2018 Hall of Fame Inductees
The Hall of Fame is to honor those Alpha Gamma Rho Brothers who have made outstanding contributions to the Fraternity, steadfast service in their professional work or exceptional service to mankind.
Bill Boehm
William (Bill) Boehm, retired Senior Vice President and Officer of The Kroger Co., has been a dedicated brother to our Fraternity and true leader in the Agriculture industry for most of his life. Boehm was born in 1947 and grew up on a small dairy farm in central Wisconsin. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin – River Falls with honors in 1970. He received his M.S. (1972) and his PhD (1974) from Purdue University majoring in Agricultural Economics. While in college, Boehm was initiated into Alpha Psi Chapter of Alpha Gamma Rho in 1968 and served as Noble Ruler in 1969-70. He has served AGR in a number of capacities including a six-year term on the National Board and as Grand President from 2000-2002. He was elected to the Board of the Educational Foundation of Alpha Gamma Rho in 2008. In 2009, Boehm was also named to the Foundation Board at UW-River Falls and led the University’s capital campaign. Since his retirement, Boehm has become a valued consultant to the food and agricultural industry and has served on corporate boards including: Neogen, GLK Foods, and FLM Harvest. He recently concluded a 6-year term on the Board of Greatwide/Cardinal Logistics - a $1 billion privately held transportation and Logistics Company. Boehm has been recognized for his contributions to his profession and community. In 1999, he received the Outstanding Alumni Award from Purdue’s College of Agriculture. While working for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, he received the Superior Service Award. In 2004, AGR recognized Boehm as a “Brother of the Century”. He was named Outstanding Alumni by UW–River Falls in 2006 and received the Honorary Doctor of Agriculture degree from Purdue in 2007
James Driscoll
James (Jim) Driscoll, retired after nearly 30 years of service, from the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Currently, he works part-time with an economic consulting firm. Driscoll graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Economics at Montana State University in 1964. He received his M.S. (1966) and his PhD (1969) from Oklahoma State University majoring in Agricultural Economics. While with the USDA, he received multiple awards and commendations for his service. He has been the “go-to guy” among USDA personnel and congressional agricultural staff. His expertise was widely recognized, and he frequently traveled to Washington, DC to provide technical advice and counsel during the process of establishing USDA Agricultural Policy. Driscoll was initiated into Alpha Delta Chapter in 1960 and has served the fraternity for many years. He served as Alumni Board Director for Alpha Delta Chapter and served as their Annual Appeals Chairman for 19 years. Brother Driscoll has also served the National Fraternity as the Treasurer of the Educational Foundation of Alpha Gamma Rho for 26 years. His lifelong dedication to the Fraternity and outstanding service to the agriculture industry have qualified his recognition for the Alpha Gamma Rho Hall of Fame.
Phil Josephson
Phil Josephson’s life has been devoted to his community and Alpha Gamma Rho. Starting on staff in 1972, he has selflessly served the fraternity for over 45 years. The Minnesota farm boy attended the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, where he received a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Economics. He was initiated into Alpha Psi Chapter in 1969 and served as assistant treasurer, Rush Chair, and Noble Ruler during his undergraduate years. In 1972, Josephson joined AGR’s staff as Assistant Executive Secretary. Three years later, he was appointed to Executive Director, a role he held for over 40 years. In November 2016, he was appointed to Chief Executive Officer and announced his retirement one-year out. Throughout over 45-years of his leadership, Josephson led AGR in the adoption of the Brotherhood Program, which eliminated pledging for the Fraternity in 1992. While serving as President and Director, he has made outstanding contributions to the Fraternity Executives Association. He served as a delegate and advisor on the Board for North-American Interfraternity Conference (NIC) and the American Society of Association Executives and was designated as a Certified Association Executive. Josephson has served many other organizations including the Fraternity Communication Association, National Agri-Marketing Association, National FFA Alumni Association, and more. Over the years, Josephson has been recognized for his service to his local community as well as the fraternal community. He was named Rotarian of the Year in 1992 and 1996. For his service to NIC, he received the Laurel Wreath Award, Distinguished Service Award and Gold Medal. In 2017, he received a Distinguished Service Award from the Fraternity Executives Association. Josephson has devoted his life to advocating the promise and values of Alpha Gamma Rho.
Past Hall of Fame Inductees
1974
1. Sleeter Bull, Ohio State
2. Maynard H. Coe, Minnesota
3. Earl L. Butz, Purdue
1976
4. J. Holmes Martin, Kentucky
5. J. Clyde Driggers, Florida
6. Nathan L. Rice, Illinois
1978
7. Frank E. Mullen, Iowa State
8. David C. Pfendler, Purdue
9. Paul K. Bresee, Illinois
1980
10. Emil M. Mrak, California
11. W. Elmo Baumann, Oklahoma State
12. Harold R. McCulloch, Pennsylvania State
1982
13. E. T. York, Auburn
14. Clifford Hardin, Purdue
1984
15. A. B. Hamilton, Maryland
16. A. B. Sawyer, Illinois
17. Don Paarlberg, Purdue
1986
18. Russ Mawby, Michigan State
19. Harold White, Georgia
20. Vern Freeman, Purdue
21. Jerry Litton, Missouri
1988
22. Wallace Jerome, Lambda
23. William B. Sayre, Iowa State
24. Orville Redenbacher, Purdue
1990
25. Lindley Finch, Iowa State
26. True Morse, Missouri
27. Lee Morgan, Illinois
28. Ovid Bay, Missouri
1992
29. Doyle Conner, Florida
30. Ed Lidvall, Iowa State
1994
31. L. Gene Lemon, Illinois
32. Herbert Plambeck, Iowa State
1996
33. Dean C. DeCarli, California-Davis
34. Roland C. Ferguson, Iowa State
35. Milton G. Soper, Cornell
1998
36. John D. Fuqua, Flordia
37. Loren K. Robinson, Western Illinois
38. Ivan K. Strickler, Kansas State
2000
39. Dale Bruhn, Wisconsin-Madison
40. Karl E. Gardner, Purdue
41. Ted A. Priebe, Purdue
2002
42. Warren D. Nichols-Kansas State
43. L.S. "Bill" Pope-Michigan State
44. Thomas M. Sutherland-Colorado State
45. Charles L. Thompson-Oklahoma State
2006
46. Zane Akins, Missouri
47. Bobby N. Duck, Tennessee Martin
48. Robert L. Oehrtman, Ohio State
49. Gerald C. Puppe, North Dakota State
2008
50. Gene L. Swackhamer, Purdue
51. Marvin J. Walter, Iowa State
52. J. Brent Hurd, Tennesse-Knoxville
2010
53. R. Kirby Barrick, Ohio State
54. Jack Brown, North Dakota State
55. Allan R. Johnson, North Dakota State
56. Paul S. Weller, Jr., Maryland
2012
57. James C. Borel, Iowa State
58. Doyle Jacklin, Washington State
59. Charles Napier, Missouri
2014
60. Keith Bjerke, North Dakota State
61. Ole Meland, Cal Poly
62. David Van Wert, Iowa State
2016
63. Erwin Clark, Vermont
64. Hale Moss, Tennessee-Knoxville
65. Loren Kruse, Kansas State
66. Thad Kuhfuss, Illinois
