Robert Hutchinson Foote

ROBERT
HUTCHINSON FOOTE
ITHACA - Bob was born on a large dairy farm in Gilead, Connecticut on August 20, 1922. He was the last of four siblings, having older sisters Lovina and Marjorie, and an older brother, Edward. Bob always said, "I am thankful for the choice of my parents." Mother, Annie Hutchinson Foote, and father, Robert E. Foote, were hardworking, honest, smart, educated, civic-minded parents who dealt with all the kids in a kindly but firm and fair manner.
Bob's parents put great emphasis on learning, whether it was mastering all aspects of managing the family farmland and animals, subjects in school, or the principle of love and meaning of life as beautifully scripted in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. Both aspects of learning (science and biology plus the meaning of life) have been forces that propelled Bob throughout life.
There was no question that all four kids would secure a college education, despite the low income from a dairy farm during the Depression. All four kids worked to help with expenses. Fortunately, Bob soon secured a job as student manager of the dairy plant during early morning hours. The job paid a whopping 75 cents per hour.
World War II found Bob with the opportunity to serve as an officer with the Japanese-American 442nd Regimental Combat Team, a unit that became the most decorated Army unit in the history of the United States.
The GI Bill was a wonderful help while Bob pursued an M.S. and a Ph.D. program at Cornell University. The research and teaching responsibilities and opportunities were exciting. His graduate research led to improved ways of breeding cattle by using artificial insemination. The new procedures developed controlled venereal diseases wherever it was used throughout the world. This resulted in a marked improvement in the fertility of cattle. As animal agriculture was Bob's first love, being able to help millions of farmers make their cattle production systems more efficient, safe and profitable gave him great satisfaction. This research led to various job offers, including one at Cornell University. So he worked at Cornell for 60 years, publishing about 600 books and papers. What was important was that by sharing and bringing international students and scholars to his laboratory, worldwide friendships were established. Growing up on a farm helped Bob to bring this practical information directly to the users. Billions of dollars were saved by the animal industry. No patents or profits were sought. The joy of producing useful information and developing improved practical procedures was more satisfying.
In addition to applied research, which led quickly to practical application, much basic research was initiated. In the late 1950s, he obtained the first grant at Cornell for exploring animal DNA. In 1980, he obtained a grant to initiate stem cell research. Administration did not encourage either of these efforts as they failed to recognize at that time the potential importance of these fields.
Teaching both undergraduate and graduate students was stimulating. Wonderful students and scholars came from many countries, so science and friendship in Bob's lab was international.
He was especially proud of promoting and helping to establish both undergraduate teaching and undergraduate research programs in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. He served on multiple university and national committees. He was president of the highly respected Society for the Study of Reproduction, with thousands of members from around the world.
He was active in several local service groups and actively supported many charitable organizations, such as the First Congregational Church.
He enjoyed sports such as ice skating, water skiing, tennis, bowling, and ping-pong. A lifetime hobby was photography.
Last, but most importantly, he had a loving, caring and devoted wife, Ruth, for 46 years. She was the gal back home who sent Bob encouraging letters during World War II, culminating in marriage in 1946. Ruth shouldered the major responsibility of raising two fine sons, Robert Wesley Foote and Dale Hutchinson Foote. After Ruth died, Bob had the good fortune of meeting an old-time college friend, Barbara Jones Johnson. She was the widow of a fraternity brother of Bob's in college. Bob and Barbara were married on September 25, 1993. Another loving and caring wife was gained, along with her fine family.
The family is the nucleus that holds everything together, and it is the most important unit in society. With all of Bob's efforts to serve students, agriculture and science, he regretted spending too little quality time with his family. Years later, this imbalance was corrected, but compensation is impossible. So, readers, take note! Never commit this sin but give top priority to family.
Contributions can be sent to the Robert H. Foote Outreach Fund at the First Congregational Church in Ithaca, New York, to the Robert H. Foote Fund at Cornell University, or to a charity of one's choice.