Purpose
The Alpha Gamma Rho Hall of Fame celebrates figures within the Fraternity for exceptional contributions to Alpha Gamma Rho, agriculture, and mankind. Inductees exemplify the spirit and ideals of Alpha Gamma Rho and are true role models for present day members. New inductees are selected by the Hall of Fame Committee and enshrined at the National Convention.
2022 Hall of Fame Class
Bernie Staller
Iota Chapter, University of Wisconsin–Madison
Borther Bernie Staller was born April 4, 1943. In 1962, he was initiated into the Iota Chapter of Alpha Gamma Rho at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Brother Staller would go on to graduate with his bachelor's degree in agriculture education in 1965, and later his master’s degree, also in Agriculture Education.
Profressionally, Brother Staller's started as the agribusiness instructor and FFA Advisor at George S. Parker High School in Janesville, Wisconsin. During his 11-year-tenure, enrollment in the agriculture education program grew from forty to five hundred students and expanded from one to five instructors.
He then joined the National FFA Foundation as the Assistant Executive Director in July 1977 and became the Executive Director on April 1, 1979. Brother Staller climbed his way to Chief Operating Officer (COO) for both the National FFA Organization and the National FFA Foundation, assuming this role on March 18, 1991.
As COO, Bernie guided the National FFA Organization out of a 15-year decline and stabilized the organization’s financial standing. He also improved staff and operations while expanding more services to state FFA Associations and local chapters. His tenure also includes the National FFA Organization’s relocation from Alexandria, VA, to Indianapolis in 1998.
Brother Staller also oversaw record-breaking levels of fundraising for 24 years as the Executive Director and then the COO. During his time at the National FFA Organization, the FFA Foundation raised more than $75 million in support of FFA and agricultural education. After 37 years, Bernie retired in 2004.
Brother Staller was recognized as the 2004 Agribusiness Leader of the Year by the National Agri-Marketing Association, received Honorary Recognition at the University of Wisconsin, the Honorary American Degree from the National FFA Organization, is an honorary member of Gamma Sigma Delta (the Honor Society of Agriculture), received the distinguished service award with the Wisconsin FFA Association, and many more special recognitions.
As an alumnus, Bernie was Grand President in 2018 and has held many positions within the National Fraternity, including Vice Grand President from 2016-2018, Educational Foundation Director, Educational Foundation Chair, Alumni Director at Iota Chapter, National Board Member, and many more.
Tim Heiller
Eta Chapter,Iowa State University
Brother Tim Heiller was born March 4, 1968. He was initiated into the Eta Chapter of Alpha Gamma Rho at Iowa State University in 1987. Brother Heiller graduated with his bachelor's degree in animal science in 1990 and started his career with Elanco Animal Health.
During his time with Elanco, Tim recruited twenty-six new hires, eighteen of which were Alpha Gamma Rho members He also oversaw creating, leading, and implementing the strategies within Elanco to coordinate the adoption of Payleen and Optaflexx with meat packers across the nation.
Brother Heiller now works for PIC, a Corporate Partner of the Fraternity, as a Key Account Manager. In this position, he works on the company’s recruitment strategy and helps implement it at targeted campuses to assist with recruiting new college graduates.
Tim’s work with the Fraternity, specifically Eta Chapter, is described as “few can match.” As an alumnus, he started serving as the Eta Chapter Adviser in 1992. It wasn’t until 2014 that he retires from that position. During his time as the Eta Chapter Adviser, he influenced the lives of six hundred young men. Brother Heiller also led the chapter in adopting the National Alpha Gamma Rho Brotherhood Program.
During his 22 years as an Adviser, he also implemented an educational program for graduating seniors. This program helped collegiates at Eta Chapter better prepare themselves for life after college. The multi-session program provided lessons on assorted topics including “Financial 101,” giving back to local communities, churches and more.
He also took on two large renovation projects for the Eta Chapter House in 1992 and 2005, sitting on committees that focused on the re-design of the building and the fundraising for the project.
Brother Heiller also helped establish the “AGR Legacy Fund” in 2014. This fund, designed to provide scholarships to Eta Chapter collegiates based on their achievements in the classroom and leadership in the chapter, has provided more than $250,000 in scholarships to Eta Chapter brothers.
Brother Heiller currently serves as the Adviser Forum Coordinator for the National Fraternity.
For his hard work and dedication, Tim has been recognized as a Brother of the Century by AGR and recognized as the Outstanding Adviser award in 2015. He was inducted into the Iowa State Greek Hall of Fame in 2018 and received the Iowa State Order of the Knoll-Outstanding Young Alumni Award in 2010. Brother Heiller has also received several awards within his local community and the state of Iowa.
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
