Agatha Huepenbecker

November 23, 1930 - August 23, 2012

Agatha Huepenbecker Burnet joined the faculty in Textiles & Clothing (now Apparel, Merchandising, and Design) at Iowa State University in 1956 where she served until retiring in 1993 as Emeritus Professor. Prior to joining the faculty, she earned a B.S. in Textiles and Clothing (T&C) from Indiana University in 1952, an M.S. in T&C from Iowa State University in 1952, and the Ph.D. in Home Economics Education from Ohio State University in 1969. From 1973 through 1993 she was Head of the Department.

Agatha's professional career was marked by outstanding service, most often in a position of leadership, and by many distinguished awards and recognitions. She was national president of the American Home Economics Association, regional vice president of the academic honorary, Phi Kappa Phi, on the governing boards of the Iowa State University Foundation and the Alumni Association, and president of the Mary Greeley Medical Center Foundation Board.

Her many awards included the Distinguished Service Award of the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences, Distinguished Alumnus Award from Ohio State University, The Iowa State University Faculty Citation, Alumni Medal and Order of the Knoll Faculty and Staff Award, the Ames Chamber of Commerce Professionalism and Leadership Award, the Tribune Unsung Hero Award and the Iowa Home Economics Association Hall of Fame. She was an Associate of the Smithsonian Institute and an international authority on the historic aspects on textiles and clothing. Even in retirement, Agatha continued to be an ardent supporter of the Apparel, Merchandising, and Design Program and the Textiles and Clothing Museum. Agatha is survived by her husband, George, whom she married in 1995.

- Photo and biography from the Iowa State University Faculty Senate Memorial Resolutions, December 11, 2012

Submitted 7/1/96; updated 11/19/2013