Richard Eldon Nelson

Richard E. Nelson, former longtime resident of Maple Street in Brattleboro, passed away peacefully at home early Saturday, October 15, 2016. Dick was born in Pontiac, Michigan on September 30, 1921. In the 1940's he married Marjorie Carlson who predeceased him in 2001. Dick married Pat Verboom in 2003 and they moved to Plano, Texas in 2010.

Dick started working in Kansas for the Holstein Association in 1950, the world's largest dairy breed organization. Two years later he moved his family to Brattleboro to work at the company's headquarters. He was the executive assistant of domestic affairs at the Holstein Association when he retired on September 30, 2004. During Dick's 54-year tenure with the Association, he was influential in building the Holstein breed to its current prominence in the industry. He was probably most identified with the initiatives that contributed to maintaining the integrity of the Association's records.

Before he retired Dick had been working with the Holstein Association National Farm Animal Identification and Records (FAIR) Program on national animal identification efforts, an initiative he began over 40 years ago to protect the livelihood of the country's dairy and livestock producers with electronic identification. Dick served as the chairman of the U.S. Animal Health Association Livestock Identification Committee. He was a contributing editor of the International Embryo Transfer Society Manual, and co-author of the chapter which is accepted as the world standardized record system for identification of embryos.

Winning numerous industry awards, including the prestigious World Dairy Expo Industry Person of the Year, Dick's accomplishments speak loudly for a successful career in animal agriculture. He also received the Distinguished Service Awards from the National Pedigreed Livestock Council; Iowa State University Dairy Science Club; American Embryo Transfer Association; International Embryo Transfer Society, and the Meritorious Service Award from the Livestock Conservation Institute. In 1990, Dick received the Distinguished Service Award from the Holstein Association, its highest honor, and he was one of only five individuals to achieve this honor in the past 100 years.


Locally, Dick was very involved in community organizations including the Brattleboro Rotary Club beginning in 1955, where he was both Vice President and President. He was the President of the Brattleboro Council of Churches, and was active in Centre Congregational Church. An avid skier, Dick was on the board of governors for the Brattleboro Outing Club, serving for 25 years. He was President of the club when it was awarded the outstanding outing club in the U.S. in 1967, and was awarded lifetime membership in 1986. He helped establish the Brattleboro Outing Club Educational Foundation, and was the past President of the Eastern Ski Association. He served on the board of directors for both the Brattleboro Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Vermont Association and chaired the Brattleboro zoning board of adjustment for five years.

Dick graduated from Iowa State University, and served in the U.S. Army Air Force as a B-17 pilot with 35 successful missions over Europe.

Dick is survived by his wife, Pat Verboom; his two children, Karen Nelson and Dave Nelson; a younger brother, Ken Nelson. His sister Loretta Bengtson predeceased him.

Visitation will be on Monday, October 24, 2016 from 5 PM to 7 PM at KER-WESTERLUND FUNERAL HOME, 57 High Street, Brattleboro, VT. A Funeral Service will be on Tuesday, October 25, at 1 PM at the Centre Congregational Church, 193 Main St, Brattleboro. Burial will immediately follow with military honors at Morningside Cemetery, South Main Street in Brattleboro. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in Richard's name to Centre Congregational Church, 193 Main St, Brattleboro, VT 05301.