Distinguished Alumni and Champions selected by OSU’s Division of Agriculture
Tuesday, August 15, 2017
Oklahoma State University’s Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources is dedicated to making available science-based information relevant to improving the quality of life for the people of Oklahoma.
The mission in doing so is greatly enhanced and influenced by the achievements and excellence of its alumni, as well as other leaders who are not alums of the college. To acknowledge some of these outstanding alumni and friends of the university, DASNR recently selected its Distinguished Alumni and DASNR Champion award winners.
Recognized as 2017 Distinguished Alumni of the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources are Richard Large, William (Bill) Lingren and Paul Redman. The 2017 DASNR Champions are John Groendyke, John Patrick Lopez and Merlin and Lillian Schantz.
“The division is so blessed to be able to call this group of industry leaders DASNR Champions and Distinguished Alumni,” said Tom Coon, DASNR vice president. “These individuals are shining examples of sustained excellence in their respected fields and we look forward to being able to celebrate them this fall at the 3rd Annual DASNR Honors night.”
Large earned his bachelor’s degree in agronomy from Purdue University in 1962. After serving in the United States Army, he came to OSU and graduated with a master’s degree in agronomy in 1966. Following his Ph.D. from Ohio State in 1969, Large spent better than four decades serving as the owner and president of A&L Laboratories, Inc., which is one of the largest and most preeminent soil testing labs in the world.
Lingren is a 1969 OSU graduate with a bachelor’s degree from the department of entomology and plant pathology. After working in private industry for several years, he purchased an entire product line from Zoecon Corporation, which he promptly renamed Trécé after his lucky number and the 13th column, or profit column, on a typical spreadsheet. In 2002, Lingren relocated the company to Adair, Oklahoma, and has been a worldwide leader in the “Green Movement.”
Redman earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in horticulture from OSU in 1990 and 1994, respectively. After graduation, he was a television cohost for “In the Garden with Mike Davis and Paul Redman” on WBNS 10TV/Ohio News Network, served as an adjunct faculty member at Columbus State Community College and was director of horticulture at Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Garden in Columbus, Ohio. Redman currently serves as the executive director of Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania.
Groendyke earned his bachelor’s degree in business from OSU in 1966 before graduating with a law degree from the University of Oklahoma in 1969. After serving as a captain in the U.S. Army, he returned home to Enid, Oklahoma, to join the family trucking operation his father had started in 1932, where he now serves as CEO and chairman of the board. Groendyke has been a great advocate for agriculture and a leader in conservation of Oklahoma’s unique landscapes and wildlife throughout much of his life.
Lopez serves as the COO of Lopez Foods, Inc. in Oklahoma City. The company, for which Lopez has worked 21 years, employs more than 500 greater Oklahoma City residents, operates a state-of-the-art 200,000 square-foot food processing facility and has more than $500 million of annual sales revenue. He was asked by the governor of the state to serve on the Robert M. Kerr Food and Agricultural Products Center’s Advisory Board in 2013 and was elected chairman in 2015.
Merlin and Lillian Schantz began farming in 1985, but the Schantz Family Farm began in 1908 and is a centennial farm near Hydro, Oklahoma. As open-minded, forward-thinking producers, they have made modifications throughout the years in their operation and have utilized a diverse cropping system throughout the farm. Avid supporters of OSU and the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service, the Schantzes have graciously provided land for demonstration and research plots for several decades.
The awards will be presented to the winners during the 3rd Annual DASNR Honors night, Oct. 6 at the Student Union Ballroom on OSU’s campus in Stillwater. To purchase tickets to the event, visit dasnrhonors.okstate.edu.