R.B. WarrenR.B. Warren

Family: Wife: Doris
Children: Lisa, Gale, Robert, Mark and Reid

Background:

R.B. "Dick" Warren was born 1-7-25 and attended schools at Silverdale and Arkansas City, KS. He received his B.S. in Agriculture at Kansas State University in 1948, and M.S. in Animal Breeding at Oklahoma State University in 1950. He was Assistant Professor at Michigan State University 1949-55, came to the University of Nebraska in 1956 and retired as Professor Emertius in December 1990. His affiliations included Gamma Sigma Delta, Alpha Zeta, American Society of Animal Science, National Block & Bridle (Pres)., National Livestock Coaches (Pres), and Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities ('48). R.B's activities at Kansas State included drama, football, student council, first Rodeo Club President, President of Block & Bridle and the dairy and livestock judging teams. His athletic endeavors and achievements in high school, college and retirement years were only slightly affected by being left handed and one armed since 1927.

He coached livestock judging teams at Michigan State 1950-55 and livestock and horst teams at the University of Nebraska 1958-90. His teams ranked as reserve National Champions 4 times, Champion American Royal 3 times, with many other honors at the strongest national collegiate contests. He coached 5 livestock teams at Michigan State (1950-55) and 27 at the University of Nebraska (1958-87) plus 5 separate Nebraska horse teams (1985-90). Thus, his 37 different years as collegiate livestock and horse judging coach, served the field and his colleagues purpose and power in their efforts to keep livestock evaluation modern and useful. Because of the collegiate livestock judging complexity, R.B's philosophy was "the most able student performers are a power mesh of intellect and self starters." His judging team alumni are strong in ability, communication, and product delivery, in a great variety of fields and time span.

R.B. assumed leadership for the Nebraska 4-H Horse Program on a part time Extension appointment from 1964-90. He developed, managed and coordinated the Nebraska District and State 4-H Horse Shows for 27 years, with over 121,000 entries. Over 36,000 members and parents attended his horse clinics and judging training sessions during that period. District show development, dress codes, individual performance evaluation broadcasts, safety equitation and talent level class structures were a few of the valuable innovations used in the Nebraska 4-H Horse Program. In 1983, the R.B. Warren Annual 4-H Horse Scholarship Fund was established in his honor. In 1984 he was awarded the Excellence Programming for his horse program, which set a pattern copied by many other states in the USA.

His teaching and extension efforts were valuable assets as a student organization advisor to Block & Bridle, Farmers Fair, Ag. Exec. Board and U. NE Rodeo Assn. many different teams. National Block & Bridle competition in Scholarship, Activities and Published Reports was very rewarding for the Michigan State and University of Nebraska chapters during his advising tenure. His leadership and dedication as a Nebraska professor and an extension specialist touched many lives. Helping to nurture appetites for new knowledge, sifting of facts, assembling the whole product and learning to tell the tale clearly, was the purpose and joy of his mission.

R.B. was a nationally approved judge of Quarter Horses and Appaloosas for over 30 years plus many other horse breeds and types. He also judged breeding and market shows in beef, swine and sheep at county, state fairs and national levels. His long time educational horse efforts and judgement serve his retirement interest well as a strong competitor in Team and Calf Roping in National Senior Pro Rodeos.