Posted on March 31, 2011 at 2:56 PM by Global Reach
Dick served as Fremont County Extension Education Director for 37 year
s. He began his Extension career as a youth assistant in Mills County immediately after graduating from Iowa State in June of 1957 and served as a County Extension Associate in Dallas County for three years before relocating to Sidney. Dick had one of the longest tenures of any ISU employee – 43 years.
McClure earned a Bachelors Degree in Animal Science from Iowa State University, then became the first Iowa Extension agent to receive faculty improvement leave to obtain a Masters in Agronomy from the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. He also completed a Ph.D. in Agronomy from UNL.
Dick received the Meritorious Service to 4-H award in 1975 and an Honorary
4-H award in 2002. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Award from the National Association of County Agricultural Agents in 1992.
As Extension Director, McClure promoted the establishment of the Fremont County 4-H Endowment Fund which supports 4-H programs. This became the first county endowment to be established with the Iowa 4-H Foundation. The fund has increased 60% in size since establishment and has provided over $36,165 to 101 4-H’ers for assistance in their education.
Under McClure’s leadership, an extensive and ongoing citizenship program for Southwest Iowa 4-H’ers was established. He accompanied 12 county groups on trips to Citizenship Washington Focus. Over 450 Fremont County 4-H’ers participated in the conference and training. This was an incentive for many of the senior members to continue with the 4-H program.
Dick helped Fremont County become the first in Iowa to join a statewide Extension computer network.
He assisted in organizing the Two County Dusters 4-H Equestrian Drill Team comprised of Page and Fremont County youth. The 36 member youth drill team has performed for the entertainment and enjoyment of thousands of people regularly performing at the Sidney Iowa Rodeo, Iowa Horse Fair, local county fairs and town celebrations.
Since his retirement from ISU Extension in July 2000, Dick has been involved with Quality Iowa Maize, an entrepreneurial locally owned business that provides white corn for the domestic and export food markets.
In his spare time, Dick still volunteers his time to 4-H and youth activities contributing many hours to the Ak-Sar-Ben 4-H Livestock Expo, 4-H horse shows and the Two County Dusters drill team. Dick and his wife June have a son Scott and a daughter Brenda who were both very active in Fremont County 4-H.
