Fraternity Honors Rep. Thompson

Mike Hricik
Collegian Staff Writer
reprinted with permission

House Representative Glenn Thompson (R-Pa.) has been around farms for quite some time.

Alpha Zeta, Penn State’s oldest agricultural fraternity, inducted Thompson Thursday night as an honorary brother for his contributions to agriculture. Present at the celebration were members of fraternity, alumni and College of Agricultural Sciences faculty members.

Thompson grew up on a dairy farm in Howard Township and has continued his involvement in agriculture by becoming one of its prominent public defenders representing the 17-county fifth district in Congress. He has pledged to improve the agricultural environment, especially for dairy farmers.

“Everything that we eat, everything that we clothe ourselves with comes from farms,” Thompson said.

In only his second term as congressman, Thompson acts as chairman of the House Subcommittee on Conservation, Energy and Forestry, part of the House Committee on Agriculture.

Alpha Zeta is an honorary co-educational, professional society with 28 members in Penn State’s Morrill chapter, said House Manager Orry Pratt.

After a dinner celebrating Thompson’s induction, the congressman said it was a privilege to become an honorary member of Alpha Zeta with former fraternity brothers, including former U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower.

“I am truly, truly honored,” he said.

Dinner was followed by a question-and-answer session with the congressman, with topics ranging from being a Boy Scout to dealing with dirty politicians.

Pratt (junior-animal sciences) said honoring Thompson was a “no-brainer.”

“He’s taking the lead in Congress with agricultural industries,” he said.

Alpha Zeta Chapter Templar Shawn Beam said the chapter’s trustees and executive council voted unanimously to induct Thompson.

“He’s done so much for the fifth district and we wanted to recognize him for that,” Beam (senior-marketing) said.

Numerous Alpha Zeta chapter graduates and faculty members from the College of Agricultural Sciences were present at the event, including the college’s dean Bruce McPheron.

McPheron said he is often on the phone with Thompson discussing agricultural and environmental issues. He said he admires the work Thompson’s accomplished as a congressman in only his second term.

“The representative has always really been interested in agriculture,” McPheron “This is a great opportunity to honor his contributions to the field."