Richard (Dick) Bartram

Dick Bartram could claim the title of "Mr. Agriculture." It has been part of his life since birth in 1920 on a wheat ranch on Bear Mountain near Lake Chelan. He is the oldest of the four siblings of Donald R. and Faye Bartram. Two brothers are not living and his much younger sister, Pat LaPorte, lives at Chelan Falls, WA.

He discovered tree fruit at the age of 4, when the family moved to an apple, cherry and apricot orchard on the north side of Lake Chelan. There Dick lived, attending Chelan schools until high school graduation in 1939.

Dick graduated from Washington State University in 1943.
Dick recalls,"This was a great period for study, work and dancing. It was the Big Band era. I finally became grateful to my mother for making me take dancing lessons in Junior High."

Dick's World War II experience began as a draftee. As a college senior, he was allowed to finish the last year before induction. In 1944, after one year of training and more schooling, Dick became a combat troop commander and shipped out to the South Pacific for 18 months, as a recon. and rocket unit commander. As the war ended Dick was assigned to Northern Japan for one year of occupation duty.

Upon discharge, Dick was finally able to begin his profession in agriculture. For 34 years, from 1947 to 1981, he was the Chelan, Douglas and Okanogan area Cooperative Extension Agent on the faculty of Washington State University. Major areas of responsibility were commercial fruit production, including fruit handling, storage and marketing. He worked in 40 different states of the US and 11 foreign countries. He also administered the 4-H youth programs, responsible for youth horse training programs.

On February 12, 1944, Dick Bartram and Lorne M. Cook were married. She had been the editor ot the WSU student newspaper and continued news writing and editor work until their first son was born in 1948. The third of their three sons was born in 1957.

"I was fortunate to be married to this delightful, lovely lady for 51 years, until her death from cancer in December 1995. Our oldest son, William died of Cancer at age 30, one year after he finished his Ph.D. in Basic Biological Oceanography. Second son, Ron, lives in Wenatchee and youngest son Bruce, now 42, lives in Bellevue, Washington."

Dick's graduate school work from 1961 to 1963 resulted in a Master of Science degree in Micro-Economics and Applied Engineering from Oregon State University.

After retiring from WSU in 1982, Dick continued to work as a private consultant in biological research and performed some applied research in fruit storage, ocean transport and treatment.

Dick has been in Rotary since 1975 and is a Paul Harris Fellow and a Paul Scea Fellow.

In addition to club committee involvement, mostly centered on youth development, Dick has also served on:

• Club Board of Directors
• Wenatchee Rotary Foundation Board (5 years)
• Club Program Chairman.

In addition to District Conferences, Dick attended the Rotary International Conference in Scotland and has assisted with the Dictrict 5060 Club Presidents Program.

Back to List of Member Profiles