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ARS Home » Plains Area » Clay Center, Nebraska » U.S. Meat Animal Research Center » Genetics and Animal Breeding » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #138305

Title: GORDON EDWIN DICKERSON, 1912 - 2000: A BRIEF BIOGRAPHY

Author
item Van Vleck, Lloyd
item Cundiff, Larry

Submitted to: Journal of Animal Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/2/2003
Publication Date: 6/1/2003
Citation: Van Vleck, L.D., Cundiff, L.V. 2003. Gordon Edwin Dickerson, 1912 - 2000: A brief biography. Journal of Animal Science. Available: www.asas.org/biohist.asp.

Interpretive Summary: Gordon Edwin Dickerson was an international leader for most of the 20th Century in the field of quantitative animal breeding and genetics. This short biography sketches Gordon's personal, academic and scientific paths which are naturally intertwined. The sketch begins with his birth in Lagrande, Oregon in 1912, and ends with commentary on his life by former students and colleagues on his death in the year 2000. His scientific career encompassed more than 60 years of his 88 years of life. His significant accomplishments included contributions while at the University of Wisconsin; the Regional USDA Swine Breeding Laboratory in Ames, Iowa; the University of Missouri; Kimber Farms in Fremont, California; Agriculture Canada in Ottawa; and at the University of Nebraska and the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, Clay Center, NE. His many notable accomplishments led to many honors for a truly humble but exacting scientist and teacher. Such accomplishments were achieved while being an active community leader. Gordon and Myra, his partner and wife for 67 years, were role models for hundreds of students, visitors, and colleagues from around the world.

Technical Abstract: Gordon Edwin Dickerson was an international leader for most of the 20th Century in the field of quantitative animal breeding and genetics. This short biography sketches Gordon's personal, academic and scientific paths which are naturally intertwined. The sketch begins with his birth in Lagrande, Oregon in 1912, and ends with commentary on his life by former students and colleagues on his death in the year 2000. His scientific career encompassed more than 60 years of his 88 years of life. His significant accomplishments included contributions while at the University of Wisconsin; the Regional USDA Swine Breeding Laboratory in Ames, Iowa; the University of Missouri; Kimber Farms in Fremont, California; Agriculture Canada in Ottawa; and at the University of Nebraska and the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, Clay Center, NE. His many notable accomplishments led to many honors for a truly humble but exacting scientist and teacher. Such accomplishments were achieved while being an active community leader. Gordon and Myra, his partner and wife for 67 years, were role models for hundreds of students, visitors, and colleagues from around the world.