Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....First, Neal Lloyd, Ph.D. 2014 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/mi/mifiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Marilyn Ransom mransom311@gmail.com June 18, 2015, 2:35 pm The Ionia Sentinel-Standard, December, 2014 A former Ionia resident and pioneer in the science of agriculture and genetics has died. Neal Lloyd First, Ph.D., 84, died Nov. 20, 2014 of complications from cancer. First was born October 8, 1930. Raised on an Ionia farm, he grew to love animals and agriculture. After receiving his bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University, he was drafted into the U.S. Army, and served as a fixed radio signal operator during the Korean War. After the war, First returned to Michigan University to earn a doctorate in reproductive physiology. He accepted a job at the University of Wisconsin- Madison in 1960, where he worked until he retired in 2005. After his retirement, Frist moved to Starkville, Mississippi, where he was professor emeritus at Mississippi State University. First’s research accomplished major advances in mammalian in-vitro fertilization, embryo development, embryo cloning of cattle and nuclear transplantation in embryos. He also lectured around the world, and continued to work and write on biotechnology and animal genetics until shortly before his death. In 1989, First was inducted into the National Academy of Sciences. His many awards for his research included the Morrison Award for animal science, the Von Humboldt Award, the Upjohn Research Award, and the prestigious Wolf Prize—often referred to as the Nobel Prize for agriculture—in 1996-1997. The prize committee cited the following as the reason for selecting First for the Wolf Prize: “Professor Neal L. First has made pioneering contributions to animal genetics by the development of systems of bovine embryo cloning, gene transfer, and in- vitro production of livestock embryos. His research has resulted in major advances in the application of biotechnology to reproduction in farm animals, eliminating the need for brood cows in beef cattle breeding. “Nuclear transfer of genetic material is being developed to clone farm animal embryos. His ground-breaking research in this field has led to significant discoveries in reproductive biology. Prof. First’s laboratory pioneered the application of this technique to the genetic selection of livestock. He and his colleagues defined the conditions leading to optimal in-vitro fertilization and high frequency embryo development. They developed the defined growth media that are widely used to culture bovine embryos. The procedures developed in Prof. First’s laboratory have led to major discoveries throughout the world concerning embryo development in domestic animals. “The new knowledge provided by Prof. First’s research is having a major impact on the production of genetically advanced strains of livestock throughout the world. Advances include improved reproduction, growth, lactation, and disease resistance.” When not in his lab, First enjoyed caring for and riding his beloved horses, running, camping with his children, searching for sand dollars on Gulf beaches, and spending time with his family. He was known to whistle and sing with gusto, if slightly off-key, and he loved to dance, especially the waltz and polka. His funeral was held in November in Bainbridge, Georgia. A memorial service was held earlier this month in Starkville, Mississippi, andnaother is schedule dfor January in Madison, Wisconsin. Memorial contributions be sent to support graduate student studies at the Endocrinology and Reproductive Physiology Program at the University of Wisconsin Foundation (http://erp.wisc.edu/giving/index.html). File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/ionia/obits/f/first30918nob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/mifiles/ File size: 4.1 Kb