The American Meat Science Association (AMSA) announces that Robert (Bob) Rust has been named the 2013 AMSA R. C. Pollock Award Winner. The R. C. Pollock Award is presented annually in honor of the first general manager of the National Live Stock and Meat Board. This award is sponsored by the AMSA Educational Foundation R. C. Pollock, Robert Bray and Vern Cahill Mentor Recognition Funds. Robert Rust will be honored at an Awards banquet during the AMSA 66th Reciprocal Meat Conference on Tuesday, June 18, 2013 in Auburn, AL.

“Bob Rust is internationally recognized as a leading authority in meat processing and has contributed to the advancement of meat science through teaching, extension, research and service, making him an ideal recipient of the AMSA R. C. Pollock Award. With this award, Bob Rust becomes the most decorated AMSA member in history, having previously been recognized as the first winner of both the Distinguished Extension Award and the Meat Processing Award, a Signal Service Award winner and AMSA Fellow, and a recipient of the AMSA International and Special Recognition Awards,” stated Dr. Thomas Powell, AMSA Executive Director.

Rust spent the first five years of his career at Michigan State University as an Extension Meat Specialist before the moving to Iowa State University for a similar position. He was on the Iowa State University staff from 1959 until his retirement in 1994 at which time he held the position of Professor in the Department of Animal Science and a courtesy appointment in the Department of Food Science and Nutrition.

At Iowa State, he was responsible for the educational programs at in all areas of meat science, ranging from meat animal carcass evaluation to meat processing and consumer research. He played an active role in the development and operation of ISU’s Meat Export Research Center. Rust pioneered the internationally renowned Meat Science Short courses at the university in 1979 and they are an active part of the ISU’s extension program today.

As a leading authority in meat processing, he served on numerous university, state and national committees, served as a consultant on bacon processing and PFF regulations development, and on task forces to develop continuing education for USDA inspectors.

Rust has been a consultant to meat processors in the U.S. and over 30 countries. In Latin American, he participated in numerous educational programs. He is the co-author of more than 55 articles in scientific journals, 35 extension publications, over 200 technical and semi-technical publications, nine chapters in reference books, one textbook on meat processing and one co-editor on a thermal processing book. He and his wife, Dorothy, established a scholarship fund to support students in Meat Processing.

Some other awards include Achievement Award from American Meat Processors Association, Meritorious and Distinguished Service Awards from ISU Cooperative Extension Service, Meat Industry Hall of Fame, and Outstanding Achievement Award from AMIF. He was named a Fellow by the Institute of Food Technologists and the American Society of Animal Science.

Source: AMSA