Ranger Exes Memorial - RHS Class of 1957

John Hagaman JOHN L. HAGAMAN, 71, of Charlevoix, MI, passed away on March 24, 2010 at Munson Medical Center in Traverse City. He was born on Nov. 24, 1938 in Ranger, TX, the son of Leslie Hillsman and Helen Howdeshell Hagaman. He grew up in Ranger, Texas and graduated from Ranger High School in 1957. He was a member of the 1953 Ranger State Champion football team. In July of 1960 at Ranger, he married Nelda Melton (RHS-1959). John graduated in 1961 from Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, receiving a Bachelor's degree in Agricultural Engineering. He continued his relationship with Texas A&M throughout his life and was awarded the 1999 College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Outstanding Alumni Award. John joined The Dow Chemical Company in 1961. His 38-year career path allowed him to contribute to many aspects of the company around the world. He moved to Hong Kong in 1967 where he served in a number of Agricultural and Specialty Product positions before becoming Business Development Manager for Japan in 1970. He returned to Midland, MI, in 1973 in Agricultural Products, but assumed an assignment a year later in Hong Kong as a Business Development Manager. In 1978, John moved to Korea where he was appointed Executive Vice President and General Manager of Korea Pacific Chemical Corporation. Two years later he became General Manager of the Korea Region, and in 1982, he was named a Vice President of Dow Pacific. John returned to Midland in early 1983 as Product Director for Commercial Products in the Global Agricultural Products Department. In 1985, he became Vice President of Dow Chemical U.S.A. and General Manager of North America Agricultural Products. In the same year he was named President and General Manager of Global Agricultural Products for The Dow Chemical Company and served in this position until 1989. At that time John was named President and Chief Executive Officer of DowElanco, a joint venture between Eli Lilly and Company and The Dow Chemical Company. In 1997, DowElanco became a wholly owned subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company and changed its name to Dow AgroSciences LLC in 1998, during his tenure as Chief Executive. John retired as Chief Executive Officer of Dow AgroSciences in 1999. In 2003, John served as an advisor for Olympus Capital in their investment of Arysta LifeSciences. Later he served as an interim Chief Executive Officer for Arysta Life- Sciences and in 2004 moved to Chairman of the Arysta Board of Directors. He retired as Chairman of the Arysta Board of Directors in 2008. John is a past President of the Global Crop Production Federation. He has served as a member of the Boards of Directors for the Indianapolis Zoological Society, Goodwill Industries of Central Indiana and the Indianapolis Convention & Visitors Association. In addition to several other associations, he was a member of the Agricultural Engineering Society, Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee, Norwood Township Citizens for Health and Safety, Charlevoix Lions Club and volunteered for Big Brothers of America. John was a prolific reader, enjoyed golf and boating, had an in-depth interest in market strategy and was an avid world traveler, fully absorbing local cultures. He loved people from all walks of life and had an innate ability to connect with them. He is survived by his wife, Nelda Hagaman of Charlevoix; daughter, Laura (Douglas) Hampton of Ann Arbor; son, Leslie (Jane) Hagaman of Traverse City; grandchildren, Tyler and Melanie Hampton; and sister, Betty Hagaman Doebbler (RHS-1952) of Houston, TX. He is preceded in death by his parents and sister, Frances Hagaman Markham (RHS-1945). His mother taught school at Ranger for many years. His grandfather, M.H. Hagaman, was the first mayor of Ranger. memorial bench for John Hagaman Memorial bench in honor of John Hagaman placed at the Ranger school complex by the RHS Class of 1957.