Jack Carter

Jack Franklin Carter was born Oct. 1, 1919 to Thomas Baker and Mary Lucinda (Watkins) Carter, on the ranch of his grandfather, Goodloe Carter, near Lodgepole, Nebraska. His family moved to a farm near Chappell, Nebraska, where he attended the Deuel County public schools through 12th grade. He received a B. S. degree in Agronomy from the University of Nebraska, graduating with distinction in 1941. He also received an M. S. degree from Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, in 1947, and the Ph. D. degree from the University of Wisconsin at Madison, Wisconsin in 1950, both in Agronomy. After Pearl Harbor, Jack trained in electronics with the Civilian Air Corps, then joined the U. S. Navy and trained in the use and maintenance of radar. He was assigned to a Navy Argus unit with a Marine fighter squadron in Eniwetok, in the Marshall Islands; and later on the aircraft carrier Corregidor, serving 22 months in the Pacific. Jack married Iris Imogene Smith in York, Nebraska, on Oct. 19th, 1941. Their daughter Nancy was born in San Francisco, California in 1943. Four sons were born during the following years, Stephen in 1946, Jeffrey in 1950, Joel in 1954 and Brian in 1957. Jack was always deeply involved with care of his family as a kind and loving father and husband. In 1955, the Carter family became charter members of Faith United Methodist Church where Jack served on the Board of Trustees for several years. Dr. Jack Carter worked for agriculture in North Dakota and nationally for over 50 years after coming to NDSU, then the NDAC, in 1950 as Associate Professor of Agronomy. He taught Agronomy courses and conducted forage crop research for 10 years until becoming Chairman of the Agronomy Department in 1960. He started cooperative forage crop research at the Branch Stations, now Research Extension Centers and contributed to Extension programs and Short Courses in forage crops statewide. While Agronomy Chairman at NDSU, Dr. Carter strengthened ongoing teaching, research and extension programs in Agronomy and initiated several new programs in weed control, breeding and production of soybeans, dry beans, wheat genetics and cytogenetics, two-rowed barley, durum wheat, modernization of the seedstocks program, early biotech research, and sunflowers. Even as department chair, Carter remained engaged with undergraduate students, serving as an academic advisor for numerous students and continued to teach advanced courses even after his retirement. Carter’s students recognized him for his teaching skills. In 1979 he was named the Alpha Zeta Agricultural Teacher of the Year, and in 1990 he received the Blue Key Outstanding Educator award. A lecture room in Loftsgard Hall was named in his honor in 1995. Jack enjoyed developing and testing baking recipes, particularly to add flax to breads and muffins. He made wine from home grown raspberries and from grapes, often winning prizes at the Cass County Fair. He always had a garden, relishing the harvest of vegetables and flowers alike, and enjoyed helping his fellow gardeners learn helpful techniques. Jack enjoyed grafting different varieties of apples to his apple trees. He donated trees with grafted apple varieties to the NDSU Bidder’s Bowl for several years. There are many of these trees around the area. Dr & Mrs Carter moved into Bethany Towers II assisted living in June of 2008 due to the disabling effects and pain of Multiple Myeloma. He died Sunday Sept. 11th, 2011, at nearly 92, from a heart attack. He is survived by his wife, Iris Imogene of nearly 70 years; brother, James Goodloe Carter; sons. Stephen (Jill), Jeffrey (Carol), Joel, and Brian (Kristine); grandchildren, Andrew and Christina Svendsen, Lindsey (Daniel Khamir) and Heather Carter, and Nicholas and Caitlin Carter; and two greatgrandchildren, Rebecca and Michael Svendsen. He was preceded in death by parents, Thomas and Mary; and his beloved daughter, Nancy Lynn Svendsen and her husband, Eric. He was also preceded in death by brothers, Winfred, Richard “Baker”, Bill, and sister, Geraldine. Memorial Service will be at 11 a.m. Friday Sept 16th at Faith Methodist Church, 909 19th Ave North, Fargo, with a reception to follow at the Fellowship Hall. A Jack F. and Iris Carter Graduate Student Fellowship is being endowed at NDSU to support doctoral candidates.