Hank Beachell, co-recipient of the 1996 World Food Prize, has been called one of the most important individuals in rice improvement in the world. Beachell's pioneering research put him at the forefront of the Green Revolution, which led to dramatic increases in rice production over the last three decades.

On Thursday, Beachell will celebrate his 100th birthday with 150 of his closest family, friends and colleagues at the First United Methodist Church in Alvin, Texas.

Beachell was born Sept. 21, 1906, in Waverly, Nebraska, to William Albert and Alice Leona Degler Beachell. He was the second of seven children, two boys and five girls. He graduated from the University of Nebraska in February 1930 and earned his master's degree from Kansas State University in 1934. In 1972, Beachell was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Nebraska.

While attending Kansas State, Beachell studied under Dr. John H. Parker. It was Dr. Parker who impressed upon Beachell that a plant breeder's existence depended upon his ability to develop improved varieties that met the needs of the farmer, the miller and the ultimate consumer; therefore, the breeder must be cognizant of all phases of production, processing, consumption and market demands.

In March 1931, Beachell became Texas' first rice breeder at what is now called the USDA-ARS Agricultural Research and Extension Center (part of the Texas A & M University system) in Beaumont. While there, he created and helped introduce nine rice varieties which eventually accounted for more than 90 percent of U.S. long-grain rice production. During this time, he also took part in research as well as teaching tours of rice production areas in India, Central America and South America.

After retiring from the Beaumont station in 1963, he accepted a position at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in the Philippines. That same year, while going through IRRI's experimental plots seeking a sturdy rice plant that would respond well to fertilizer and mature early, he helped select the rice that eventually became the IR8 rice variety. After further development, IR8 was released in 1966 and set yield records ranging from six to eight tons of grain per hectare on experimental fields in several Asian countries, more than doubling previous yields.

For two decades, Beachell traveled to promote IR8 and other varieties resulting from IRRI's work. He also continued research to make improvements to the variety, including making it more resistant to pests, adapting it to various growing conditions, and meeting cooking and taste criteria. In 1982, he returned to the United States and became a consultant to RiceTec Inc. in Alvin, Texas.

In addition to his rice-breeding achievements, Beachell has been a dedicated and enthusiastic mentor to scores of young research scientists who have become leaders of rice breeding programs significantly increasing the quantity and quality of this vital food crop.

RiceTec Inc. is an integrated rice company specializing in the breeding, development, production and marketing of high-value rice products. Headquartered in Alvin, Texas, the company operates the primary rice research center for RiceTec AG, an international rice technology venture. RiceTec Inc. is the first company to commercialize hybrid rice seed in the United States and is a leading producer, miller and marketer of specialty consumer rice products sold in more than 20,000 supermarkets in North America. The company has 180 employees.