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As time goes by

You have to laugh when J.R. Underwood says this. He even flashes a sly grin, amused at his own words. He’s right, of course. Everything is a long time ago for Underwood.

He’s 103.

He was born in 1896 on a Palo Alto County farm. He graduated from Iowa State College with a B.S. in agriculture in 1923. He changed careers three times, finally retiring nearly 20 years ago at the age of 85. (The Iowa State University alumni records indicate that there are approximately 90 alumni over 100. There are at least 20 who are older than Underwood.)

While everything may seem like a long time ago to Underwood, his life remains a wonderful example of what it means to be an Iowa Stater.

Underwood came to Iowa State in 1919, after he’d done a stint in the Navy during World War I and saved enough money to pursue a degree. He lived in a rooming house near campus and worked as a supply buyer for another boarding house.

"Those were tough days. Didn’t have a barrel full of money," remembered Underwood, who now lives in a Davenport care facility. Debate club kept Underwood busy and gave him the opportunity to travel to regional campuses to argue about such issues as government ownership of bituminous coal mines and compulsory arbitration for public utility disputes. Underwood also was chairman of the first Veishea committee in 1922.

"It was to show the work of the different departments around campus. There was a parade and displays. It was a gathering time for folks who had graduated. We’d never had one before, but we worked hard and it was a success," Underwood said. "I think it might still be going on."

After graduating, Underwood spent nearly 20 years teaching vocational agriculture or serving as school superintendent in several Iowa communities, including Clarinda, where he met his wife, Ruth. In Corning, Underwood introduced the Smith-Hughs curriculum, which instructed young men in farm management, farm engineering, crops and animal husbandry.

In 1945, Underwood embarked on his second career – director

of Scott County Extension. When he retired as extension director in 1966, more than 500 people gathered in Davenport to honor him. Of course, he didn’t really retire. At the age of 70, Underwood began his third career as a farm broadcaster for WOC radio and television in Davenport. He stayed at that job for 15 years.

In a Des Moines Register story written when he finally retired in 1981, longtime agriculture reporter Don Muhm wrote: "J.R. for more than a generation has been in the agricultural center of things in the Davenport area. For 36 years he has been encouraging farmers and others to do better, and deserves some of the credit for helping create the flow of talented rural leaders from Scott County in the Iowa Legislature, commodity organizations and youth organizations like 4-H and the FAA."

Underwood’s accomplishments have brought him many honors. He appeared in a documentary about agriculture on the Today Show with Jane Pauley. He received the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Distinguished Service Award and the Distinguished Service Gold Key for service to Iowa. A scholarship fund at ISU is named in honor of Ruth and J.R. Underwood and is funded by gifts from the Underwood family and friends.

Ruth, his wife of 78 years, died in December at the age of 98.

Like so many students who came after him, Underwood juggled academics with a job and busy extracurricular schedule. Like so many who graduated after him, he went on to a long, distinguished career in agriculture, education and public service. Yes, everything might seem like a long time ago to him, but it still resonates.

– Steve Sullivan
News Service