Alumni

Stuart Patton '43
Dairy Science

Stuart Patton of La Jolla, California, is Evan Pugh Professor of Agriculture Emeritus of The Pennsylvania State University. Dr. Patton's career is notable for the rare accomplishment of achieving renown in both technology and a basic biological science. He graduated from Penn State with a bachelor's degree in dairy science in 1943. He also holds an M.S. and a Ph.D. in dairy science from The Ohio State University

Dr. Patton joined the Penn State Department of Dairy Science faculty in 1949. By 1966, he had become one of the first faculty members named an Evan Pugh Professor--an award he has called "a wonderfully reassuring vote of confidence." In 1975, he joined the newly formed Department of Food Science, exercising a leadership role until retiring in 1980.

Following military service and graduate school, Dr. Patton returned to Penn State to emphasize graduate training and research on the microchemistry of food flavor, primarily that of milk and dairy products. No one has attained greater stature as a flavor chemist, and Penn State gained fame the world around as a center for this work. In the 1950s, Dr. Patton pioneered using gas chromatography machines and mass spectrometers to revolutionize flavor research. Dr. Patton has studied milk from a large number of mammalian species, and developed an interest in lipids as a factor in heart disease. His studies of milk and lactation in humans were recognized by the prestigious Macy-Gyorgy Award from the Society for Research on Human Milk and Lactation.

Upon retirement, he became an adjunct professor in both the Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of California-San Diego, and in the School of Family Studies and Consumer Sciences at San Diego State University. He continues collaborations with Penn State colleagues.

Dr. Patton has taken an active role at Penn State throughout his education and career. In 2000, the Donald V. Josephson and Stuart Patton Mentorship award--founded primarily through his efforts--was established for outstanding achievement of faculty and graduate students in the College of Agricultural Sciences. His contributions to science were recognized only last year with a symposium at University Park. He received the Department of Dairy and Animal Science's Dairy Distinguished Alumnus and the College of Agricultural Sciences' Outstanding Alumnus award.

With well over 200 technical and scientific publications, three patents, and two textbooks to his name, Dr. Patton has received numerous accolades including Borden Award in the Chemistry of Milk, American Chemical Society; Centennial Award for Distinguished Service, The Ohio State University; Bond Award, American Oil Chemists' Society; Award for Distinguished Service and Achievement in Agricultural and Food Chemistry, American Chemical Society; Senior U.S. Scientist Award, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, West Germany; Honored Participant, Gordon Conference on Biology of the Mammary Gland; double issue of journal Protoplasm dedication; and Fellow of the American Dairy Science Association.

Dr. Patton has been called the quintessential university professor--dedicated, reflective, knowledgeable, quick to give credit to others, and remaining at the forefront with refreshing thought in his areas of specialization. He has credited his success "to an intense interest in knowledge; great educational opportunity; exceptional mentoring, especially by D.V. Josephson, Ph.D, '43; and a very supportive mate."

 

Boyd Wolff '53
Dairy Husbandry

Boyd E. Wolff of Harrisburg graduated from Penn State in 1953 with a bachelor's degree in dairy husbandry. His career has taken him from a farm in rural Pennsylvania to the Governor's Cabinet Room to farms around the world. At first glance, these career pursuits may seem an odd combination, but a common thread runs through them - one of leadership, innovation and service to Penn State, agriculture and community.

After graduation, Wolff returned to the family farm and began farming with his father. Within five years, he had become sole operator of Wolfden Farm and later increased the farm from 110 to 410 acres. For his management and production methods, he received the "Outstanding Grassland Award" given by the American Forage and Grassland Council. In 1966, with his Registered Holstein herd now including 100 milking cows, he moved into an innovative free stall barn of his own design.

Wolff has served in various leadership positions in community, church and agriculture. His community involvement included chairing the Westmoreland County Cooperative Extension Board, the Westmoreland County 4-H Development Committee, the Western Westmoreland County Planning Commission and the Greensburg Salem School Authority. During his years on the farm, he served as an elder of his rural Presbyterian Church and currently is an elder of the Pine Street Presbyterian Church in Harrisburg. He has received many awards for his service to agriculture. Most notable of these are the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau "Distinguished Service for Agriculture Award", the "Master Farmer Award" and the "Outstanding Farm Conservationist Award" from the Westmoreland County Conservation District. He takes much pleasure in the fact that both he and daughter, Patricia, were selected as "Outstanding Senior in the Penn State College of Agriculture". 

Now a trustee emeritus of Penn State, Wolff served on the Board of Trustees from 1984 to 2001. He served the College of Agricultural Sciences in a wide range of capacities including being a member of the Grand Destiny Campaign, chair of the Ag Council's Partnership Building Committee and trustee liaison for the Pennsylvania Council of Cooperative Extension Associations. 

With his wife, Margaret, he has funded two endowments at Penn State. The Paul B. Wolff Memorial Endowment to support mental health of students in transition and the Boyd E. Wolff GOTCHA Endowment in International Agriculture to "Give Others the Chance to Have an Adventure" in international study. Wolff says simply, "Penn State has been a key part of my life beginning with my first 4-H Dairy Judging Contest at Penn State when I was 15. I am hopeful my various contributions since then will enable others to learn and develop through their association with Penn State".

In 1987, Wolff was appointed Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture serving through 1995. During his tenure many county, state and national organizations recognized him for his advocacy for agriculture. Many new agricultural programs were initiated during his administration including the Pennsylvania Farm Land Preservation Program, the Animal Health Commission and the Tri-partite Laboratory System that enables the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Penn State and the University of Pennsylvania to share resources.

After his departure from state service, Wolff answered a new calling - to share his experience and knowledge with farmers worldwide through the US Agency for International Development (USAID) programs. During these assignments he travels to a developing part of the world to help farmers with a range of issues from developing cooperatives to increasing crop and dairy production. Since 1996, he has completed 11 volunteer consulting assignments in Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, Zimbabwe, Venezuela and Poland. In addition he was presenter at the 1997 "Penn State Polish-Ukranian-Lituanian-Armenian Seminar" held in Boguchwala, Poland. He is scheduled for a project this June in Macadonia.

Currently he serves on the Boards of 10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania and of The South Central Assembly for Effective Governance where he chairs the Agricultural Committee.