January 2007

Jack F. McCaffery, former president and general manager of North Platte Feeders, has been remembered by his family and colleagues through the creation of a permanently endowed scholarship fund.

The Jack McCaffery Memorial Scholarship has been established at the University of Nebraska Foundation to honor him while providing scholarships for one or more undergraduate students at the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture at Curtis.

The fund was established with a gift of $10,000 from McCaffery's wife, Dolores McCaffery, of North Platte.

"My husband was involved in agriculture his entire life," she said. "He would enjoy knowing that a scholarship fund has been created to support students going into agriculture." Weldon Sleight, dean of NCTA, said Jack McCaffery was a tremendous supporter of the university's agriculture programs in the region.

"It is our privilege to hold the Jack McCaffery Scholarship," he said. "Since Nebraska is the largest processor of beef in the United States, the McCaffery Scholars will be very important to the future of rural Nebraska and the overall state economy." Recipients of McCaffery scholarships will be chosen by NCTA and are required to study agriculture production systems and livestock industry management and have an interest in pursuing a career in the area of livestock production after graduation.

Originally from Oregon, Jack and Dolores McCaffery married in 1951 in Redmond, Ore., and raised two sons, Neil and Dean. They were in the commercial cattle feeding business since 1961 in various locations including Scottsbluff, Neb., Yuma, Colo., Ellinwood, Kan., and then North Platte in 1989. Jack McCaffery died June 1, 2006, in North Platte at age 74.

Those who wish to contribute a memorial gift to the fund may send their gift made payable to the University of Nebraska Foundation to: McCaffery Scholarship Fund, University of Nebraska Foundation, 1010 Lincoln Mall Ste 300, Lincoln NE 68508-2886. For more information, contact Ann Bruntz, director of development, at (800) 432-3216.

The Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture, located on a 72-acre campus, offers associate degrees in agribusiness management systems, agricultural production systems, horticulture systems and veterinary technology systems, as well as about 25 academic options and certificates.

NCTA has about 20 faculty and an enrollment of more than 200 students.The University of Nebraska Foundation is an independent, nonprofit organization raising private gifts to support the University of Nebraska for more than 70 years. More than $87 million was provided last year for students, faculty, academic programs, research and building and campus capital improvements. More information is available at www.nufoundation.org.

IANR News Release