Purdue AZ alumni Thomas McKinney, President and General Manager of McKinney & McKinney, was named one of Purdue University's 2016 Distinguished Agricultural Alumni.

AZ Alum Jim Patterson, Auburn '77, is featured in the publicity for the 2016 film documentary "Breaking Point: The War for Democracy  in Ukraine." An agricultural economist, diplomat and life member of the American Foreign Service Association, Patterson saw the documentary as a guest of the Woodrow Wilson Center at the Ronald Reagan International Trade Center in Washington DC. The link for the film is at http://breakingpointfilm.com/ Aside from the quote, Patterson commented the Ukraine was the Bread Basket of Former Soviet Union and Stalin infamously forcibly stole the wheat harvest for years leading to genocide by starvation against. The ongoing war between Russia and the peaceful Ukrainians has disrupted Ukraine's economy and status as a reliable wheat exporter. Disruption has hurts other areas of Ukraine's economy and it will decades to recover. Patterson has appeared to support Ukrainians at events in California (Los Angeles and the Bay Area) and Washington DC.   He plans to produce additional writings on the economic disruptions in Ukraine too support payments from Russia due to its military and economic crimes. He is interested in talking with other AZ members interested in collaborative projects. 

 Dr. James Harvey Lilley, Jr., 55, passed away December 20, 2015 at his home. Jim was born May 9, 1960 in Wake County.
A funeral service will be held Wednesday, December 23, 2015 at 11:00 AM in the sanctuary of First Baptist Church of Swansboro with Dr. Larry Harper officiating. Burial will follow at Queens Creek Methodist Cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior at the church.
Jim graduated from Swansboro High School and then went on to NC State University and then North Carolina school of veterinarian medicine at NC State University where he received his doctorate in veterinarian medicine. As a 10 year career 4-H member in Onslow County Jim was inducted in the NC 4-H Honor Club in 1976. During his freshman year, 1978, at NCSU he became a member of Alpha Sigma Phi brotherhood. During his time at NCSU he was a member of the NC State Marching Band playing a flag bearing NCSU herald trumpet, and in 1980 he was inducted in the Honor Society of Agriculture, Gamma Sigma Delta, at the same time his father was inducted as an alumni member, and he was also inducted in the Alpha Zeta, Honor Fraternity for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

AZ alumni James Patterson, (Auburn) a former US agricultural diplomat, recently visited Gelman Library at George Washington University for a research project. He noticed a student activity outside the library. Students were raising money "for those who feed us." Patterson thought students were raising funs for small family farmers or maybe farm workers idled by California drought.  Instead upon closer examination, Patterson noted students were raising money for DC restaurant workers. "They serve us," Patterson told the students, "farmers feed us." Patterson reports it is unclear if students plan another activity to raise money for small farmers.

AZ alum Vic Lechtenberg (Nebraska chapter) has received the Order of the Griffin, one of the highest honors bestowed by Purdue University to individuals whose commitment and service to the university go well beyond the call of duty and whose strength and vision have greatly benefited the institution. 

When he retired in March 2015, Lechtenberg was director of the Center for Purdue Regional Development and special assistant to President Mitch Daniels. 

After earning his doctorate at Purdue, Lechtenburg joined the Purdue faculty as crop science professor. He went on to served as dean of agriculture (1993-2004), and vice provost for engagement (2004-11). He twice was called on fill vacancies on an interim basis while searches were underway for provost and vice president for government relations. 

"Lechtenberg served under six Purdue presidents and knows the university and the state of Indiana better than almost anyone," said Purdue Trustee John Hardin, who is also a Farm Foundation Trustee. "I would be hard-pressed to find any Indiana leader more respected and appreciated than is Vic." 

CRAWFORD, Wid P., age 87 of Wyckoff and Long Beach Island, died peacefully with his family by his side on Sunday, July 6, 2014. Born in Burkburnett, TX, Wid and his wife, Ellen, grew up in Eastland, TX. He served his country proudly in the United States Navy during World War II. Wid graduated from Texas A&M University in 1948 and received a Bachelor of Science degree. He later returned to Texas A&M where he earned a Master of Science and Ph.D. in Biochemistry in 1958. While at Texas A&M, he was a member of Phi Kappa Phi and Alpha Zeta Honorary fraternities.