Jim L. Ozbun, a native North Dakotan, was born on September 3, 1936, in Carson, ND, near the family farm. When he graduated from Flasher High School in 1955, to attend North Dakota Agricultural College (NDAC), he had been president of both his junior and senior classes and had lettered in football, basketball and baseball. He graduated from NDAC in 1959 with a Bachelor of Science degree in soil science. Upon finishing his Bachelor's, Jim immediately went on for his Master, also in soil science at NDAC, which had transitioned into North Dakota State University (NDSU) in December of 1960. After earning his Master's (1961), he and his family went to North Carolina State University where he received his PhD in plant pathology in 1964. In May of 1988 he was named President of North Dakota State University. Although he took office on August 1, 1988, he was not formally inaugurated until September 14, 1989. During his tenure at NDSU (1988-1995), his accomplished were numerous and included: assisting with the gaining approval for Fargodome, supporting and encouraging the Development of the NDSU Staff Senate, the creation of the NDSU Biotechnology Institute and the NDSU Institute for business and Industry Development (IBID), leading the effort for building of the Industrial Agricultural and Computer Center (IACC), and spearheaded NDSU's Century II: Charting the Course long range plan. He was also instrumental in creating the Employee Recognition Program, the Pharm.D program, EPSCoR, and the state-wide new faculty tour. After retiring in 1995, he and his wife purchased a small cattle ranch in the Dickinson area of North Dakota.
From the description of President Jim L. Ozbun papers, 1960-1995. (North Dakota State University Library). WorldCat record id: 692197005
