Alumni Memories

Russell Swanson

Agricultural Education, B.S., 1951; Horticulture, M.S. 1979

I would like to share some personal "touches" I enjoyed with faculty members in the agriculture college of Iowa State "College" (as it was known during my student days), that began some 60 years ago.

The first day of the 1947 fall "quarter,” brought forth a sense of being "alone" in unfamiliar territory (maybe a bit homesick), a neophyte to college environments, wide eyed and a little shy coming from rural surroundings of Sac County. Curtiss Hall appeared awesome, stately, almost foreboding. I was a real freshman!

Nonetheless, acclimation came quickly through the friendly faculty and staff of the ag education department. Dr. Bryan (sp?) was my first counselor, offering guidance for course selections, curricular orientation and suggested good study habits.

New students met department professors early on by course assignments or in the ag ed offices. Dr's. Sexaur and McCleland (sp?) come to mind as being among the first. Both always offered pleasant, easy conversation, advice and assistance. All who knew them would agree they were attentive with sincere interests towards helping students. One day, as a senior, I was traveling with Dr. McClelland ... probably to visit a practice teaching department. He offered me a cigarette from a pack he kept in the glove compartment. Some folks were discrete about smoking in those days, and I was surprised that he would be a partaker. We each had one during the rest of the trip.

Louis Thompson, professor in agronomy at that time, had some unique "extra-curricular" talents. As chairman for the campus 4-Hers barn dance social in MacKay Auditorium, I asked him to call a square dance for the event. He obliged. Mrs. Thompson told me he "fine tuned" the calls while showering before arriving at the dance. He did a great job, and received warm praise from the 4-Hers attending. I think there is a picture in my archives of him calling that dance (which was probably held in the spring of 1950).

C. E. Bundy was a strong "pillar" in the ag ed department. He had come from the Iowa Falls school system, if memory serves correctly. Many years later he provided me helpful assistance. After graduating in 1951, I served 20 years in Uncle Sam's Air Force. Upon completing that career, I sent a letter of intent to the ag ed offices for graduate work enrollment. Mr. Bundy replied, remembering me as a student 20 years before, which I thought was remarkable. When meeting with him a few weeks later, he had "paved" some paths for me to begin summer school as a graduate student. His efforts further marked the fine emphasis the department maintains, caring for students.

Harold Crawford was now "on-board.” His presence offered coincidental irony, since he came from the vocational agriculture "campus" of my high school alma mater (Sac City). To acquaint me with the Iowa Community College program (new to me having been away since the inception), Dr. Crawford set up a special course of study for me, with credit, to visit some of the "ICC" campuses during that summer of '71. His "one-on-one" interest was certainly appreciated.

Instead of completing graduate work at that time, I joined the Iowa State Cooperative Extension Service as the Appanoose County director. But later (1977), I returned to the ISU campus to gain a master’s degree in horticulture (1979). Even though I then joined the University of Florida Extension System, my "educated-roots" will always hold strong ties to ISU.

Iowa State University, the College of Agriculture, and particularly those faculty members I have noted (and others), ring and excite fond memories. I join many colleagues with a sense of pride unique to "Iowa Staters.” The 150-year celebration will be a grand event.