We are saddened at the passing of Louis E. “Red” Larson, Sr., a pioneer of the Florida dairy industry and a statewide and national leader.
The Larsons are longtime supporters of UF/IFAS. In 2005, Red and wife Reda’s children, Woody, Barbara, Kathy and John, made generous gifts to establish three separate endowments in Red’s honor, benefiting statewide dairy programs, the Florida 4-H program, and UF/IFAS Dairy Science.
The L. E. “Red” Larson Professorship and Graduate Fellowship in Animal Sciences provides support for faculty and graduate students in the UF/IFAS Department of Animal Sciences, with priority to the study of dairy science. The L. E. “Red” Larson Dairy Endowment supports teaching, research and Extension programs. The L. E. “Red” Larson 4-H Endowment supports UF’s statewide 4-H Youth Development Program.
We are grateful for the partnership and generosity of the Larson family. Red helped build the dairy science program here at the University of Florida in many ways and was instrumental in the founding of the Milk Checkoff Fund, supporting UF/IFAS dairy research. The L. E. “Red” Larson Dairy Science Building, located at the UF/IFAS Department of Animal Sciences near the UF Veterinary School, stands in his honor.
In recognition of exceptional achievements and leadership in the Florida dairy industry, the UF Alumni Association named Red and Reda honorary alumni in 2006, and UF presented Red with the Distinguished Achievement Award on December 17, 2016. Previously in 1999 Red was awarded the CALS Alumni & Friends Award of Distinction by the UF/IFAS College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, an honor likewise given to his son, Woody, in 2006.
Legacy
Donations in memory of Red can be made to any of the three UF endowments in his honor, supporting Dairy, Fellowships or 4-H. Gifts may be made online or by mail (payable to the UF Foundation, memo “Larson Memorial”) to UF/IFAS Advancement, PO Box 110170, Gainesville, FL 32611. For assistance please contact UF/IFAS Advancement at 352.392.1975 or advancement@ifas.ufl.edu.
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