Frank Robinson was a pioneer in utilizing water resources in Platte Valley. With the assurance of dependable crop production through supplemental irrigation, Frank established superior breeding of polled Hereford cattle. Frank believed that chemical utilization effectively and permanently solves issues of agricultural surpluses has never wavered. He established the Chemurgy Project of the University of Nebraska and was an Executive Committee member from inception in 1941 until absorption by the College of Agriculture.
A distinguished Nebraska republican, Rufus Melvin Howard, was born May 23, 1888, in Grant City, Missouri. He received his early schooling in that community and later attended both the University of Missouri and the University of Nebraska.
In the year 1909, he worked his way to Nebraska from his former Grant City, Missouri, home by shocking wheat in Kansas. Arriving at Paxton, Nebraska, he rented a buggy at the livery stable and drove north into the sandhills to his mother’s homestead near Flats. His sister, Mabel was postmaster there. The following year, 1910, he filed on a homestead adjoining his mother’s and started meagerly at ranching that was to continue until April 3, 1947.
Rufus Howard was married to Florence May Wingerd at Hemet, California, in October 1915. His wife died in July, 1946. To this union were born two children, Robert M. and Helen C. Robert is with the Stock Growers Association in Alliance. He is married and has four children. Helen lives in Lincoln and is married to Bruce Campbell.
On April 3, 1947, Howard sold his 5200 acre ranch to neighbors and assumed permanent residence in Lincoln. In February, 1948, he married Mrs. Anna B. Chamberlain, who had been office manager of the State Agriculture Department for twelve years. Rufus, not being able to get away from the soil, again purchased a farm near Lincoln and spent his spare time out on the land - an activity he loved most.
Even though Rufus Howard’s schooling was in the field of journalism, he had an innate shyness toward publicity. McPherson County and his cattle ranch were good to Rufus and in return he served on his local school board and as County Commissioner from January 1, 1929, to January 1, 1935. Both the county and the cattle ranch profited from the business ability and honesty of Mr. Howard. He was an active member of the Nebraska Stock Growers Association. His son Robert now directs many of the activities of the Association and is editor of the publication “The Cattleman”.
Reading about history and government was Rufe’s chief hobby and his own name figured modestly but persistently in a good share of recent governmental history of Nebraska. He was elected to the legislature as a representative of the 91st district in the 1935 Bicameral. He was elected to the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature in 1937, 1939, and 1941, and was elected speaker in the 1941 session. The following is an editorial from the Lincoln Journal:
No orator, when Howard did speak it was usually the counsel of ordinary common sense. As a senator, he opposed unnecessary regulations and red tape, believed in using care in restricting any business for the purpose of eliminating competition, and was prejudiced against lobbyists, devious and complicated legislation and organized minority pressure groups. Modest and conservative, a practitioner of making haste slowly, Howard made friends and a reputation.
Governor Griswold appointed Mr. Howard to the administrative position as Director of Agriculture and Inspection in 1943. The department is one of the state’s most important, affecting Nebraska’s basic industry and livelihood and embracing the Bureau of Animal Industry, Division of Motor Fuels; Bureau of Dairies and Foods - Weights and Measures; Division of Seed Testing; Division of Noxious Weeds, Bureaus of Plant Industry; Agricultural Laboratory; Division of Nebraska Resources; Agricultural Statistics; Division of Potato Development and Cigarette Tax Division.
“Maximum protection and Service with the lowest possible taxes and restrictions” is the goal of any branch of democratic government, says Howard.
While occupying the office as Director of Agriculture and Inspection, he became president of the National Association of Directors, Commissioners and Secretaries of Agriculture as well as president of its regional counterpart, the North Central Association. Mr. Clay Wright, Nebraska Director of Agriculture in 1952, presented a resolution in memory of Rufus M. Howard, past president of the North Central Association, at the Topeka, Kansas, meeting. A resolution was presented by the National Association at the Seattle meeting in 1952.
Mr. Roy Freeland of Kansas spoke the following in presenting that resolution: “Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen: A mere word would seem most inadequate in paying proper respect and tribute to a man like our late friend, Rufus Howard of Nebraska.
I remember Rufus Howard as a man who was big in a lot of ways. Rufus was tall in stature, but even taller in his ideals and principles. I think we all found him that way.
I remember him as a member of this Association and not just an ordinary member, but a leader - one of the distinguished members. He was a past president of this Association. We remember him also as a wonderful friend, companion, and a wise counselor. It always seemed to me Rufus Howard could look a long way down the road ahead, and it seemed he kept continually in watch, willing to counsel with the rest of us and tell us what he saw in order to help us with our problems.
I might mention that it was my privilege to attend the funeral services for Rufus Howard as a representative of the Association. I wish I could convey in some way the feeling I had there at that service of the respect and admiration which the people seemed to have for him. After the service I visited at the home very briefly where I saw some of the close relatives and friends and I was most favorably impressed by them. They were the type of people you would expect to be the friends and relatives of a man like Rufus Howard. They were the kind of people who make America a place in which we like to live.
I am certain the memories of his friendship and association will live a great many years with all of us, and I am certain that the work of Rufus Howard will stand as a living monument to a good, constructive, useful life that was devoted to the betterment of all America.”
Mr. Howard was awarded in 1952, the fifth Nebraska Builder award, the highest non-academic honor of the University of Nebraska. Purpose of this annual award is “to honor distinguished Nebraska citizens who have made substantial and lasting contributions to the life of the State.”
He was a member of the Nebraska Coordinating Committee for Missouri Basin Resources Development and the Nebraska Agricultural Mobilization Committee. He was also a member of the Rotary Club and an Elder of the Presbyterian Church.
When Rufus was ordained as a Ruling Elder in the church, the prayer consecrating him was a petition for certain qualities he has faithfully developed: “that he may be a good man, full of faith, ruling in the fear of God, make him faithful unto death, and when the chief Shepherd shall appear, may he receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away”. This prayer has been graciously and abundantly answered.
So endeth the chapter of this great Nebraskan.
