JOHN L. HAGAMAN, 71, of Charlevoix, MI, passed
away on March 24, 2010 at Munson Medical Center
in Traverse City.
He was born on Nov. 24, 1938 in Ranger, TX, the
son of Leslie Hillsman and Helen Howdeshell
Hagaman. He grew up in Ranger, Texas and graduated
from Ranger High School in 1957. He was a member
of the 1953 Ranger State Champion football team.
In July of 1960 at Ranger, he married Nelda Melton
(RHS-1959).
John graduated in 1961 from Texas A&M University
in College Station, Texas, receiving a Bachelor's
degree in Agricultural Engineering. He continued
his relationship with Texas A&M throughout his life
and was awarded the 1999 College of Agriculture and
Life Sciences Outstanding Alumni Award.
John joined The Dow Chemical Company in 1961. His
38-year career path allowed him to contribute to many
aspects of the company around the world. He moved to
Hong Kong in 1967 where he served in a number of
Agricultural and Specialty Product positions before
becoming Business Development Manager for Japan in
1970. He returned to Midland, MI, in 1973 in
Agricultural Products, but assumed an assignment a
year later in Hong Kong as a Business Development
Manager.
In 1978, John moved to Korea where he was appointed
Executive Vice President and General Manager of Korea
Pacific Chemical Corporation. Two years later he
became General Manager of the Korea Region, and in
1982, he was named a Vice President of Dow Pacific.
John returned to Midland in early 1983 as Product
Director for Commercial Products in the Global
Agricultural Products Department. In 1985, he
became Vice President of Dow Chemical U.S.A. and
General Manager of North America Agricultural
Products. In the same year he was named President
and General Manager of Global Agricultural Products
for The Dow Chemical Company and served in this
position until 1989.
At that time John was named President and Chief
Executive Officer of DowElanco, a joint venture
between Eli Lilly and Company and The Dow Chemical
Company. In 1997, DowElanco became a wholly owned
subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company and changed
its name to Dow AgroSciences LLC in 1998, during
his tenure as Chief Executive.
John retired as Chief Executive Officer of Dow
AgroSciences in 1999. In 2003, John served as an
advisor for Olympus Capital in their investment
of Arysta LifeSciences. Later he served as an
interim Chief Executive Officer for Arysta Life-
Sciences and in 2004 moved to Chairman of the
Arysta Board of Directors. He retired as Chairman
of the Arysta Board of Directors in 2008.
John is a past President of the Global Crop
Production Federation. He has served as a member
of the Boards of Directors for the Indianapolis
Zoological Society, Goodwill Industries of Central
Indiana and the Indianapolis Convention & Visitors
Association. In addition to several other associations,
he was a member of the Agricultural Engineering
Society, Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee,
Norwood Township Citizens for Health and Safety,
Charlevoix Lions Club and volunteered for Big
Brothers of America.
John was a prolific reader, enjoyed golf and boating,
had an in-depth interest in market strategy and was
an avid world traveler, fully absorbing local cultures.
He loved people from all walks of life and had an
innate ability to connect with them.
He is survived by his wife, Nelda Hagaman of Charlevoix;
daughter, Laura (Douglas) Hampton of Ann Arbor; son,
Leslie (Jane) Hagaman of Traverse City; grandchildren,
Tyler and Melanie Hampton; and sister, Betty Hagaman
Doebbler (RHS-1952) of Houston, TX.
He is preceded in death by his parents and sister,
Frances Hagaman Markham (RHS-1945). His mother taught
school at Ranger for many years. His grandfather,
M.H. Hagaman, was the first mayor of Ranger.
Memorial bench in honor of John
Hagaman placed at the Ranger school
complex by the RHS Class of 1957.