Paul R. Vaughn
COLUMBIA — Paul R. Vaughn, associate dean of academic programs for the MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, was a passionate leader and devoted teacher who fostered agricultural education across the globe.
“He was a great leader in the agricultural industry,” daughter Lauri Baker said. “He fostered a love for agriculture in everyone that he met. That inspired me and many others to go into the field of agriculture.”
Mr. Vaughn of Columbia died Sunday, June 22, 2008, at Boone Hospital Center. He was 60.
Thomas L. Payne, vice chancellor and dean of the MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, expressed his respect for Mr. Vaughn in a letter.
“Our hearts are heavy with sorrow and filled with tears, but soon our sorrow and tears will pass and our hearts will glow with the memory of this wonderful man and all he means to each of us,” Payne wrote.
During his time at MU, Mr. Vaughn was known for his leadership in academic programs and his contributions to several national educational organizations, including the Future Farmers of America and the National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges.
Mr. Vaughn was born on Aug. 16, 1947, in Clayton, N.M., to Rosco and Lorene Oldham Vaughn. They both died earlier. He married his wife of 37 years, Lanette Allen Vaughn, on Dec. 22, 1970.
He earned his doctorate in agricultural education from Ohio State University in 1976. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in agricultural and extension education from New Mexico State University. His teaching career included professorships at New Mexico State University from 1977 to 1988, Mississippi State University from 1988 to 1990, and Texas Tech University from 1990 to 2000. He also served as a high school agriculture teacher in New Mexico.
Mr. Vaughn received many awards recognizing him for his commitment to teaching and his administrative performance. In 1998, he was selected by the USDA as one of the top 10 teaching faculty members in the United States. He received 13 teaching awards: six college, three state, three regional and one national. He also received more than 40 organizational awards and honors.
Through his involvement with a number of state and national boards, task forces and committees, Mr. Vaughn worked to influence the development of secondary agricultural education programs and agricultural teacher education programs through the United States. He was president of the American Association of Agricultural Education, chairman of the Agricultural Education Research Meeting and served on the Future Farmers of America Board of Trustees. He was also on the Texas Governor’s Advisory Council on Science and Technology.
A popular speaker, Mr. Vaughn gave more than 400 presentations before professional societies, school commencements, student organization banquets and student activities. He authored and co-authored more than 70 publications, including several texts for high school and university students.
“He was loved for his sense of humor, often poking fun at himself,” Payne wrote.
In 1998, Mr. Vaughn spent a month in Sana’a, Yemen, as a consultant for the Center of International Development where he assisted with the development of bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the University of Sana’a for students who wanted to teach at two-year postsecondary institutions. He also led a trip for National Future Farmers of America officers to study agriculture and education in Japan, Hong Kong and China.
Mr. Vaughn is survived by his wife, Lanette Allen Vaughn of Columbia; one daughter, Lauri Baker of Gainesville, Fla.; one son, Jim Vaughn of Richardson, Texas; four brothers, Rosco Vaughn of Clovis, Calif., George Vaughn of San Antonio, Johnny Vaughn of Tularosa, N.M., and Dean Vaughn of Minocqua, Wis.; and several nieces and nephews.
Services will be held at 3 p.m. Thursday at Olivet Christian Church, located at 1991 S. Olivet Road in Columbia. No graveside service will he held. Donations may be sent to the Paul Vaughn Scholars fund, c/o College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources Office of Advancement, 2-4 Agriculture Building, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211.
“He will long live on in our hearts and in our minds,” Lauri Baker said. “The agricultural field will never forget him,”
