr. Clarke began her career as a Research Chemist with the Cane Sugar Refining Research Project, Inc., in 1969. In 1971, she was named Administrator, Cane Sugar Project, Inc. and in 1981 was appointed Managing MARGARET A. CLARKE Director, Sugar Processing Institute, Inc., the position she currently holds.

Dr. Clarke has many publications and presentations to her credit, these include over 180 technical papers, chapters in twelve technical books and eight encyclopediae, including Encyclopaedia Britannica. She has contributed to the Sugar y Azucar in 1983, 89 and 91. She was Editor of "Chemistry and Processing of Sugarbeet and Sugarcane;' an Elsevier publication in 1988 and has edited the Proceedings of Sugar Research Conference since 1974.

Dr. Clarke has been the invited and plenary speaker for many technical and industrial conferences in North and South America, Europe, Asia and Africa. She received the Dyer Memorial Award, "Sugar Man of the Year" in 1987, the Honorary Crystal Award, Sugar Industry Technologists in 1984 and the Wolfrom Award in Car­bohydrate Chemistry from the American Chemical Society in 1996.

48 Journal of Sugar Beet Research Vol 34 Nos. 1-2

Dr. Clarke has been very active internationally in all aspects of sugar technology. Included in her many memberships are the American Chemical Society; International Society of Sugar Cane Technologists; Sugar Industry Technologists; American Association for Advancement of Science; Institute of Food Technologists; Sigma Xi Honorary; The Chemists Club, New Orleans Agribusiness Coun­cil and the Metropolitan Club of Washington.

Dr. Clarke is married to Dr. Per 1. Garegg.

Prof. Mantovani was born in Ferrara, Italy and graduated from the Univeristy of Ferrara with a degree in Chemistry. In 1973 he was appointed the Chair of Industrial Chemistry at the University of Ferrara.

From the beginning, his in­terests have centered on the sugar industry. In 1949, Prof. Mantovani was active in the for­mation of a one-year school (now two years) for sugar and alcohol manufacture under the sponsorship of the Serafino Cervasco Foundation, named

GIORGIO MANlOVANI for a pioneer of the Italian sugar industry. Since 1984, he has been President of the Serafino Cer­vasco Foundation. He also served as Editor and President for the Italian Association of Sugar and Alcohol Technologists.

Among his many honors and awards are: President of the Italian Committee of ICUMSA: ICUMSA Referee, "Dry Substance in sugar products other than sugar" and "Spectroscopy"; Vice-President, ICUMSA: Working Group "Sugars and Honey,' Italian Committee for Codex Alimentarius; Working Group "Quality and Storage,:' IIRB; Vice-President, President, Scientific Committee, CITS and President of the Jury to select the international sugarmark. He is also an Honorary Member of the Polish Association of Sugar Industry Technologists, on the advisory board for "Sugar Technology Review,' Managing Director, Chemical Instutute of the University of Ferrara and President of the Ferrara Academy of Sciences. In 1981 he receiv­ed, from the Italian Education Ministry, the Gold Medal and the 1st class award for merit in Education, Culture and Art.

49 January.J'une 1997 Awards

Involved in the sugar industry since 1942, Prof. Mantovani worked during school vacations in the beet sugar factory of Ferrara, Italy. He commenced research on sucrose in 1949 under the guidance of the late Prof. Leo Cavallaro, the first director of the Chemical Institute and Sugar School.

For the last 40 years he has deeply concerned himself with sucrose crystallization and sucrose crystal morphology. With numerous coworkers, he has published many studies in the fields of corrosion prevention, ion-exchange, diffusion, epuration, evaporation and boiling of sugar juices, the microbiology of diffusion and diffusers, sugar con­ditioning in large bins, beet storage and the development and improve­ment of analytical methods for sugar quality control.

Prof. Mantovani has presented many papers at past ASSBT meetings, He and his wife Anna reside in Ferrara and have two children, Leonardo and Marina.

Mr. Middelburg was born in Klaten, Indonesia and educated in Holland. He received his degree from the Agricultural State University at Wageningen, majoring in Plant Breeding.

From 1969 to 1973, Mr. Mid­del burg was involved in Oil Palm b reeding, working for the Societe des Culture au Zaire. In 1974 he joined van der Have in sugarbeet breeding. He retired from van der Have in 1997 and at that time was in charge of sugarbeet breeding worldwide.

Mr. Middelburg served on the Board of Directors of the MARIUS CHRISTIAN Beet Sugar Development Foun- GEORGE MIDDELBURG dation, representing van der Have. He also presented many papers on breeding and genetics at ASSBT meetings.

Mr. Middelburg is married to Ans and has one son and one daughter.

50 Journal of Sugar Beet Research Vol 34 Nos. 1-2

Meritorious Service Award

DEL TRAVELLER

Mr. Traveller has been involved with all aspects of sugarbeet pro­duction in Idaho and Oregon. He is currently "Manager of Agricultural Services" for the Amalgamated Sugar Company LLC and is located in Twin Falls, Idaho.

Mr. Traveller began his career in the sugarbeet industry foilow­ing graduation from Utah State University in 1962 as research agronomist for the Amalgamated Sugar Company in Nyssa, Oregon. During his career, he has been responsible for most agricultural­related aspects of the sugarbeet industry. This includes managing the seed processing plant, planter trials, weed control and sugarbeet storage research. Among the responsibilities in his present position are supervisor of the district agromonists, management of the tare laboratories and the education and training of the agricultural staff.

Mr. Traveller has been an active participant in the ASSBT, hav­ing served two terms on the Board of Directors for the organization. He has served as agricultural program chairman, session chairman and has presented numerous papers at these meetings. Mr. Traveller has been representative on several committees as well as an instruc­tor for the BSDF Agricultural School.

JIM WIDNER

Jim Widner, a native of Melrose, New Mexico, graduated from the New Mexico State University in 1964 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agronomy. Then he moved on to receive Ph.D degree in 1968 from the North Dakota State University in Crop Science.

Dr. Widner started his professional activity as plant breeder at the Agricultural Research Center of the Great Western Sugar Com­pany in 1968. From 1972 to 1975 he was assigned to the Fremont factory as Manager of Agricultural Research and contributed in testing and promoting Cercospora and Aphanomyces resistance varieties. Working closely with growers and people at the Agricultural Department of the Northern Ohio Sugar Company helped him gain broader experience in various phases of sugarbeet productions. In 1975 he returned to the Agricultural Research Center of the Great Western Sugar Company in Longmont. He was an important member of the breeding team to develop well-known varieties such as Mono Hy E4 and E7, as well as many other varieties.

51 January.June 1997 Awards

The most significant change of his career came in 1983 when Dr. Widner accepted a position as Agricultural Manager at the Southern Minnesota Beet Sugar Cooperative. Four years later he was promoted to the Vice President ofAgriculture and currently holds that position.

In his twenty-nine years in the sugarbeet industry, Dr. Widner devoted himself a great deal to various activities of the Beet Sugar Development Foundation. He has been serving on the BSDF Board of Directors since 1983 and has also taught as instructor for the McGin­nis Institute of Beet Sugar Technology. Dr. Widner was chosen as a member of the Project Review Committee in 1990 and served as chair­man from 1994 to 1996. Since he became a member ofASSBT in 1968, he has served as Secretary/ Treasurer from 1991 to 1992 and on the Board ofDirectors for 1987 and 1988. He has been an active member of R&E Board North Dakota/ Minnesota since 1983 and was a committee member of International Sugar Institute from 1983 to 1993.

Dr. Widner was chosen as the Second Vice President of BSDF in 1996. We expect his continuous and dedicated contributions to the society through his Vice Presidency and beyond.

RICHARD E. WATKINS

Dr. Watkins received his B.S. and M.S. from Montana State Univer­sity and his Ph.D. from Colorado State University in Plant Genetics. In 1968 he went to work for American Crystal Sugar Company as a Plant Breeder, and was based in Rocky Ford, CO. In 1977 he became Manager, Agricultural Research for American Crystal Sugar Company in Moorhead, MN.

Dr. Watkins has been involved with many areas of Agricultural Research over his career. These include such things as: Development of improved sugarbeet varieties, development of a variety testing and ap­proval system to assure grower access to the most profitable sugarbeet varieties, development of a seed treating and film coating system for sugarbeet seed, working with precooling and deep freezing of sugarbeets in outside storage piles and inside large storage buildings, working with systems to cover frozen sugarbeet storage piles with tarps to decrease storage losses and working with systems to decrease sugarbeet root damage during the harvesting and piling operations.

Dr. Watkins has presented numerous papers at the biennial ASSBT meeting. In 1973 and 1975, he presented papers at the Sugarbeet Storage Conferences. He has also been very active in the annual Sugarbeet Research and Extension Reporting Session held in Fargo, ND. For several years, Dr. Watkins has taught at the McGinnis Institute of Sugar Beet Technology and is co -author of a chapter

52 Journal of Sugar Beet Research Vol 34 Nos. 1-2

on sugarbeet storage in the soon-to-be published "Sugar TechnologY.' Dr. Watkins has also served as Secretary/Treasurer of the ASSBT.

DAVID HILDE

Dave Hilde is the General Agronomist at American Crystal Sugar Company and has been an employee of the company for 36 years. Mr. Hilde and his wife, Lori, live in Fargo, ND. He is a native of the Red River Valley and grew up on a farm near Ulen, MN. In 1958 he graduated from the University of Minnesota with a Masters Degree in Soil Science.

In 1961, he joined American Crystal as Research Agriculturist for the Red River Valley, performing variety trials, applied research and managing the Company farm at East Grand Forks, MN. Mr. Hilde transferred to the Agriculture Department in 1964 as Agriculturist for the East Grand Forks factory district in the growing areas of Mon­to, ND and also Oslo, MN.

In 1979, he was promoted to General Agronomist for the Com­pany and has served in this position for 18 years. Special ac­complishments include helping develop and implement both the Quality Payment System and refined nitrogen recommendations for growing high quality sugarbeets.

Mr. Hilde has been a member of the ASSBT since 1974 and has served as director for the North Central Region, member of the Awards Committee and member of the Bylaws Committee. He has also presented several papers at Society meetings. Other professional affiliations include: The International Sugarbeet Institute, Sugarbeet Research and Education Board of Minnesota and North Dakota and the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives. Awards include: 1994 Cyanamid Consultant of the Year, 1994 American Crystal President's Award and 1965 Sugarbeet Distinguished Service Award from the Red River Valley Sugarbeet Growers Association.

K. JAMES FORNSTROM

Dr. Fornstrom has published over 65 articles and reports relating to his work with sugarbeets. His sugarbeet research has included trials on plant population, row spacing, seeding date, cultivars, tillage systems, transplants, irrigation and weed management. Early on, Dr. Fornstrom recognized the fact that weeds were a primary deterrent to growers adoption of plant to stand and conservation tillage prac­tices in sugarbeets. In addition, he is well-known for his work in

53 January~une 1997 Awards

irrigation management and was instrumental in developing the checkbook method of irrigation scheduling for sugarbeets.

During the last 10 years, Dr. Fornstrom and his cooperators have received grants amounting to over $70,OOO/ year, much of which was for research on sugarbeets. Jim has maintained a close allegiance to agriculture and the sugarbeet industry. His research work has been mission-oriented and dedicated to improving sugarbeet production. This quality has greatly contributed to the benefit of the sugar industry in Wyoming and other western states. Currently, Dr. Fornstrom and others are cooperating on several important projects directly related to sugarbeet issues in western irrigated agriculture. The projects include "Economics of weed management systems in sugarbeets:' "Fall herb­icide application in a fall cover crop for sugarbeets:' "Removal dates of spring seeded cover crops in sugarbeets for maximum soil erosion pro­tection:' "Weed management in sugarbeets after simulated hails:' and the "Impact ofplant population and fertilizer rate on sugarbeet qualitY.'

Dr. Fornstrom teaches lower level, upper level and graduate courses in the Engineering College; all with great proficiency and quality. Several of the courses have direct application to many of the students in agronomy/agroecology such as irrigation principles and cropwater management. He develops a real rapport with students. His true con­cern for students and his ability to transfer knowledge have produced students that will contribute greatly to our society. In addition, he has worked closely with a number of graduate students in the inter­disciplinary approach to weed management through tillage, cultural techniques and herbicides.

40 - Year Veteran Award

ROBERT L. ABRAMS

Mr. Abrams started his career in the sugarbeet industry in 1956 as an Agriculturist for the Great Western Sugar Company at Ovid, Col­orado. From 1962 to 1967, he worked for Dr. Ed Sullivan at the Agricultural Experiment Stateion at Longmont, CO, investigating sugarbeet herbicides. In 1967, Mr. Abrams returned to the field as an Agriculturist in the Greeley, CO area and continued this for seven years. After a brief stint at the Manager of the Growers Service Center in Plat­teville, CO, in 1974, he returned to Ovid, CO, as the Agricultural Manager. In 1978, Mr. Abrams accepted the Ag Manager's job in

54 Journal of Sugar Beet Research Vol 34 Nos. 1-2

Lovell, WY, and, a year later t~ansferred to the Denver office as Assistant Manager of Agricultural Operations and thereafter became By-Product Sales Manager for Great Western Sugar Company.

During 1985-86, Mr. Abrams continued to sell by-products for the newly formed company of Western Sugar. With the reopening of the Greeley, CO Factory in 1986, he accepted a position of Agricultural Manager and remained there until 1990 when he went back to Denver office as Manager of Agricultural Operations until his retirement from Western Sugar in May of 1995.

Mr. Abrams continues to be actively involved in the sugarbeet industry as the Colorado representative for American Crystal, Beet Seed Division.

PAUL SCOTT

Mr. Scott, a 1952 graduate in agriculture from Colorado A&M (now C.S.V.), began his career with Holly Sugar Corporation at the Worland, WY factory as farm manager and an apprentice fieldman. In February, 1955, he was promoted to fieldman and moved to For­syth, MT. He was transferred to Sidney, MT, in February, 1959, as the factory fieldman. In February, 1964, Hereford's first year of operation, Paul was transferred to Hereford, TX, as a research agronomist. Paul held the research position until 1978 when he re­joined the Agricultural Department as an agriculturist until his retire­ment in July of 1996. In his 40-plus years of service in the sugarbeet industry, Paul has contributed above and beyond the call of duty in whatever capacity he was asked to serve.

GENE ALLEN

Mr. Allen began his career with Holly Sugar Corporation as a beet end relief person in Brawley, CA. After the Brawley campaign was over, Gene went to Alvardo, CA, and worked as a knife setter and then back to Brawley as a relief person on the sugar end. In 1956, Gene returned to Alvardo, CA, where he progressed from assis­tant sugar boiler to sugar end foreperson. In 1964, Holly was get­ting ready to run their new sugar factory in Hereford, TX. Gene was transferred to Hereford in June, 1964, as a sugar end foreman. In 1968, he was promoted to shift superintendent and moved to Delta, CO. He was transferred to Tracy, CA, in August, 1970. In 1976, Gene was promoted to assistant factory manager in Worland, WY. He returned to Tracy, CA, as the assistant factory manager in 1978. Effective February, 1982, Gene was promoted to his

January-June 1997 Awards 55

current position of factory manager in Hereford, TX. Gene continues to effectively serve the sugarbeet industry and Holly Sugar in varied capacities and expertise.

JACK WILLSON

Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative employee Jack Willson has been involved in the sugar industry since 1952, making him a dedicated 45-year veteran of this remarkable industry. Mr. Willson first worked for Great Western Sugar Company in Billings, MT, where he held a number of different positions including Sugar Warehouse Packaging Machine Operator, Evaporator Operator, Carbonation Operator, Steffen House Operator and Extra Station. He also spent some time at Northern Ohio Sugar Company in Findlay, OH, where he worked as a Sugar Boiler. After a three year stint in the United States Army from 1960-62, he went back to work for Great Western in Billings as a Beet End Foreman. He worked at that position until 1970 when he accepted the promotion to Shift Superintendent and transferred to Bayard, NE. In 1973, Mr. Willson transferred to the Great Western factory in Gering, NE, where he worked as Shift Superintendent until 1978.

Mr. Willson went to work for Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative in Wahpeton, ND, in 1978. He held the position of Shift Superintendent from 1978 until 1988, when he was transferred to Temporary Assistant Factory Manager. In April, 1989, Jack was promoted to Assistant Fac­tory Manager, the position he was in until September, 1995, when he was transferred to Temporary Construction Coordinator, working in the Engineering Department at Minn-Dak. He continues to work in that capacity, coordinating the expansion project currently underway at Minn-Dak.

DONALD ANTONETTI

Donald Antonetti began working for Spreckels Sugar Company on November 5, 1955, as a Hoist Operator at the Dos Palos Beet Loading Station. This was eight years prior to start of operations of the Spreckels Mendota Factory. Beets were being shipped north to Manteca and Woodland. In February of 1971, Donald was hired at the Mendota Factory as Misc. Tech C Maintenance. He worked all of his career for the Ag Shop performing beet receiving maintenance, shut­tling beet samples and operating heavy equipment. Mr. Antonetti took retirement on March 1, 1997, and Spreckels Sugar is honored by his commitment and dedication to our company and the sugar industry.

S6 Journal of Sugar Beet Research Vol 34 Nos. 1-2

HARVEY METZLER

Harvey Metzler was hired by Spreckels Sugar Company, at the Spreckels California Factory, as a Centrifugal Oiler, in September, 1951. He worked in various positions at the Spreckels Factory in­cluding Warehouseman, Liquid Sugar Melter and Student Sugar Boiler. After 12 years, he transferred to the opening of the Spreckels Mendota Factory on July 21, 1963, as Sugar Boiler. While in Men­dota, he promoted to Sugar End Operator, Process Leadman, then elected to move back to Sugar Boiling. Mr. Metzler has been boil­ing sugar the last fifteen years for the Mendota Factory, and recent­ly retired on January 1, 1997. Mr. Metzler leaves Spreckels and the Sugar Industry with an exceptional 45-year contribution to, and knowledge of, Sugar End Operations and, specifically, Pan Boiling.

WAYNE STEEN

Wayne Steen started work in 1953 at American Crystal Sugar Company sacking pulp. He also worked summers loading sugar. He worked campaigns as a carbonator for two years, pulp dryer fore­man for seven years, and pulp dryer foreman for ten years. Mr. Steen held the position of certified welder for two years, then, in 1977, took an opening as a machinist, which he held for three years. From 1980 to the present, he has held the title of House Mechanic 1. Since 1990, he has worked in the vehicle maintenance shop.

ALLEN HERMAN

Allen Herman has worked 45 lost time accident-free years at Hol­ly Sugar's Sidney, MT, Factory. He began his working career as a flummer in 1952. He had a temporary break in work when he served in the United States Army as a radioman, from 1955 to 1957. Upon his return from the military service, he reemployed at Holly and worked campaigns as a flummer until 1960, when he moved to the sugar warehouse as a Stacker and then moved to Head Stacker. Mr. Herman worked in that position until 1966 when he became Pulp Warehouse Foreman. That same year, he was appointed to the year­round list. In 1974, he was given the position of Extra Station Per­son. Then, in 1978, he was promoted to Beet End Foreman and, in 1980, he moved to Sugar End Foreman.

57 January-June 1997 Awards

LOUIS FRISON

Louis Frison was a sugar stacker for Holly Sugar, Sidney, MT, the summers of 1945-47. This was the beginning of his successful career. The next three years he worked on the presses. Following the 1950 cam­paign, Mr. Frison left Holly Sugar, moved to Havre, MT, and went to work for Firestone Tire and Rubber Company. In 1953, he moved back to Fairview, MT, going into business for himself. He purchased Exxon Gas and Bulk Service Center. While in business for himself, he also worked campaigns at Holly Sugar as a pulp dryer fireman and mechanics helper. In 1961, Mr. Frison went year-round as a mechanic , He was promoted in 1968 to maintenance supervisor, and, in 1975, to assistant master mechanic. During his tenure he supervised the installa­tion of evaporators, pulp presses and a new scale to weigh trucks.

MARTIN T. QUINLAN

Martin T. (Skip) Quinlan received aB.A. from San Jose State Col­lege in 1958. He joined Spreckels Sugar Company and from 1958 to 1965 worked in several capacities at the Manteca and Mendota Fac­tories. These included End Foreman, General Foreman and Shift Superintendent. From 1965 to 1973, Mr. Quinlan was Assistant to the Factory Manager at Woodland, CA. He served as Assistant to the Vice President of Operations from 1973-74. In 1974, he was named Factory Manager at Woodland, CA, the position from which he retired in 1991.

Mr. Quinlan has been a longtime member of the ASSBT, Sugar In­dustry Technologist, and is Past Chairman of the Education Commit­tee of the Beet Sugar Development Foundation. Although retired, Mr. Quinlan stays active in consulting.