Nobel Prize winner Norman Borlaug dies at 95

Although Dr. Norman Borlaug's work spanned the globe, his Iowa roots were never far behind. Calling him “arguably the greatest Iowan ever,” Ambassador Kenneth Quinn, president of the World Food Prize Foundation - based in Des Moines - said Borlaug's career will inspire all future generations.

As a native of Cresco, IA, Borlaug came from a modest family in a small farming community where he was educated in a one-room school house. Sticking to his roots, Quinn said Borlaug's favorite song was always the “Iowa Corn Song,” because it kept him close to home.

As the father of the “green revolution,” Borlaug, is most known for the impact he made on the world for saving hundreds of thousands of lives through his work with food production - preventing hunger, famine and misery.

“He saved more lived than any other person who lived, and he's from Iowa,” Quinn said.

From helping youth become engaged in agricultural programs, to showing the rest of the world what one man from the Midwest can do, Quinn said Iowa was put on the map as a result of Borlaug's work.

Besides his numerous noteworthy accomplishments - including the Nobel Peace Prize in 1970 - Quinn said Borlaug was both practical and humble in so many ways. “He was out getting his hands dirty,” Quinn said. “With his Ph.D. he was out in the field with the farmers planting seeds,” instead of simply being in a research lab, he said,

“People don't appreciate that the past 60 years of his work have single handily been the greatest period of food production,” Quinn said. Quinn met Borlaug at the age 85 in 1999, but said he was going as strong as ever and had a spirit that made all people important to him. And it is through his perseverance that will make his legacy live on through so many, Quinn said.

“I am honored to have known Norm Borlaug. He was a remarkable man and a true son of the Iowa soil,” said Sen Chuck Grassley. Speaking once again on Borlaug's strong roots to the state, Grassley said his hard work and dedication shined throughout his career. “A tenacity found through wrestling, a love of the soil and a twist of fate helped Norm develop the scientific breakthroughs to ease malnutrition and famine around the world.”

And Gov. Chet Culver echoed those sentiments about Borlaug's long life. “On behalf of Lt. Governor Judge, the Culver/Judge Administration, and the people of Iowa, I want to express my deepest sympathies over the passing of Dr. Norman Borlaug and say how grateful we are for his many accomplishments." Culver called Borlaug a “true visionary,” who is one of history's greatest humanitarians.

“Dr. Norman Borlaug will always be remembered as a great Iowan, a great American, and a great friend to people across the globe.”

-By Anna Lothson, The Gazette