Crowder, Richard Thomas U.S. Ambassador and former Pillsbury senior executive, passed away May 30, 2024, at the age of 84 after a long illness. He made his home in Plymouth for fifteen years and still had numerous friends and former business associates in the Twin Cities. Born and raised on a farm in southern Virginia, to George Thomas Crowder and Sarah Estelle (Morgan) Crowder, he attended Virginia Tech (VPI), completing his Bachelor's degree in Agricultural Economics while a member of the US Army ROTC detachment at the school. Commissioned a Second Lieutenant in 1960, the Army allowed him to serve in the Reserves while he completed his Master's degree, also in AgEcon at Virginia Tech. Beginning active duty in 1962, Crowder's first assignment was armor school at Ft. Knox, KY, followed by deployment to West Germany to serve with the 2nd Armored Calvary Regiment, arriving in Germany approximately six weeks before the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. While in Germany, Crowder served as a reconnaissance platoon leader and later with a M28/M29 Davey Crockett tactical nuclear weapons platoon. He was ultimately honorably discharged from the Army Reserve a few years later with the rank of Captain. Following release from active duty in 1964, he was accepted into the AgEcon Ph.D program at Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK. Completing his Doctorate in 1966, Crowder was hired almost immediately by Humble Oil (now Exxon) of Houston, TX, as a staff economist. After 18 months in Houston, he accepted a position with Wilson and Company (meat and poultry processing), working first in Chicago, IL, and later at the company's headquarters in Oklahoma City, OK. Crowder was recruited by the Pillsbury Company of Minneapolis, MN, in 1975, and held various Vice-presidential and Senior Vice-presidential positions with Pillsbury until his departure following a corporate takeover of Pillsbury in 1989. Very shortly after leaving Pillsbury, President George H.W. Bush nominated him for the position of Under Secretary of Agriculture for International Affairs and Commodity Programs. After confirmation by the United States Senate, he served in that position until 1992, leaving to return to the private sector. He then consulted and held several senior executive level and board positions with mostly agribusiness firms, culminating as Chief Executive Officer of the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) from 2002 to 2006. In 2006, he returned to government service when President George W. Bush nominated him for the position of Chief Agricultural Negotiator with the US Trade Representative. Confirmed by the United States Senate, Ambassador Crowder served in that position until 2007. Returning once again to the private sector, he enjoyed serving on various boards of directors and as Thornhill Professor of Agricultural Trade at his alma mater, Virginia Tech. He worked and taught until age and health dictated otherwise, ultimately returning to his farm in southern Virginia to manage his farming interests and pursue his hobby of genealogy. He is survived by his wife of over 60 years, Margaret, one sister, Linda (Archie) McLellan of Mecklenburg County, VA, and his two sons, Rick of Denver, CO, and Matt of Atlanta, GA. Services and interment were held near his boyhood home. Memorials preferred to the American Cancer Society.

Published on June 23, 2024