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His Legacy… George Garrett Greenleaf, Agri-Business Leader, died on Wednesday, September 21, 2022. He was 104 years old. George was born in Cleveland, Ohio on June 1, 1918 to Wallace Greenleaf and Alcie (Garrett) Greenleaf. George married Agnes Mae Haynes in Ionia, Michigan in 1941 and spent 58 years together before her death in 2000. George was surprised to find love once more marrying Celia Cox in 2003 enjoying the next 18 years together.
George will be remembered as a rigorous optimist, a phenomenal educator, a forward thinker, a man of faith, and someone who always wanted to build others up and “pay it forward.” He was a prominent leader who left his fingerprints prominently on the world of agri-business. He enjoyed traveling with his family throughout the country and camping in his motor home. He was an avid sportsman enjoying golf, bowling, and was part of the church baseball team going back to the 1950s. He had season tickets to Ohio State football games for years and regularly listened to Ernie Harwell announce the Detroit Tigers baseball games on WJR. Right up to the end George was loved for his engaging personality and his teasing sense of humor. He will be sorely missed.
At five years old, George moved to a small farm in Ionia, Michigan and spent most of his days working the usual chores on a forty-acre dairy farm. During his high school years, he was active in baseball during the fall and basketball in the winter and graduated in 1935 as a co-valedictorian. He continued his education at the Iosco County Normal, a primary teacher preparation school. With certificate in hand, George taught three years in a one-room school with seven grades for $60 per month.
George received his Bachelor’s Degree in Agricultural Engineering from Michigan State’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources in 1943, and in 1959 earned his Master's Degree in Agricultural Economics, now Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics (AFRE), in 1959. While at Michigan State he was also a Golden Glove boxer. During college he secured employment as a breakfast cook and assisted the Michigan 4H Department with graph drawing at $.35 per hour to pay his $2.50/week room rent.
George married Agnes Mae Haynes on December 28, 1941 in Ionia, Michigan. After graduation and eight weeks of basic training, George was enrolled in Infantry Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia. He graduated second in his class in 1943. He was shipped off quickly to serve in the infantry during World War II arriving at Omaha Beach, France. He served as a platoon leader and was injured on the front lines. The Army awarded him the Silver Star for Gallantry in Action. George also came home in 1945 with two Purple Hearts.
Stateside, George became a professor of Agricultural Engineering at Michigan State University until he was recruited for the National Farm Loan Association in Richmond, Michigan in 1949. While there he became a Rotarian. His passions were peace and conflict prevention and resolution and basic education and literacy. During this time, George also joined the Fraternal Order of Masons keeping his membership active for more than 80 years.
After having three children: Gary, Lois, and Jeane, George was called back into the service during the Korean Conflict as an Army Educational Officer at Camp McCoy, Wisconsin. While there, he gained great satisfaction working with eight Wisconsin certified teachers to graduate 1560 soldiers who could not read past the fourth grade level or understand math.
In 1950 George returned to civilian life working at the Land Bank. He earned his Masters Degree in Agricultural Economics in 1959 and was an Associate Director of Short Courses at Michigan State University where he directed a nationally recognized Grain Elevator and Feed Personnel Training Program.
George moved his family to Worthington, Ohio in 1959 where he accepted a new opportunity as the Executive Vice President of the Ohio Grain and Feed Association. He also served as executive of the Ohio Agricultural Pesticide Industry. In this capacity, George developed and secured the adoption of a workable pesticide law working with the Ohio state legislature.
George continued his work with OGFA for twenty-five years. He lobbied with the Ohio General Assembly, working with several state and federal government agencies as well as the United States Congress.
George focused on paying it forward. When he retired in 1984, his association had helped 150 Agricultural students in four different institutions benefit with more than $120,000 in scholarships to travel overseas learning and fostering peace.
Upon retirement, George and Agnes were very active teaching Sunday School in their church. He established several endowments for agricultural students at the Ohio State University as well as Michigan State University.
He lived in Worthington, Ohio then moved to Tucson, Arizona after retirement until his 100th birthday when he moved to Masonic Pathways, Alma, Michigan in 2019. He enjoyed living independently until early in 2021. Family surrounded George as he was placed in Hospice on September 19, 2022. He passed peacefully at 8:24 pm Wednesday, September 22, 2022 still encircled by family.
George’s most cherished accomplishment was founding the Agricultural Technological Institute at Ohio State University in Wooster, Ohio. This was the first Junior College established in the state of Ohio. Other of George’s many accomplishments include:
* Ohio Farm Safety Committee – instituted a Slow Moving Vehicle sign
* Short Courses, workshops & management training for members
* “Out of the Hopper” newsletter set pace for public relations and membership information for grain, feed, fertilizer and farm chemical associations.
* Sponsored an agricultural trade show that grew and became “OhioAgroExpo”
* “People to People International” with members traveling abroad sharing cultural experiences with similar agri-businesses in other nations around the globe including the Soviet Union, China, Spain, Greece, Bangladesh, Korea, New Zealand, and many others.
* He and his wife Agnes established an endowment in honor of his mother.
On August 30, 2017, at the age of 99, George scribed a short autobiography and at the end offered a farewell message of hope to those whom he loved. He wrote,
“And as my small gift to each of you, closely guard these Seven Wisdoms of Life: Respect, Love, Generosity, Honesty, Humility, Courage, and Humor. In closing, let it be known by one and all, that this certain George Garrett Greenleaf, through the many efforts of a Godly Mother and Wife, with help of his family and friends plus his love of the Lord, has had a life that is far, far beyond his own expectations. Many great friends assisted in this fun adventure called LIFE! I thank you one and all! I hope to see you all up there with our Father!”
His Family… George is survived by his three children: Gary Greenleaf (Joy Morris), Lois Greenleaf Halsted (Lee Halsted), Jeane Greenleaf Smith (Don Smith); his grandchildren, Kelli, Elisa, Melody, Brian, Kristen; great-grandchildren, Maddison, Drew, Hannah, Mitchell, Samantha, Katelyn, Joshua, Maxwell, and Benjamin. He was preceded in death by his parents and his wives, Agnes and Celia.
George’s Community Farewell will be held on Saturday, October 22, 2022 at 1 pm at Borek Jennings Funeral Home, Howell Memorial Chapel, 1700 W. Highland Road, Howell, MI 48843 with a gathering beginning at 11:30 am until the time of service. Memorial contributions may be given to: The Bailey Scholars Program at Michigan State University, the George G. Greenleaf Agri-Industry Award, or the Livingston County Spartans Scholarship. Please leave a message of comfort for George’s family at 1-877-231-7900, or sign his guest book at www.borekjennings.com.`
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of George Garrett Greenleaf, please visit our floral store.
Bailey Scholars Program
446 W. Circle Drive - Room 65, East Lansing MI 48824
Web: https://www.canr.msu.edu/bsp/donors
George G. Greenleaf Agri-Industry Award - The Ohio State University Foundation
PO Box 710811, Columbus OH 43271
Web: https://www.agcareers.com/ag-education/scholarships/ohio/george-g-greenleaf-agri-industry-award.cfm
Livingston County Spartan Scholarship, c/o President Ron Long
3723 Highcrest Drive, Brighton MI 48116
Web: https://checkout.square.site/merchant/MLQ15XRGW7SJJ/checkout/N3MIAMCTA5POIVZDLARCSQAQ