1938 First Manager

Bernice Michael holds the title of “original staff person.” Because of the growth of the Illinois Crop Improvement Association, Mrs. Berniece R. Michael became Prof. Hackleman’s secretary in 1936, a position she kept until 1938. In January 1938 Mrs. Michael was appointed as Assistant Secretary-Treasurer and Office Manager, a capacity she cherished and fulfilled until her death in November 1963. Mrs. Michael saw the need for additional help when ICIA moved from the Old Ag Building to the lower lobby of the Urbana-Lincoln Hotel in 1938. Her staff increased as the Illinois Crop Improvement Association continued to grow. Soon she was the office manager of ten full-time employees. It was Mrs. Michael’s unflagging spirit and efforts to prevail that helped see the Illinois Crop Improvement Association through the dark depression years, and for the last ten years of her life, 1953-1963, she served under the deserved title of Manager and Assistant Secretary-Treasurer of the Association, a position which enabled her to supervise and coordinate all aspects of an association which had grown large enough to demand such full-time supervision.

Source – 50 Years of Service — A History of Seed Certification in Illinois by A.L. Lang

University Ties

ICIA started in the Department of Agronomy at the University of Illinois, in the office of Prof. J. C. Hackleman. Hackleman gave leadership to ICIA for 16 years without remuneration. The relationship with the U of I was nearly continuous. Professor W. O. Scott(Scotty) served as Chair of the U of I Advisory Committee to ICIA for many years. Scotty, a President of AOSCA, wrote the History of the International Crop Improvement Association along with Hackleman. Scotty was also the author of the Title V section of the U.S. Plant Variety Protection Act.