Agencies and Offices
Work at NASS
Related Topics
About NASS
Hall of Fame
The NASS Hall of Fame honors individuals whose work made lasting contributions to the quality of the information collected and the service NASS provides in producing timely, accurate, and useful agriculture statistics. Through the Hall of Fame, we recognize the talent, vision, and energy of individuals whose contributions to the agency and to agriculture statistics transcend time. Individuals honored in the Hall of Fame exemplified integrity, honesty, innovation, positive impact on NASS, and commitment to public service.
Mostly recently, NASS inducted two NASS leaders whose impact continues to resonate in today’s agency. Richard D. Allen dedicated his career to improving agricultural statistics both within NASS and in the broader statistical community. Donald M. Bay, during his tenure as Administrator, introduced many changes and efficiency measures to NASS.
NASS established the Hall of Fame in 2014, inducting an inaugural group of five former staff. For the inaugural induction, inclusion was limited to individuals who are deceased but who worked for the agency after 1957, when USDA developed a plan to expand data collection and make it the work of a separate agency within the Department of Agriculture. A nominating committee of former NASS employees and independent statisticians selected the inaugural inductees.
The Hall of Fame members (and their citations) are:
Richard D. Allen
Richard D. Allen dedicated his career to NASS, the statistical community, and U.S. agriculture. He led with integrity and an unwavering desire to improve the quality and timeliness of agricultural statistics. NASS historian and a compassionate mentor, his legacy includes the countless statisticians he helped develop into exceptional stewards of agricultural statistics.
Inducted in 2016
Donald M. Bay
Donald M. Bay was a results-driven leader whose foresight, direction, and vision produced significant and lasting changes to NASS’ agricultural statistics program and organizational culture, including transfer of the Census of Agriculture program from the Census Bureau to NASS. During a time of technological change, he skillfully maintained morale and implemented many efficiency measures.
Inducted in 2016
Charles E. Caudill
Charles E. Caudill was a distinguished agricultural and mathematical statistician committed to improving agriculture statistics in the United States and abroad. Throughout his career at NASS, he led many efforts to improve and modernize the collection and analysis of agriculture data, including applying sound statistical techniques to the emerging field of remote sensing.
Inducted in 2015
Bruce M. Graham
Bruce M. Graham provided outstanding leadership in the Statistical Reporting Service and the National Agricultural Statistics Service, including leadership of the Survey Operations Group. This group expanded the use of probability area frame surveys into most states, a key to implementing the transformative “Project A.”
Inducted in 2014
Sterling R. (Bert) Newell
As Chair of the Crop Reporting Board (1950 – 1962), Sterling R. (Bert) Newell led development of the 1957 long-range plan for major expansion of USDA data collection. He helped convince Congress to support the plan, which ultimately led to the creation of the Statistical Reporting Service (now the National Agricultural Statistics Service).
Inducted in 2014
Cary Palmer
Cary Palmer was as an outstanding State Statistician in South Dakota and Texas. He is also known for his highly successful recruitment of college graduates who went on to become outstanding statisticians and leaders in the Statistical Reporting Service and its successor the National Agricultural Statistics Service.
Inducted in 2014
Glenn Simpson
Glenn D. Simpson provided leadership for the staffing and organizational structure of the new Statistical Reporting Service (now the National Agricultural Statistics Service). He also led development of the original USDA Statistical Scope and Methods publication that guided the agency’s statistical processes for many years.
Inducted in 2014
Harry C. Trelogan
Harry C. Trelogan was the founding Administrator (1961-1975) of the Statistical Reporting Service (now the National Agricultural Statistics Service). He provided the vision and leadership that began the transformation of previous USDA data collection programs into an internationally renowned statistical agency.
Inducted in 2014
To Nominate Someone to the Hall of Fame
Inductions to the NASS Hall of Fame take place annually in December. Inductees may be living or deceased but must have retired or left NASS at least five years previously. Current NASS employees, previous NASS employees, or other interested individuals may nominate individuals to the Hall of Fame. Nominations are due by the end of September. For more information contact nass@nass.usda.gov.
Last Modified: 12/20/2016