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Ron Elliott's OSU career and life in Stillwater began in 1981, where he met and later married his wife Judith. Ron and Judith's family grew to include their three children, William, Michael, and Sarah, and they became an integral part of the Stillwater community. They are also proud grandparents to three adorable grandchildren. The Elliott family has been loyal and true to OSU for over four decades. Recently, Ron and Judith established an undergraduate scholarship that will support a student this coming Fall 2023.
Dr. Ron Elliott, P.E. built a distinguished career of 29 years on the Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering faculty at OSU, serving as the department head in his last ten years from 2001 to 2010. His impact on students, faculty development, alumni involvement, advancement of prominent collaborative multi-institutional programs in Oklahoma and the Stillwater community is noteworthy. We invite you to join former students and colleagues who have benefited from Dr. Elliott's lasting contributions by making a gift to enhance this soon-to-be endowed scholarship and acknowledge how much he means to us, our history, and our distinctive reputation.
He established a well-recognized research program in soil-water-plant-atmosphere relationships integrating interdisciplinary knowledge in irrigation management, crop growth, soil properties, and automated weather networks. His work has been influential in how soil and water engineering has evolved to include studies on the complex water-plant-soil-microbe interactions that affect water quantity and quality in crop production systems.
Dr. Elliott has served as the focal point of Mesonet activities at Oklahoma State University since the late 1980s. He partnered with colleagues at the University of Oklahoma to propose and plan not only the science and technical details of the network, but also the practical and logistical components of the statewide system. As Co-Chair of the Mesonet Steering Committee for over 30 years, Dr. Elliott’s passion and efforts have brought opportunities and positive impacts to literally hundreds of staff and students associated with the Mesonet program.
Dr. Elliott's leadership as a scholar, educator, researcher, and in service to professional societies, including the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE), and the OK Mesonet has been recognized by multiple national awards. His induction as an ASABE Fellow and John Deere Gold Medal Awardee highlight his distinction as an innovator in advancing developments in agriculture through soil-water resource conservation and outstanding experiences and contributions to the engineering profession. He has been an influential figure to the wide network of students, faculty, staff, administrators, and professionals he has engaged and reached through his work.
Aside from his impact as an engineer and researcher, Dr. Elliott's leadership over the years, and that continues today, is significant to the many successes of the department and our Oklahoma partners. He has been present and available for some of our best and saddest moments, showing care for our history and our future. He has proven to be an invaluable relationship builder that has been instrumental to the reputation of BAE at OSU, growth of our endowed scholarships, and our ability to reward students for their merit and support their learning experiences in our programs. Establishment of the Ron and Judith Elliott Scholarship in BAE is a fitting tribute to the inspirational figure and generous spirit we have been fortunate to experience in Dr. Ron Elliott and supportive nature of his family. Together we can show our appreciation for their impact on our lives.
Dr. Elliott joined the Agricultural Engineering department at Oklahoma State University in 1981 as an Assistant Professor
Dr. Elliott has served on the Steering Committee for the Oklahoma Mesonetwork of Automated Weather Stations since 1990, 33 years strong!
Ron and Judith will be celebrating 40 years of marriage this coming May!
Dr. Elliott secured 60 different federal, state, private and university sponsored grants and contracts to support scholarly activities that attracted graduate students, post-docs, and interdisciplinary collaborations.
Over 167 books, referred journal articles, proceedings, presentations, invited talks, and technical reports were produced and shared with the scientific community sharing novel findings from the work of Dr. Elliott and his collaborative teams.
Dr. Elliott's expertise and mentoring has had a positive influence on the careers of many students in engineering, ag education, ag economics, meteorology, geography, horticulture, and agronomy. At least 51 PhD, MS, and M.Eng. students chaired, post-doctoral scholars trained, and graduate student committees served were impressed over the years across nearly 10 different program areas.
Not only has Dr. Elliott been instrumental in building relationships with donors, alumni, and friends for the advancement of BAE, his family has been a consistent contributor year after year to the programs and funds in BAE, OSU, and Stillwater Community. Join BAE's other donors we have recognized as Loyal and True!
Dr. Elliott was inducted as an ASABE Fellow in 2002 and recognized as a member of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) with unusual professional distinction, and outstanding and extraordinary qualifications and experience in soil and water engineering. He was awarded this highest honor of ASABE as well as the ASABE John Deere Gold Medal Award for his achievements in new concepts and science that have advanced development of agriculture (2011).