Richard J. Crowell

Dick Crowell was born in Rochester, New York, and lived in the Finger Lakes area as a youth. He graduated from a two-year New York college and transferred to the University of Georgia where he received a dairy science degree in 1964.

His start in the dairy industry was with Vanilla Labs, a small company located in Rochester where he was involved in the production of vanilla.

After four years Vanilla Labs transferred Dick to Rochester, Minn., where he was involved in developing stabilizer systems for the d airy industry.

In 1976 the senior Bill Fenner hired Dick to be lab manager for Star Blends in St. Joseph. There, he helped develop the vitamin systems used in much of the milk sold today.

One of Dick’s claims to fame was his development of the Frosty for Dave Thomas of Wendy’s.

In 1987 Star Blends was purchased by Grindsted Products, a Danish business. One of Dick’s initial responsibilities was to train the Danes in what American ice cream should be and taste like.

During his initial three years with Grindsted, Dick helped develop most of the stabilizer systems sold by them to the dairy industry, many of which are still being used today.

In 1990 Grindsted merged with Danisco Ingredients in St. Joseph. At that time Dick went into sales and took over Danisco’s Midwest territory. He continues to be one of Danisco’s leading sales people and is regarded as one of the seniors working in the dairy industry today.

Dick has been a member of the Missouri Dairy Products Association since 1988. He has served on the Association’s board of directors as a supplier representative helping to develop the Association into a more successful organization.

Through the years Dick has contributed generously to the Missouri Dairy Products Association’s scholarship fund and has supported the University of Missouri ‘s dairy products judging team.

The Missouri Dairy Products Association nominated Dick for the Dairy Hall of Honors Meritorious Service Award.

Dick and his wife Donna have been married 40 years and have been blessed with four daughters – Dawn, Darlene, Diane, and Denise – and four grandchildren. One daughter lives in Chicago, another in Omaha, and two in the Kansas City area.

The Crowells live in Gower.