Agronomist Ahlgren dies at 95

Henry L. Ahlgren, emeritus professor of agronomy and former UW-Extension chancellor, died Jan. 22 at age 95.

Ahlgren began his UW career as a student in 1927. He earned bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in agronomy and soil science. He joined the agronomy faculty in 1935, and specialized in pasture management and helped to develop Piper sudangrass.

Ahlgren became chair of the agronomy department in 1952, and was later named assistant director of Cooperative Extension programs. In 1966 he was named assistant chancellor of the merged UW-Extension, and chancellor in 1969. He played a major role in developing new UW-Extension programs that brought together cooperative and general extension efforts, as well as Wisconsin’s public broadcasting networks.