Orville A. Vogel

(1907-1991) born near Pilger, Stanton County, and lived in Lincoln. Agronomist, became international leader in wheat improvement, and was instrumental in the development of Gaines, the first commercially successful semi-dwarf wheat variety in North America, which set a world commercial field record of 209 bushels per acre; over a period of 45 years, he invented, built, and marketed research plot planters, harvesters, and threshers which have been adopted at most major experimental stations worldwide; invented in 1969 the first eight-foot cut, self-propelled plot combine which can be self-cleaned in seconds; recipient of National Medal of Science in 1975; recipient of John Scott Award in 1990 for his invention of semi-dwarf wheats which have since spread across the world, contributing measurably to the food supplies available worldwide. Consult Agronomy Journal, Vol 62 (January/February 1970) 133-134 and obituaries in New York Times, April 15, 1991, p. B-10 and Washington State University, Hilltopics, June/July 1991, p. 18 and Who Was Who in America, Vol 10 (1993) 370 and Crete /NE/ News, April 6, 2005, p. C-7.

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