Archives West Finding Aid

Ben Allen Newell was born in 1917 in Wray, Colorado. During Ben's childhood, the Newell family went on to settle in the Newberg area of Oregon where they operated a family farm. Ben himself managed a dairy in Polk County for 2 years before entering Oregon State College in 1937 to study animal husbandy and horticulture. In August of 1941, a few months after graduating with a BS from the School of Agriculture, Newell enlisted in the U.S. Army where he served until March of 1943. Newell's association with the Extension Service began in 1944 with his appointment as Assistant County Agent for Marion County. In 1951, with the retirement of longtime agent Harry Riches, Newell assumed the position of chairman of the Marion County office. Newell held this position until retiring in 1973. His accomplishments as county agent and chair included the establishment of weed control districts and organization of associations designed to improve livestock, dairy, and poultry practices. In collaboration with fellow County Agent N. John Hansen, Newell also organized a series of agricultural study tours to New Zealand and Australia. For his longtime contribution to the Oregon agricultural community, Newell was recognized with a Distinguished Service Award in 1967 from the Oregon Agricultural Extension Association. He also received a Diamond Pioneer Agricultural Career Achievement Award.

In 1942, Newell married Phyllis Miller and together they raised three children: Rex, Sandra, and Carolyne. After retirement, Newell focused upon his own farm operation, located east of Salem, where he raised sheep, cattle, and alfalfa.

Newell died in 1998. That same year, the Ben and Phyllis Newell Scholarship was established by the College of Agricultural Sciences.