John C. Foltz (OH '53), Master Builder
The International Fraternity honored seven alumni as the 2010 Class of the Fraternity's highest honor, the Master Builder of Men Award.
At the time of their recognition, International President and selection committee chair, Bryce Freeman (IA '93) stated, "These brothers are men of character and have given unselfishly through their professional, personal, civic and charitable pursuits. They are truly role models for other FarmHouse men to follow, in giving so much of one's self to others and to our Fraternity. We are humbled by their accomplishments and celebrate their achievements."
The Master Builder of Men Award is the highest honor the Fraternity may bestow upon an alumni member. The award, created in 1950, recognizes and publicly acknowledges the member's unselfish leadership and service to his fellow men, both within the Fraternity and beyond. Neither position, nor wealth, nor occupation enters into consideration for the award, but simply his contributions in helping others and living the values of the Fraternity as a Builder of Men.
Brother John C. Foltz (OH '53) is retired U.S. Department of Agriculture deputy under secretary and agency administrator. After military service in the Navy, John was chief division of markets with the Ohio Department of Agriculture and the first executive of the Ohio AgriBusiness Association. He served as administrator of the USDA's Federal Grain Inspection Service, assistant administrator of the Foreign Agriculture Service and secretary of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. He is former chair of the Ohio State President's Alumni Advisory Board and the High Council of Alpha Zeta Fraternity. John led the affiliation of Alpha Tau Zeta with FarmHouse. He received the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation's Distinguished Service to Agriculture award. He and his wife, Anne, helped lead the $15.5 million campaign to build the new State of Ohio 4-H Center. John's son and one grandson are also members of ATZ at Ohio State and another grandson is a member of the Idaho chapter of FarmHouse. John and Anne live in Columbus, Ohio, and have two children.