George Round spent his career building a better public image and gathering better support for the University and the Agricultural College. He was expertly gathered information for Senators, farmers, businessmen and gardeners and served as editor for the Agricultural Extension Service, Director of Public Relations for the University and was Professor of Agricultural Communications. During his 43-year tenure, George worked “behind the scenes” influencing agricultural public relations.
Several years ago the wife of one of our Honorees here tonight mentioned to me that she was pleased that the Agricultural Achievement banquet was one of the years finest and nicest gatherings of outstanding people and an evening filled with clean fun, fellowship and enjoyment.
We would like this to be one of the very best of all Nebraska Hall of Agricultural Honor meetings which started back in 1917. If there is any weakness in the program tonight, I would say it is in our lack of ability to find someone who can adequately pay tribute to our three most outstanding honorees.
We are not here to bury these three men tonight but rather to have a fun time remembering a few of their many accomplishments in the past and remind them that we will still be looking forward to their advice, efforts and help in continuing to make Nebraska a better place in which to live while at the same time we hope they will find more time to live a bit more leisurely in the many enjoyable years ahead.
I have known many of the great men honored by the Nebraska Hall of Agricultural Achievement thru the years and have known the accomplishments of the rest. I do not believe in the history of the Agricultural College, University and the state have there ever been three men who have contributed as much or worked as closely together for the benefit of Nebraska Agriculture as have Elvin F. Frolik, Edward W. Janike and George S. Round.
They came up thru the ranks together – all enrolling at the U of N in 1926 and graduating in 1930 to 33. With brief period of exceptions when two employed elsewhere, all three have been most active in their many responsibilities connected with agriculture in the University of Nebraska. They all helped take the University to the people and assisted in developing the greatest agricultural potential in Nebraska of any state in our great nation.
After the member of the hall first considered the names of our three honorees, I asked a few people which of the three had contributed the most to Nebraska Agriculture. Included in those contacted for an opinion was my mother who is past 90. She probably knows more about you three men than you realize. She best summarized her comments by saying all three have been great, have done a lot for all of us and all three should be honored.
When Elvin Frolik attended the DeWitt High School, he established a high level in scholarship for which I disliked him a little because in later years they expected some of us to be somewhere near as smart as Elvin way. Elvin, you are still one of DeWitt's favorite sons and I am sure you will spend more time there in the future visiting the family farm which you own.
Elvin spent a number of years in our Agronomy Department including 3 years as Chairman and was instrumental in building it into one of the top 2 or 3 departments in the entire nation. He there served as Director of the Agricultural Experiment Station and Dean of the College of Agriculture.
Elvin is a member of many organizations and served as President of the International Crop Improvement Assoc., Gamma Sigma Delta and Sigma Xi. He received the merit award for Distinguished Service Gamma Sigma Delta, has high man judging Holsteins at the National Dairy Show in 1927 and is a Major, U.S. Army Reserve.
As I recall Ed Janike was one of us who regretted the fact the fireman put out the fire in the old A H Building leaving the shell that was rebuilt instead of letting it burn to the ground so a new adequate building could be erected.
Ed has always been most friendly and helpful. I can remember when I had a job as an Assistant in A H drawing 25 per hour. Ed gave me a lot of good advice and encouragement that there would be better days ahead. Ed also belonged to the right social fraternity.
To this day, the only thing I can remember that was wrong with George and Elvin was the fact they belonged to the Farm House Fraternity.
I recall a night in the early, dirty 30's when the AGR's when to bed one night thinking they had swept a full slate office in the Student election, only to wake up the next morning to read in the Farm House controlled Daily Nebraskan that the ballot boxes had been stuffed and a new election was called for. I am sure neither Ed or I had anything to do with the irregularities, but I have always suspected Elvin and George may have had some influence on the upheaval.
Ed was one who helped Prof. Gramlich by speaking at meetings through out Nebraska selling livestock, people, and Nebraska taxpayers on the idea of giving better support to the University of Nebraska Agricultural College. When they got back to campus the next morning, they would usually find out that Dr. Keim had already been in Dean Burr's office suggesting how the Agronomy department could use more money. Regardless of what actually happened then, I believe now our Animal Science Dept., although not the largest, is one of the best in the country. Thanks to men like Ed Janike who have done the groundwork to help make the progress possible.
We are progressing in Veterinary Science and Ag Engineering is about due for some remodeling. We all need to work together to continue to support the increasing need for a top-quality Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
Ed served the University as Extension Animal Husbandman, State Extension 4-H Leader, as Director of the Agricultural Extension Service and as Dean of the Extension Division. He also received the Merit Award for Distinguished Service from Gamma Sigma Delta and was honored by Block & Bridle Club a few years ago.
George Round is probably as well known across the state as any Nebraskan. He has helped every Chancellor of the University of Nebraska for the past 40 years build a better public image and gather better support for the University and the Agricultural College. George is an expert at getting information for Senators, farmers, businessmen and gardeners. He has always been honest, fair and effective. I recall one time when I was in the Nebraska Legislature when George supplied me with information that made it possible for me to get legislative approval of funds for the construction of the 3rd and 4th floors of the University library only to learn later that money was not available for the 1st and 2nd floors.
My first real experience in politics was in the 30's where George helped me with a campaign in Franklin County to get voter approval for tax funds to support county extension. In 1940 George helped me with a similar, successful campaign in Cass County. Then later 5 successful campaigns for the Nebraska Legislature but one was later lost on a recount. George, I still have not filed for the public office you and Chancellor Gustafson were believing I would run for some 25 years ago but maybe I will still try that in the future.
George your wide acquaintance in all parts of Nebraska and your unselfish help to all of its citizens has been tremendous. At the time I was on a program with you and Lyle DeMoss at Omaha in the early 40's I had a big question as to whether it was an agricultural program or just a crazy show but it did not take me long to realize that by mixing some fun with the facts you were most effective in getting worthwhile information to the people. George, you and Bill MacDonald were also a good pair.
George has served as editor for the Agricultural Extension Service, Director of Public Relations for the University and now is Professor of Agricultural Communications. He has received many state and national awards from TV, radio and press associations for his outstanding work in disseminating news.
About the time our honorees were getting ready to enroll in the University of Nebraska, I was a young lad assigned to driving a three-horse team on a one bottom, sulky plow. Besides driving so the plow would turn a full furrow, my main job was to see that each of the three horses pulled his full share. They could have been named Elvin, Ed and George because they were one of the best three horse teams in the country and like these three outstanding agricultural leaders, they all did more than their share. Together Elvin Frolik, Ed Janike and George Round have served that State of Nebraska for 124 years.
The following item appeared in the daily papers nearly two years ago and I believe fitting for the occasion tonight.
Tribute to Three
DeWitt, Neb.
"Retirement is phasing out the services to the University and to Nebraska agriculture of Dean Elvin Frolik, Ed Janike and George Round. I have known and worked with all three men for more than 40 years and benefitted from their assistance. Their dedicated, effective work and leadership have been of tremendous benefit to agriculture, the University and all of Nebraska. I am happy to join thousands of Nebraskans in expressing appreciation for their fine contributions.
Dean Frolik is going to Iran to help with their problems. Janike will continue with agricultural-related activities and Round will handle part-time assignments with the University.
Their influences will continue and the furrows these men have plowed through the years, often under unfavorable circumstances, will help those who succeed in reaping bountiful harvests for many years to come. Their leadership in making more adequate food supplies available will be helpful to all the world and more appreciated in years to come."
Willard H. Waldo
