(September 13, 1932 – June 4, 2013)

Quick Facts

Alumnus Roger Mitchell was recognized for his involvement in various professional organizations and his leadership in various universities.

Roger was born on Sept. 13, 1932, to Robert Truman Mitchell and Cecile Lowry Mitchell in Grinnell, Iowa, and he grew up on a farm on the edge of town. He was the first member of his family to attend college.  

Mitchell attended Iowa State College (now University) and earned a BS in Agronomy in 1954. Roger met Joyce Lindgren at Iowa State University, and they were married on June 26, 1955. He went on to earn a MS in Agronomy at Cornell University in 1958 and returned to Iowa State where he earned a PhD in Crop Physiology. He continued as a faculty member and directed the Farm Operations Curriculum until 1969. He moved on to the University of Missouri-Columbia to lead the Agronomy Department and was Dean of Extension from 1969-1975.

Mitchell was appointed Vice President of Agriculture at Kansas State University from 1975 until he returned to the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1981. There he resumed as Chair of Agronomy until 1983 when he was appointed Dean of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources and Director of the Agricultural Experiment Station at University of Missouri-Columbia. He held this position until his retirement in 1998.

Mitchell was recognized for his service and leadership in various professional organizations including the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

In 1993 he was awarded the Henry A. Wallace Award from the Iowa State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. This citation honors a College of Agriculture and Life Sciences alumnus or friend who has achieved notable professional achievements nationally or internationally and brought distinction to themselves, the college, and the university through their significant contributions. Selection is made by the Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

Selected Sources

Henry A. Wallace Award Nomination, Louis M. Thompson papers, RS 9/958, Iowa State University Special Collections

Obituary, The Grinnell Herald-Register, June 10, 2013

Obituary, The Des Moines Register, Sunday, June 23, 2013.

Find a Grave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/112033262/roger-lowry-mitchell