Duane Acker

Duane Acker, dean of agriculture and biological sciences at South Dakota State University from 1966 to 1974 and later President of Kansas State University, died Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, in his home town, Atlantic, Iowa at the age of 93.
Born on the family farm near Atlantic, Iowa, March 13, 1931, Acker learned early the satisfaction of physical work and that both animals and people respond to personal attention and care. After he graduated in a class of 18 from Wiota Consolidated School, a major scholarship earned by way of a competitive examination gave him the opportunity and his 4-H experience inspired him to study animal science at Iowa State University.
Acker had met his future wife, Shirley, at the Cass County fair. They married in March of 1952, a few days after his graduation, and they moved into a Quonset on the edge of the Iowa State campus where he pursued a masters degree in animal nutrition for a career in the animal feed industry.
The Ackers the moved to Oklahoma State University, where a full time teaching position allowed him to work toward a Ph.D., still intent on the feed industry. However, the satisfactions from teaching and working with students prompted him to accept a teaching position back at Iowa State in 1955.
While at Iowa State, Acker wrote Animal Science and Industry, a text for the introductory animal science course that would serve students on many campuses for 50 years and through seven editions. He also taught junior level animal nutrition courses, was adviser to hundreds of students, and became head of a Farm Operation Curriculum, which included winter quarter, two-year, and four-year programs. He also served as chair of the Iowa State Faculty Council, forerunner of an eventual faculty senate.
Curriculum work and student advising led Acker to successive administrative positions, the first in 1962 to Kansas State University as associate dean for instruction. In 1966 the Ackers moved to South Dakota State University where, as dean, his responsibility included the agricultural experiment station and cooperative extension service. It was in these multiple roles that he would develop strong relationships with industry groups and state legislators
During his time at SDSU, the poultry faculty were integrated into the department of animal science, the agronomy and plant pathology faculty were combined into a department of plant science, and the West River Research and Extension Center in Rapid City was established. Legislative appropriations were provided for the animal disease and research building, new greenhouses, the animal science building, and renovation of Scobey Hall for the Department of Economics.
Acker and his wife, Shirley, opened their campus home to faculty, students, and university supporters, and she helped organize and often hosted the SDSU Dames Club for spouses of the university students.
After eight years at South Dakota State, Acker was recruited to the neighboring University of Nebraska, to become that universitys first vice chancellor for agriculture and natural resources. From there he returned, in 1975, to Kansas State as president.
Following the Kansas State presidency, the Ackers moved to Washington, D.C., where he served in the Reagan and George H.W. Bush administrations, first heading food and agriculture for the U.S. Agency for International Development, then to USDA as administrator of the Foreign Agricultural Service and assistant secretary for science and education.
At the end of the Bush administration, the Ackers returned to Iowa, purchased a line of mostly used equipment, and operated their farm for several years. He helped organize and chaired the Southwest Iowa Egg Cooperative and the Iowa Agricultural Finance Corporation.
Acker continued to work with universities and wrote for the American Council on Education, Can State Universities be Managed? A Primer for Presidents and Management Teams. He also published three memoirs, the first, Two at a Time, revelations and reflections from his Kansas State presidency. He followed with From Troublesome Creek, including anecdotes and encounters from his SDSU days, and Back to Troublesome Creek, encounters in Washington, in developing countries, and back on the farm.
Acker is survived by his daughters, Diane and husband Terry Nygaard and their son, Eric, Overland Park, KS; LuAnn Acker and husband Bill Tout, Ft. Myers, FL; brother-in-law John Rasmussen, Temecula, CA; and many cousins, nieces, and nephews. Preceding him in death were his, wife Shirley, parents Wm Clayton and Ruth Acker, sister Virginia Lorraine Rasmussen, and grandson Clayton Nygaard.
The memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024, at the Schmidt Family Funeral Home in Atlantic, IA. A light luncheon will follow the service in the reception room of the Schmidt Family Funeral Home.
In honor of Duane, memorials may be directed to the Heritage House, First Presbyterian Church of Atlantic, or the YMCA Atlantic. Memorials may also be mailed to the Schmidt Family Funeral Home, P.O. Box 523, Atlantic, IA 50022.
The staff of Schmidt Family Funeral Home in Atlantic is handling the services for the Acker Family.