Obituary

Richard James Crom1930-2022

Richard James Crom, retired agricultural economist, died on Monday, September 12, 2022 at The Gardens of Taylor Glen in Concord, NC. Born at Swanton, Nebraska on April 23, 1930, he followed an agricultural career. He spent 7 years with the Nebraska Agricultural Extension Service following a B.Sc. in Agriculture from the University of Nebraska in 1951. Specialization in agricultural economics began in 1959 with-a M.Sc. in that discipline. This led to 2 years of price analysis work with the Western Livestock Roundup in Denver. After completion of his Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics at Iowa State University in 1964, Dr. Crom spent 21 years with the Economic Research Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Washington, D.C. During his career he gained national reputation as the ERS lead economist in the economics of livestock and meat production and marketing.

Dick was united in marriage to Betty M. Huenink at Lincoln, Nebraska on June 20, 1953. Their 3 children are Thomas Crom of Charlotte, N.C. (deceased) Les Crom of Colorado Springs, CO., and Brenda Enokida of Chesapeake, Va. Dick was active in the Boy Scout program, and support of high school athletic and band programs. After retirement from ERS to Cary, N.C., he spent 5 years teaching introductory economics at

N.C. State University. His avocations were running, square dancing and golf. In 2002 Betty and Dick moved into a continuing care retirement community, the Gardens of Taylor Glen, near Concord, N.C.

A lifelong member of the United Methodist Church and the Masonic Lodge, he is survived by his wife, 2 children and 5 grandsons.