Tribute to August N. Christenson

Submitted by Dan Duncan, Assistant Dean and Director, UNL Agricultural Research Division

The Research and Education Building at the ARDC is named in honor of August N. Christenson for his outstanding loyalty and commitment to the students, faculty and programs of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. We were sad to say good-bye to our friend “Augie” recently. He passed away on Friday November 28, 2009 at his home in Omaha. Augie was born on October 11, 1923 in Wahoo. He was 85 at the time of his passing.

August “Augie” Christenson grew up on his family’s farm near Colon, Nebraska, in Saunders County. He graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Business Administration in 1945 and was member of Delta Upsilon fraternity.

He dedicated his career to the Standard Chemical Manufacturing Company, a livestock feed and supply firm in Omaha, and retired as the senior vice president and treasurer. A member of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Chancellor’s Club with Distinction and the University of Nebraska President’s Club, Augie was a loyal supporter of the university who had given annually since the 1950s.

On August 25, 2004, he committed a substantial planned gift to the University of Nebraska Foundation to provide perpetual support for the College of Business Administration, and the Agriculture Research and Development Center near Mead.

Augie’s memory will reside in the hearts and minds of those who knew him. However, his name and story will not perish with us. It will live on for generations within the August N. Christenson Research and Education Building.

Download the PDF file at http://ardc.unl.edu/AugieTributeBooklet.pdf.