Block was born in Galesburg, Illinois, on February 15, 1935. Of German descent, Block was the son of Julius Judd Block and Madeline (née Maddy) Block. He came from a strongly rural background where the home had no electricity. He graduated from West Point in 1957 and served in 101st Airborne. After that, he became successful in agribusiness.
Government servicesedit
Block was a Republican whose agriculture successes formed the basis for his position as the Illinois Director of Agriculture. This led to him becoming the secretary of agriculture in President Ronald Reagan's administration. He was involved in the 1985 Farm Bill Act.
Block was a Secretary of Agriculture, when more farmers lost their farms than at any time since the Great Depression of the 1930s.[citation needed] During his term as Secretary, a Federal court judge ruled in a due process decision, Coleman vs. Block, 663 FSupp 1315, 1332 (D.N.D. 1987), that the U.S. Department of Agriculture ("USDA") and Farmers Home Administration ("FmHA") were not giving farmers enough notice of alternative debt restructuring options. The Court ordered the USDA and FmHA to amend the forms issued to farmers. The decision eventually led to restructuring and reorganization of many farm debts. During the U.S. government's appeal of the decision, Congress passed the Agricultural Credit Act of 1987, Pub. L. No. 100-233, 101 Stat. 1568 (1988). Title VI of the Act made extensive changes in the statutory provisions which had formed the background for the Coleman litigation, the changes being designed to carry out the intent of the Coleman decisions.
In June 1981, Secretary Block invited agricultural and educational leaders willing to work cooperatively toward the common goal of educating the public about the role of agriculture to a workshop in Washington, DC. The resulting task force recommended that the U.S. Department of Agriculture help coordinate local and state Agriculture in the Classroom efforts. The Declaration of Principle was announced by Secretary of Agriculture John Block with a fanfare on Ag Day, March 21, 1983. The Declaration of Principle spelled out the purpose of the Agriculture in the Classroom program and featured the signatures of all seven living former Secretaries of Agriculture. There are now Agriculture in the Classroom programs in every state and many U.S. Territories. Canada, with assistance from USDA, developed an Agriculture in the Classroom program in every Province as well as a national organization. Countries around the world are interested in Agriculture in the Classroom because they have experienced the same needs in agricultural education.
Post-government careeredit
Block in 2018
Since then he has been an executive at John Deere and is President of Food Distributors International. In 1992, he won the Horatio Alger Award. He has been the active in global food programs as well.
In 2004, he joined the Board of Directors of "Digital Angel", which is more of an Internet company. He has also served on the Board of Directors of Friends of the World Food Program (currently known as World Food Program USA), a non-profit dedicated to supporting the UN World Food Program and its efforts to end global hunger. He is a Senior Policy Adviser at Olsson Frank Weeda Terman Bode Matz, a Washington law and lobbying firm that specializes in representing interests before the USDA and related federal agencies. Since 2008, he has served on the Board of Directors for Aemetis.
Private lifeedit
He married Susan Rathje "Sue" Block, a cousin of famed Chicago banker Frank C. Rathje. He and Susan had one son and two daughters: Hans, Cynthia and Christine. He was a very large farmer outside of Knoxville, Illinois and his children attended public school in Knoxville, Illinois. He has a daughter, Savannah, with his second wife and they live in Dunn Loring, Virginia.
External linksedit
John Block profile from a site on Presidents
Block's Resignation letter to Reagan 2015-09-10 at the Wayback Machine
John Block Reports Archived radio commentary from John Block's weekly radio spot about agriculture and government
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This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations May 2016 Learn how and when to remove this message John Rusling Block born February 15 1935 is a former U S secretary of agriculture during the Reagan administration He later became a lobbyist John R Block21st United States Secretary of AgricultureIn office January 23 1981 February 14 1986PresidentRonald ReaganPreceded byRobert BerglandSucceeded byRichard E LyngIllinois Director of AgricultureIn office February 3 1977 January 22 1981GovernorJames R ThompsonPreceded byPud WilliamsSucceeded byLarry WerriesPersonal detailsBorn 1935 02 15 February 15 1935 age 89 Galesburg Illinois U S Political partyRepublicanSpouseSusan Rathje Sue BlockChildrenHans BlockCynthia BlockChristine BlockAlma materU S Military AcademyMilitary serviceBranch serviceUnited States ArmyUnit101st Airborne Contents 1 Early life 2 Government services 3 Post government career 4 Private life 5 External linksEarly life editBlock was born in Galesburg Illinois on February 15 1935 Of German descent Block was the son of Julius Judd Block and Madeline nee Maddy Block He came from a strongly rural background where the home had no electricity He graduated from West Point in 1957 and served in 101st Airborne After that he became successful in agribusiness Government services editBlock was a Republican whose agriculture successes formed the basis for his position as the Illinois Director of Agriculture This led to him becoming the secretary of agriculture in President Ronald Reagan s administration He was involved in the 1985 Farm Bill Act Block was a Secretary of Agriculture when more farmers lost their farms than at any time since the Great Depression of the 1930s citation needed During his term as Secretary a Federal court judge ruled in a due process decision Coleman vs Block 663 FSupp 1315 1332 D N D 1987 that the U S Department of Agriculture USDA and Farmers Home Administration FmHA were not giving farmers enough notice of alternative debt restructuring options The Court ordered the USDA and FmHA to amend the forms issued to farmers The decision eventually led to restructuring and reorganization of many farm debts During the U S government s appeal of the decision Congress passed the Agricultural Credit Act of 1987 Pub L No 100 233 101 Stat 1568 1988 Title VI of the Act made extensive changes in the statutory provisions which had formed the background for the Coleman litigation the changes being designed to carry out the intent of the Coleman decisions In June 1981 Secretary Block invited agricultural and educational leaders willing to work cooperatively toward the common goal of educating the public about the role of agriculture to a workshop in Washington DC The resulting task force recommended that the U S Department of Agriculture help coordinate local and state Agriculture in the Classroom efforts The Declaration of Principle was announced by Secretary of Agriculture John Block with a fanfare on Ag Day March 21 1983 The Declaration of Principle spelled out the purpose of the Agriculture in the Classroom program and featured the signatures of all seven living former Secretaries of Agriculture There are now Agriculture in the Classroom programs in every state and many U S Territories Canada with assistance from USDA developed an Agriculture in the Classroom program in every Province as well as a national organization Countries around the world are interested in Agriculture in the Classroom because they have experienced the same needs in agricultural education Post government career edit nbsp Block in 2018 Since then he has been an executive at John Deere and is President of Food Distributors International In 1992 he won the Horatio Alger Award He has been the active in global food programs as well In 2004 he joined the Board of Directors of Digital Angel which is more of an Internet company He has also served on the Board of Directors of Friends of the World Food Program currently known as World Food Program USA a non profit dedicated to supporting the UN World Food Program and its efforts to end global hunger He is a Senior Policy Adviser at Olsson Frank Weeda Terman Bode Matz a Washington law and lobbying firm that specializes in representing interests before the USDA and related federal agencies Since 2008 he has served on the Board of Directors for Aemetis Private life editHe married Susan Rathje Sue Block a cousin of famed Chicago banker Frank C Rathje He and Susan had one son and two daughters Hans Cynthia and Christine He was a very large farmer outside of Knoxville Illinois and his children attended public school in Knoxville Illinois He has a daughter Savannah with his second wife and they live in Dunn Loring Virginia External links editJohn Block profile from a site on Presidents Essays on John Block from 1977 Block s Resignation letter to Reagan Archived 2015 09 10 at the Wayback Machine Horatio Alger Award site John Block Reports Archived radio commentary from John Block s weekly radio spot about agriculture and government Appearances on C SPAN Political offices Preceded byRobert Bergland U S Secretary of AgricultureServed under Ronald ReaganJanuary 23 1981 February 14 1986 Succeeded byRichard E Lyng U S order of precedence ceremonial Preceded byNeil Goldschmidtas Former US Cabinet Member Order of precedence of the United Statesas Former US Cabinet Member Succeeded byDonald P Hodelas Former US Cabinet Member Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John R Block amp oldid 1223401150, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
