Macy, Harold, 1895-

Harold Macy B.S. (1917), Cornell University; graduate work, University of Minnesota, (1919-1926); Ph.D. (1929), Iowa State College. Assistant professor of dairy bacteriology (1918), associate professor (1929-1935), professor (1935-1953); associate director of the Agricultural Experiment Station (1939), director (1950); dean, Institute of Agriculture (1953-1963), University of Minnesota. Known for his work exploring the effects of bacteria on dairy products.

Harold Macy B.S. (1917), Cornell University; graduate work, University of Minnesota, (1919-1926); Ph.D. (1929), Iowa State College. Assistant professor of dairy bacteriology (1918), associate professor (1929-1935), professor (1935-1953); associate director of the Agricultural Experiment Station (1939), director (1950); dean, Institute of Agriculture (1953-1963), University of Minnesota. Known for his work exploring the effects of bacteria on dairy products.

Harold Macy was born January 23, 1895 in Hudson, New York. He served as a bacteriologist and chief sanitary inspector for the American Red Cross from 1917-1918, and studied and worked at the Yale Army laboratory school. During WWII, Macy served with the Army Sanitary Corp in France. He was awarded the Chevalier of the French Legion of Honor and the Order of Public Health from the French government for his work helping to control epidemics in human populations and delivering sanitation supplies to medical outposts during the closing months of the war.

Macy came to the University of Minnesota in 1918 as assistant professor of dairy bacteriology, being promoted to professor in 1935. While at the University, his research on mycology and bacteriology helped improve the quality of Minnesota dairy products. He also taught short courses to producers and published over 150 technical bulletins based on his work. As dean of the Institute of Agriculture, he oversaw the administrative transition of the department of Agriculture to the Institute of Agriculture and the broadening of the Institute’s activities to include international collaborations in the field and classrooms. Harold Macy died on November 30, 1986.