As Chief of the Dairy and Pure Food and Drugs division in the Department of Agriculture in Nebraska, Archibald L. Haecker displayed sincere interest in Nebraska’s dairy development. A tireless and thorough worker, he was involved in the betterment of conditions surrounding the industry, striving for the production of a better article and the advancement of the dairy industry.
ARCHIBALD LOUIS HAECKER, PIONEER DAIRY EDUCATOR
Born at Ackley, Iowa, April 8th, 1872, and later moving with his parents to Cutting Grove, Wisconsin. He received his early education in the Public School of Wisconsin, and when 19 years of age moved with his parents to St. Paul, Minnesota, where his father was an instructor in the Minnesota School of Agriculture.
He attended the Minnesota School of Agriculture and later took post graduate work at Ames Agricultural School in Iowa where he received his degree. In 1896 he joined the faculty of the Agricultural College at Lincoln, Nebraska, as assistant professor in the Dairy Department, and in 1902 was advanced to full professorship in that department, where he remained until 1910.
For some years during that time he was Secretary of the State Dairymen’s Association. After terminating his connection with the University of Nebraska in 1910 he was manager for Woods Brothers Silo Department, and took an active part in introducing to the dairymen the benefits to be accrued in the use of the silo. After serving some years in this work he accepted a position with the Lincoln Telephone Company as secretary of that organization. In 1935 he was appointed to the position of Chief of the Dairy and Pure Food and Drugs division in the Department of Agriculture in Nebraska, where he served until his accidental death August 27th, 1938.
During the time he served in the Department of Agriculture it was my please to observe the valuable work that he did in this department and especially was he sincerely interested in the dairy development in the state. A tireless and thorough worker at all times, intensely interested in the betterment of conditions surrounding the industry, striving for the production of a better article and the advancement of the dairy industry.
Professor Haecker, as he was universally known among his friends, was an individual that it was a pleasure to know, one who was interested in Nebraska and its institutions and its people and the industry which he represented in which he took no small amount of pride. He was one in whom you could place the greatest confidence and trust. One who I believe has done for the Dairy industry in Nebraska, work that has not been surpassed.
By his death we not only lost one of its distinguished citizens, one of the most tireless workers, but Nebraska lost one of its most valuable friends, and his council and advise will be greatly missed. His work for the dairy advancement in Nebraska will live in the future as a most noble one. The results of his tireless efforts has and will continue to be known and appreciated more by the people of Nebraska and especially by those engaged in the future development of dairying in Nebraska.
