Eugene John Kamprath

Eugene John Kamprath passed away on November 8, 2016. He was born on January 9, 1926 in Seward County, Nebraska and grew up on a farm there. He was the son of the late John and Meta Kamprath. He was married on August 18, 1956 to Katherine Arnold of Raleigh, who preceded him in death on August 18, 1997. He is survived by his daughter, Sara and son, John Mark, both of Raleigh, nephews, Alan (wife Angie), Robert, and Kenneth Reagin, and four grandnephews of Indianapolis, Indiana.

Gene received his BS (1950) and MS (1952) degrees in Agronomy from the University of Nebraska and his PhD degree in Agronomy (Soils) from North Carolina State University in 1955. He joined the faculty of the Agronomy Department at NC State University in June 1955 as Assistant Professor and was promoted to Professor in 1963. He also served as Director of the Soil Testing Division of the North Carolina Department of Agriculture from 1958 to 1963. In 1981 he was named a William Neal Reynolds Professor of Soil Science. The University of Nebraska awarded him an honorary Doctor of Science degree in 1987. He was appointed as Head of the Soil Science Department in January 1990 and served until his retirement on August 31, 1996. He continued to serve on a volunteer basis as a substitute instructor and as a member of various departmental committees. He served as a member and Chair of the CALS Curriculum Committee, the CALS Graduate Committee, the Advisory Board of the Graduate School and as a member of the University Graduate Council of the UNC System.

Gene was a member of Gamma Sigma Delta and Sigma Xi and was President of the North Carolina chapter of Sigma Xi 1988-89. He was named a Fellow of the American Society of Agronomy in 1972 and the Soil Science Society of America in 1976. He served as Editor-in-Chief of the Soil Science Society of America Journal from 1969-1975. He served as President of the Southern Branch of the American Society of Agronomy 1980-81. He received the first Applied Soil Research Award of the Soil Science Society of America in 1986 and was given the Soil Science Award for Distinguished Service in 1997 by the Soil Science Society of America. The College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources Alumni Association of the University of Nebraska named him the Alumnus of the Year in 2000 in recognition of his outstanding contribution to agriculture.

As a member of the Soil Science Department at North Carolina State University, he taught the undergraduate and graduate soil fertility courses and he co-taught the Senior Crop and Soil Management course. His research projects dealt with soil fertility studies with corn, soybeans, and cotton. He was involved with the Agency for International Development Project on Tropical Soils and with research in Brazil and Indonesia. He served as the committee chair for 26 PhD and 17 MS degree recipients. He was very pleased that many of the students he mentored went on to distinguished teaching and research careers in the United States and abroad.

Gene was an active member of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Raleigh since 1952. For many years, he taught Sunday School classes, was a member of the Board of Elders and served as President of the Congregation.

Gene was an avid fan of the Nebraska Cornhusker football team and adopted all of the NC State Wolfpack teams as his other favorites. He was a faithful season ticket holder at Carter-Finley Stadium for many years and enjoyed many happy times there with his family. Gene also enjoyed golf and spent many afternoons with department colleagues on the course at Pine Hollow.

The family offers their deepest thanks and gratitude to Gene’s caregivers, especially Charlotte Charles and Jorge Fernandez. Their loving care enabled Gene to remain in his home for the last few years and brought him much comfort and happiness.

In lieu of flowers, those who wish to may make memorial contributions to the Kamprath Soil Science Scholarship Endowment (Kamprath Endowment), c/o NC Agricultural Foundation, NCSU Box 7645, Raleigh, N C 27695.

Visitation with family on Friday, November 11, 2016 from 6 to 8 pm at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 300 St. Marys Street, Raleigh, NC. Interment service at 11:30 am Saturday, November 12, 2016 at Oakwood Cemetery, Raleigh, NC. A memorial service will be held at a future date at Our Savior Lutheran Church, 1500 Glenwood Ave., Raleigh, NC.