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Clarence Richard Elder

1907 - 1997

 

C.R. "Dutch" Elder
1907-1997

A memorial service for C. R. "Dutch" Elder, 90, of Ames, who died Monday, Oct. 6, 1997, of heart failure at his home, will be held Saturday, Nov. 1, at 10:30 a.m., at the First United Methodist Church in Ames.

Memorial contributions may be made to the First United Methodist Church or Youth and Shelter Services, both in Ames.

Adams Funeral Home in Ames is in charge of arrangements.

C. R. "Dutch" Elder, the son of Ralph and Mabel (Fuller) Elder, was born February 25, 1907, near Klemme. He graduated from Iowa State University in 1929 with a bachelor's degree in journalism.

In 1932, he married Helen Louise Campbell. Dutch worked in the circulation department of The Farmers Wife magazine; was manager of the Blooming Prairie, MN. Times; editor of the Osceola Tribune; advertising manager of the Osceola Sentinel; associate editor of the Agricultural Extension Service, and was later the first director of the Information Service which brought together all the campus mass media services, field secretary and later executive secretary of the ISU Foundation where he worked on development of the Iowa State Center; ISU publications editor, and later edited and produced the university catalog and other publications.

Mr. Elder retired in 1976. He served as secretary-treasurer, vice president and president of the American Association of Agricultural College Editors, chaired the press committee servicing the annual meeting of the National Association of Land-Grant Colleges and State Universities, was the first coordinator of the press and radio committee serving the National 4-H Club Congress, and served on the board of directors of the National Project in Agricultural Communication. Mr. Elder was a guide for 12 Russian agricultural authorities who visited Iowa in 1955 - the first post-war technical exchange with the USSR.

He is survived by his wife, Helen Elder of Ames; one daughter, Martha Ann Elder Trundeanu of Dexter, MI; one son, Charles Richard Elder of Clive, four grandchildren; and one sister, Reva Waddingham of Garner.

source: Garner Leader & Signal, 29 Oct 1997, page 4, column 2

 

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Clarence Richard "Dutch" Elder: born 25 Feb 1907 - died 6 Oct 1997 at Ames, Story County, Iowa

Grave marker at Iowa State University Cemetery, Ames, Story County, Iowa

Son of  Ralph Elder, born 1883 - died 1975 and Mabel Ellen Fuller, born 1888 - died 1976

Husband of  Helen L. Campbell Elder, born 1908 - died 2003

Brother of:
Reva Elder Waddingham (1913 - 2005)

Clarence Richard "Dutch" Elder received a B.S. (1929) from Iowa State College (University) in agricultural journalism. Elder returned to Iowa State as the Associate Extension Editor (1941) and was quickly made the Editor (1942). His duties in the Extension Service Department included publicizing the extension education department, informing the public on the results of research of the program, and assisting with the activities of the agricultural teaching staff.

Elder was appointed Field Secretary (1943-1946) at the Iowa State Foundation and Secretary (1946-1948) of the Board of Directors of Iowa State College Press. He also served as Chairman (1946) of the Extension Publications Committee, which directed the publications of the Iowa Extension Service. Elder was appointed Director of Information (1948-1962) for the Iowa State College and continued in that position after Iowa State achieved university status in 1960.

He became the Head (1961-1963) of the Iowa State University Information Service Department, responsible for editorial and publication services, visual education, service film production, and WOI TV and radio. Elder joined the ISU Foundation and in became Field Secretary (1964) for the ISU Foundation. Elder took a leave of absence from Iowa State to lead (1966-1968) the University of Nebraska's program at the Institute of Colombian Agriculture in Bogota, Colombia. Elder returned to Iowa State University as University Publications Editor (1969-1976). He retired on May 30, 1976 with the title of Professor Emeritus.

As Director of Information Services, Elder planned and managed the 1955 visit of a Russian delegation to Iowa State College to study agricultural methods utilized in the state of Iowa. He provided the group with a tour of Iowa, introducing members to Iowa farmers and American agricultural education at Iowa State. In addition, Elder assisted in developing the proposal that led to the establishment of WOI-TV and was a founder of CARD (Center for Agricultural and Economic Development).

source: Find-A-Grave, memorial# 92476965