Penrose Hallowell (c. 1928 – July 24, 2021) was a Pennsylvania secretary of agriculture, leading the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture between 1979 and 1985.

Personal life

edit

Penrose Hallowell was born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, c. 1928 to Joseph W. Hallowell Sr.[1][2] He graduated from Pennsylvania State University in 1950,[3] and the next year, began operating his own dairy farm in Ottsville, Pennsylvania,[2] which he named Pennywell Farm.[4] Hallowell married Marion, with whom he had four children.[5] From 1977, Hallowell has shared the management of Pennywell Farm with his son John.[2][6]

Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and later career

edit

Hallowell was appointed by the incoming Dick Thornburgh gubernatorial administration in January 1979 to head the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.[7][8] During his tenure, Hallowell lent support to the passage of Act 43, which led to the 1988 establishment of the Pennsylvania Farmland Preservation Program.[9] Following the Three Mile Island accident in March 1979, Hallowell's office launched an investigation, which found that there were no problems due to radiation in livestock near the site.[10] Hallowell did report economic losses to local farms that he attributed to the accident.[11] In 1980, Hallowell started the "We're growing better" campaign.[12]

In January 1985, a district magistrate ruled that Hallowell was guilty of shoplifting. An appeal was heard by judge William Vogel in Montgomery County Common Pleas Court, which reached the same verdict in April 1985.[13][14] On April 3, 1985, Hallowell resigned his post at the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.[15] Hallowell also vacated his seat on the Pennsylvania State University Board of Trustees.[3] Hallowell later became a real estate agent.[16]

Hallowell died July 24, 2021, at age 92.[17][18]

References

edit
  1. ^ Clark, Kathleen Zingaro (2010). Warminster Township. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 9781439638859.
  2. ^ a b c "PENROSE HALLOWELL Secretary Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture". Carnegie Mellon University Digital Collections. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
  3. ^ a b Galewitz, Phil (April 4, 1985). "Hallowell resigns as Ag. Secretary". The Daily Collegian. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
  4. ^ Lounsberry, Emilie (October 23, 2011). "Tinicum persists in its fight to preserve its rural character". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
  5. ^ "Susan Virginia Hallowell". Bucks County Courier Times. March 4, 2012. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
  6. ^ McFarland, Marybeth (July 15, 1996). "TINICUM DAIRY FARMER WON'T TRADE JOBS". The Morning Call. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
  7. ^ "Thornburgh's 18 Cabinet Nominees, Salaries Listed". Kane Republican. Associated Press. February 7, 1979. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
  8. ^ "Hallowell at Agriculture". Republican and Herald. January 3, 1979. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
  9. ^ Vaughn, Joshua (October 11, 2013). "Waynesboro farmer honored for role in ag preservation". The Record Herald. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
  10. ^ Zaretsky, Natasha (2018). Radiation Nation. Columbia University Press. ISBN 9780231542487.
  11. ^ "Farmers in State Report Losses". New York Times. August 23, 1979. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
  12. ^ "Ginny Thornburgh and Secretary Penrose Hallowell promote new Agriculture Logo". University of Pittsburgh. Office of the Governor of Pennsylvania. February 6, 1980. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
  13. ^ Linder, Lee (April 1, 1985). "Montgomery County Common Pleas Court". Associated Press. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
  14. ^ "Pennsylvania Official Loses Appeal in a Shoplifting Case". New York Times. April 2, 1985. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
  15. ^ "Pennsylvania Official Resigns After 2nd Shoplifting Conviction". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. April 3, 1985. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
  16. ^ Eaton, Joe (August 6, 2008). "Residents and developers battle to a draw in Bucks County". Center for Public Integrity. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
  17. ^ Gruber, Philip (July 28, 2021). "Former Pennsylvania Ag Secretary Penrose Hallowell Dies". Lancaster Farming. Retrieved August 10, 2021.
  18. ^ "Penrose Hallowell, Sr. – Reed & Steinbach Funeral Home". Retrieved 2021-08-10.