Charles A. Becker
Encyclopedia
Charles A. Becker was an American
food scientist
who was a tireless contributor to the Institute of Food Technologists
(IFT).
, Becker earned his B.S.
in general agriculture
and M.S.
in dairy
science from the University of Florida
, then worked toward a Ph.D.
at Michigan State University
though he did not complete his Ph.D. at Michigan State. He would spend his career in the food
industry, retiring as President of Roland Industries, Inc. in St. Louis, Missouri
in 1996, a company he joined in 1977 as Vice President and Manager of the Specialty Foods Division. Throughout the industry, he was known for his leadership in quality assurance
, marketing
, and product development.
for four years and treasurer for three years as well. He would be named an IFT Fellow in 1988 and receive the Calvert L. Willey Award
in 1995.
, serving on the Board of Directors form 1983 to 1986 and acting as chair of that organization's Milling & Baking Division in 1983—4.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
food scientist
Food science
Food science is a study concerned with all technical aspects of foods, beginning with harvesting or slaughtering, and ending with its cooking and consumption, an ideology commonly referred to as "from field to fork"...
who was a tireless contributor to the Institute of Food Technologists
Institute of Food Technologists
The Institute of Food Technologists or IFT is an international, non-profit professional organization for the advancement of food science and technology. It is the largest of food science organizations in the world, encompassing 22,000 members worldwide as of 2006. It is referred to as "THE Society...
(IFT).
College and career
A native of FloridaFlorida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, Becker earned his B.S.
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in general agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
and M.S.
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
in dairy
Dairy
A dairy is a business enterprise established for the harvesting of animal milk—mostly from cows or goats, but also from buffalo, sheep, horses or camels —for human consumption. A dairy is typically located on a dedicated dairy farm or section of a multi-purpose farm that is concerned...
science from the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
, then worked toward a Ph.D.
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
at Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
though he did not complete his Ph.D. at Michigan State. He would spend his career in the food
Food
Food is any substance consumed to provide nutritional support for the body. It is usually of plant or animal origin, and contains essential nutrients, such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, or minerals...
industry, retiring as President of Roland Industries, Inc. in St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
in 1996, a company he joined in 1977 as Vice President and Manager of the Specialty Foods Division. Throughout the industry, he was known for his leadership in quality assurance
Quality Assurance
Quality assurance, or QA for short, is the systematic monitoring and evaluation of the various aspects of a project, service or facility to maximize the probability that minimum standards of quality are being attained by the production process...
, marketing
Marketing
Marketing is the process used to determine what products or services may be of interest to customers, and the strategy to use in sales, communications and business development. It generates the strategy that underlies sales techniques, business communication, and business developments...
, and product development.
Involvement with IFT
A member of IFT from 1960 until his 1999 death, Becker served in two section as councilor (Mohawk Valley, St. Louis). He also was involved in the national IFT, serving in membership, finance, awards, and meeting site selection. Becker also served as assistant treasurerTreasurer
A treasurer is the person responsible for running the treasury of an organization. The adjective for a treasurer is normally "tresorial". The adjective "treasurial" normally means pertaining to a treasury, rather than the treasurer.-Government:...
for four years and treasurer for three years as well. He would be named an IFT Fellow in 1988 and receive the Calvert L. Willey Award
Calvert L. Willey Award
The Calvert L. Willey Award has been awarded every year since 1989. It is awarded to a member of the Institute of Food Technologists who displayed meritorious and imaginative service to IFT. The award is named for Calvert L. Willey who served as Executive Secretary and later Executive Director...
in 1995.
Other professional activities
Becker was also an active member of the American Association of Cereal ChemistsAmerican Association of Cereal Chemists
AACC International is a non-profit professional organization of members who are specialists in the use of cereal grains in foods. Founded in 1916, they are headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota....
, serving on the Board of Directors form 1983 to 1986 and acting as chair of that organization's Milling & Baking Division in 1983—4.