Raymond Dale Brigham PhD

Raymond Dale Brigham, Ph.D., died of natural causes on Monday, July 13, 2020.  Raymond was born April 1, 1926, in Stamford, Texas to parents H. Floyd and Rose Brigham.  He married the love of his life, Virginia May (Trenfield) Brigham on December 26, 1949.  A celebration of life will be held at a later date. You are encouraged to sign the virtual guestbook and to share memories and expressions of sympathy by selecting the icon on this page.Raymond was a patriot and proud of his military service.  After graduating a year early from Stamford High School, Raymond was called to service during World War II.  He served with a U.S. Army Tank Destroyer unit in France, Belgium, and Germany.  After becoming gravely ill on the front lines, he spent months in the Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital in Paris.  Eventually, he was boarded on a hospital ship and brought home to the U.S.  He was then transported on a hospital train to Temple, Texas, where he recuperated.  He became a Life Member of Chapter 44, Disabled American Veterans, and Life Member, Veterans of Foreign Wars.  In 2016, he was a delegate to the Texas South Plains Honor Flight and was chosen to represent Texas WWII veterans by placing a ceremonial wreath at the WWII Memorial in Washington, D.C.Following WWII, Raymond went on to earn a BS in Agriculture from Texas Tech University in 1950.  At Tech, he was an officer of his academic class and the Saddle Tramps.  He went on to earn an MS (1952) and PhD. (1957) in Crop Breeding and Genetics at Iowa State University. From there, he and his growing family relocated to College Station, where he began his professional career with USDA Agricultural Research Service.  The family relocated to Lubbock in 1962, where Raymond eventually joined the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station faculty in 1967 as a faculty member with Texas A&M.  During his 37-year career, he led an extensive oilseed breeding and research program that attracted visiting scientists and trainees from around the world.  Raymond authored over 160 professional publications on oilseed crops and was in demand as a speaker and trainer for regional, national, and international programs.  He served as consultant and technical advisor to the USAID, World Bank, FAO-United Nations, International Atomic Energy Agency, USDA, Winrock International, and Ministries of Agriculture in numerous countries.  He continued his consulting after retirement.  Over the course of his life, his work took him to more than 65 countries on six continents, including work in Nicaragua, India, Thailand, Japan, Mexico, Zimbabwe, and Zambia.  His wife, Virginia, accompanied him on many of these trips.Raymond was also an active civic and community leader throughout his life.  He was a member of Oakwood United Methodist Church, Lubbock, serving as Vice-Chair of the Administrative Council, delegate to the South Plains Regional Conference, McMurry College representative, Lay Leader to Annual Conference, member of the greeting committee, and in many other roles.  He also served on the Boards of the Methodist Mission Home in San Antonio and Coventry Health System.Together, Raymond and Virginia served as United Methodist Volunteers in Mission for several years, traveling to and working at McCurdy Ministries Community Center, Espanola, New Mexico.   They also loved and supported Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch and Girls Town, Amarillo, Texas.Throughout their 70-year marriage, they managed the family farm in Stamford and their registered Polled Hereford herd at Follett.  They enjoyed traveling, making friends, and exploring the country in their Foretravel motorhome.  Cruises with their family were also a favorite activity in retirement.Raymond was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Neal Brigham, and daughter, Elaine Brigham.He is survived by his wife; sister, Lona Hood of Midland; and children, Barbara Reed (Jay) of Kansas City, MO; Ray Brigham (Melinda) of Boerne, TX; Dale Brigham (Jo Turner) of Columbia, MO.