Robbins Fischer

ROBBINS W. FISCHER (1919 - 2010) WATERLOO, IA - Robbins (Bob) Fischer, 91 of Cedar Falls died Thursday, September 9, at Allen Hospital from complications of pneumonia. He was born March 31, 1919 in Turin, IA, son of Lewis Warren and Edith Robbins Fischer. He married J. Noreen Greenawalt on April 10, 1943 in Boulder, CO. Mr. Fischer graduated from Onawa High School in 1936 and the University of Colorado in 1942, plus additional studies in law (C.U.) and business (Rutgers U.). As President of the Monona-Harrison Flood Control Association in the mid-50s, he led the effort to solve the frequent flooding of the Little Sioux River, which has never flooded since 1956 when the project was completed. He played a key role as Chairman of the Iowa Republican Farm Council in drafting what was passed by Congress as PL480 (including the Food For Peace Program). This plan to sell surplus US grain to foreign countries for local currency changed the food distribution pattern of the world and saved millions of lives. In 1987 he was a nominee for the very first World Food Prize for these efforts. He was active in international trade doing business in over 61 countries, establishing Soypro International in 1963 (consultants in soybean processing technology) and International Business Associates (export management) in 1965. He was the first Western contractor into Yugoslavia, building a soy flour plant that dramatically increased the protein value of bread for school children. He designed and built the soybean processing plant at Manning, IA. His study of India in the mid-60s reversed both US and Indian agricultural policy. He was appointed to Task Force study groups for four different US Presidents (Kennedy, Nixon, Ford, Reagan). The section he wrote for President Reagan's Task Force on International Private Enterprise permanently changed the primary focus of the U.S. Agency for International Development (AID) from funding foreign governments to supporting small businesses. In the 1990s he made the technology breakthrough that eliminated the beany flavor from soy milk. His process is still used in the most popular brand of soy milk on the market. He was a founding member of the Iowa District Export Council, serving for 34 years; a member of the Bretton-Woods Committee for 26 years; and was a 50-year Rotarian. He was a board member of Pro-Farmer, Self-Help Foundation, Cedar Falls Chamber of Commerce; and active in Republican politics and his church. Survived by: wife, Noreen of Cedar Falls; two daughters: Barbara (Dale) Hatinger of Cedar Falls and Dorothy Fischer of Dallas, TX. Proceeded in death by: daughter, Martha Denton; sister, Mary Lou Huggenberger Services: 11 a. m. Saturday, October 9, First Congregational Church, Waterloo with inurnment at Greenwood Cemetery. Visitation Friday, Oct. 8, 5-7 pm, First Congregational Church. Memorials: may be directed to the family, church or Rotary International.

Robbins Fischer

March 31, 1919 - September 9, 2010