Claude Schmidt

Claude Schmidt, 84, of Fargo, ND, died Wednesday, February 4, 2009, in Fargo. Born in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1924, to Roger and Lucette, but considers San Francisco CA from age 11 on as his home town until 1950. Education - BA 1948 and MA 1950 from Stanford University, CA, and PhD in Entomology from Iowa State College, Ames IA in 1956. Occupation & Employer: Entomologist and Research Administrator, Agricultural Research Service, US Dept Agriculture 1956-1988. Retired in 1988. Busy with volunteer work such as Meals on Wheels 1989 - 2009, Chair of the Cass County Vector Control Board (Mosquitoes) 1988-92, Editor of the Leafy Spurge News 1994 – 2005, member of the North Dakota AARP State Legislative Committee 2000-2001; ND AARP Government Affairs Committee 2001 - 2009, Elected Fargo Senior Commission 2001, Chairman of Fargo Senior Commission 2003 – 2006, Docent at the Plaines Art Museum 2006 - 2009. Accomplishments: His 38 1/2 years of government service included over six years of Army in WWII and the Korean Conflict. Thanks to the GI Bill, Claude obtained his BA and MA degrees from Stanford University in 1948 and 1950. He was then recalled into the Army, this time into the Medical Service Corps, where he did TB research at Fitzsimmons Army Hospital in Denver, CO from 1951 – 1953.That is where he met Mellie and they were married in 1953. He continued his education and got his PhD in Entomology at Iowa State in 1956. • Joined the Agricultural Research Service in 1956 and worked on insect repellents in the Insects Affecting Man and Animals Research Branch, Orlando, FL. From January 1962 to January 1964. • He then took an assignment with the International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, Austria where he served as Chief Entomologist in the Department of Research and Isotopes. • Returned to ARS at the Metabolism and Radiation Research Lab, Fargo, ND, as Project Leader of the Insect Physiology Section. • July 1967 was transferred to Beltsville, MD, to take on duties as Chief, Insects Affecting Man and Animals Research Branch, Entomology Research Division, ARS. • July 1972 transferred back to Fargo, ND to become Director of the Dakotas & Alaska Area. This was dissolved in 1982 and Claude became Director of the Metabolism Radiation Research Laboratory, Fargo. (now known as the Bioscience Research Lab.) • He then served as Program Project Manager for the construction of the Northern Crop Science Lab. The Biosciences Research Lab, the Hard Red Spring and Durum Wheat Lab and the new Northern Crop Science Lab were all consolidated under one management unit, the Red River Valley Agricultural Research Center which he served as Acting Center Director until he retired in October of 1988. All while in the Agricultural Service, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture. President of the American Mosquito Control Association in 1980, active in Toastmaster International since 1984, Area Governor of The Year 1998-1999, both Central Division & East Division Governors, and Lt. Governor of Marketing in District 20 in 1996. President of the Fargo Chapter of the National Assoc. of Retired Federal Employees (NARFE) 1995 and 1996, and President of the North Dakota Federation of Chapters of NARFE 1998-1999. Listed in Who's Who. Interest & Hobbies - Music, reading, photography, hiking and gardening. Survived by wife Melicent (Mellie) Hane, two children, Valerie (Mark Bowden), Minneapolis, MN and Jeffrey (Peggy Irwin)Longmont, CO and one grand daughter Ashley, Moorhead, MN. Also by his brother Andre (Gini)Schmidt, Kasson, MN and their son Kevan, Olympia, WA. Memorial Service, February 9, 2009, 11am at the Hanson-Runsvold Funeral Home, 215 S. 7th St, Fargo, ND. In lieu of flowers memorials preferred to environmental concerns or educational charity of your choice.