Eckles Club

In 1916, at a meeting of the Eastern States Exposition, held in Springfield, Massachusetts, a group of eleven former students of Dr. Clarence Eckles, a professor of dairy husbandry at the University of Minnesota, met informally and decided to form a club in his honor. The club consisted solely of his former students from the University of Missouri and later also from the University of Minnesota. The object of the club as stated in the Constitution and By-Laws was as follows: "The Eckles Club is a social and inspirational Club, organized in honor of Clarence Henry Eckles, who has been our guide, helper and friend." Meetings were originally held once or twice a year in conjunction with national dairy events and the "Chief" as he was fondly referred to, as well as his wife Alice, were invited to attend.

From then on the club continued to meet on a yearly basis in conjunction with the regular summer session of the American Dairy Science Association. Clarence Eckles died on February 13, 1933. Upon his death, the Eckles Club consisted of 140 members and at that time considerable thought was given to the future of the club. On June 25, 1935 a statement of future policy recommendations was presented at the annual meeting. As a result, it was recommended to close membership in the club as of July 1, 1937.

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