Theodore "Ted" E. Hartung

Ted was born on January 26, 1928 to Lothar and Lena (Reudy) Hartung in Englewood, Colorado. Ted, his parents, and his older brother, Don, lived on a large poultry farm in Englewood, Colorado. Ted and Don were active musicians and members of a dance troupe and shared their musicianship throughout the area. In 1947, Ted graduated as valedictorian from Englewood High School, Englewood, Colorado. In 1951, he graduated with a B.S. with high distinction in poultry husbandry, and in 1953, he earned an M.S. in poultry nutrition from Colorado State University. In 1962, Ted earned his Ph.D. in food technology from Purdue University. Ted served as Extension Poultryman (1953 -1961) and Associate Poultry Scientist and Poultry Marketing Technologist (1961 – 1965) at Colorado State University. In 1965, Ted joined the staff at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln as Professor and Chair of the Department of Poultry Science. In 1968, he formed the Department of Food Science and Technology and then served as chair of both departments. In 1973, Ted was named Associate Dean and Director of Resident Instruction in the College of Agriculture. He was named Dean of the College in the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources (IANR) at UNL in 1974. He served in that post until 1988, at which time he was named Associate Vice Chancellor. He was Director of IANR Communications and Computing Services as well as Associate Vice Chancellor from 1991 until his retirement in 1996. Ted co-directed administrative development workshops sponsored by IANR for newly-appointed administrators at land-grant universities in the United States (1990 – 2009). Ted also conducted interdisciplinary team-building workshops for members of UNL Extension (1992 – 2004) and served as Secretary of the Nebraska AgRelations Council (1998 – 2010). He was also active in the Poultry Sciences Association, serving as President. His research focused on poultry products, nutrient composition of foods and food irradiation. He received the Distinguished Food Science Award from Purdue University in 2008 and was elected to the Presidential Who’s Who Hall of Fame in 2010. His professional memberships included the Institute of Food Technologists, and the Nebraska Academy of Sciences. Ted was elected to Phi Kappa Phi, Alpha Zeta, Sigma Xi, Epsilon Sigma Phi and Gamma Sigma Delta honoraries. He was named Outstanding Educator by the National Association of Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture. During his career, he collaborated with NASA in developing food for astronauts, and, during the team’s spare time, developed the boneless turkey roast.

Ted was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Don Hartung. Ted is survived by his loving wife of 73 years, Jody; children Debbie Stithem (Dave); Rob Hartung (Leslie); and Chris Hartung (Tammi); as well as 10 grandchildren and 33 great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be held on Friday, June 21, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. at Second Baptist Church, 525 N 58th Street, Lincoln, Nebraska. The family wishes memorials to the Second Baptist Church Endowment Fund in honor of Theodore Hartung.