We are deeply saddened by the passing of Dr. Donald L. McCune, IFDC’s founder and former managing director, on September 12, 2011. McCune served as IFDC’s first managing director from November 1974 until his retirement in February 1990.

Dr. McCune worked tirelessly in his efforts to improve soil fertility and food security worldwide during his career span of almost four decades of international work.

During his tenure at IFDC, McCune traveled extensively and guided the Center as it helped to serve the fertilizer needs of more than 80 developing countries. Prior to founding IFDC, McCune held leadership positions with the Rockefeller Foundation in Chile and the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) in the United States. He served as TVA’s director of international development from 1969 to 1974.

For more information about McCune, see the December 1989 issue of the IFDC Report, written on the occasion of his retirement. His obituary, published in The Birmingham News, can be found here.

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