Richard Rominger | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 8thUnited States Deputy Secretary of Agriculture | |
| In office May 12, 1993 – January 20, 2001 | |
| President | Bill Clinton |
| Preceded by | Ann Veneman |
| Succeeded by | Jim Moseley |
| California Secretary of Food and Agriculture | |
| In office 1977–1982 | |
| Governor | Jerry Brown |
| Preceded by | Luther T. Wallace |
| Succeeded by | Clare Berryhill |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Richard Rominger (1927-07-01)July 1, 1927 Woodland, California, U.S. |
| Died | December 21, 2020(2020-12-21) (aged 93) Winters, California, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Alma mater | University of California, Davis (BS) |
Richard Rominger (July 1, 1927 – December 21, 2020) was an American politician who served as the eighthdeputy secretary of agriculture from 1993 to 2001 during the administration ofBill Clinton. Rominger previously served as theCalifornia secretary of food and agriculture.[1]
Born inWoodland, California to Albert H. Rominger and Anne Violet Ehrhardt Rominger and raised inWinters, California, Rominger attended his freshman year atSacramento Junior College then served 14 months in theUnited States Navy duringWorld War II. He then attended theUniversity of California, Davis and graduated in 1949 with degrees inagronomy andplant sciences.[2] After graduation, Rominger returned to work on his four-generation family farm.[3][4]
In 1977,Governor Jerry Brown appointed Rominger to head the California Department of Food and Agriculture. He was confirmed by theCalifornia State Senate and served in the position until 1982. In 1993, Rominger was appointed byPresident of the United States Bill Clinton to serve aschief operating officer and Deputy Secretary of theUnited States Department of Agriculture.[5] He served in the position until 2001 (the entirety of Clinton's time in office), and returned to their 6,000-acre family farm in California.[6]
During his time at the USDA, Rominger advocated for a newpesticide ban[7] as well as poultry product regulations, a new National Drought Emergency Commission, and the newNational Organic Standards.[8] Rominger also had responsibility for supervision of the USDA budget.[9]
Rominger was appointed to theBoard of Regents of the University of California in 2004.[10] He has also served on the California Roundtable on Agriculture and the Environment and as president of the board of theAmerican Farmland Trust. Rominger was the chairman and shareholder at Marrone Bio Innovations, Inc., Oryzatech, Inc., and Ag Innovations Network, Inc.[11] Richard was a founding member and the first president of theYolo County, Californialand trust.[12]
After his retirement from government service, Rominger was an advocate on issues related to droughts, land conservation, and theimpact of climate change on agriculture.[13][14][15]
Richard E. Rominger died at the age of 93 inWinters, California.[16]
In 1978, Rominger received the Jerry W. Fielder Memorial Award in recognition of his service toUCD. In 1989, he and his wife Evelyne Rowe Rominger jointly received the Award of Distinction from the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.[17] Rominger received the Distinguished Service Award from the California Farm Bureau Federation in 1991 and was named Agriculturalist of Year and the 1992California State Fair. In 2016, Rominger was selected to receive the UC Davis Medal, the highest honor the university presents to an individual.[18]
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | U.S. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Served under: Bill Clinton May 12, 1993 – January 20, 2001 | Succeeded by Jim Moseley |