Review
This historical treatise of a great American company spanning some 155 years is a must for everyone even remotely connected with agriculture anywhere in the world. Having served in executive management of IH, I am thankful that this wonderful product history has been preserved for us and many generations to come in this beautifully illustrated book. --
J Patrick Kaine, Retired Vice Chairman, International Harvester Company
About the Author
Senior Author, Ralph Baumheckel is the retired manager, International Harvester Product Planning Research. He was born on the family farm in Connersville, Indiana, and grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio, and Indianapolis, Indiana. Following graduation from Purdue University with a B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering, he began his career as a New Product Development Engineer with the Link Belt Company, Indianapolis, Indiana. From there he returned to Connersville, Indiana, to manage the family farm and Hybrid Seed Corn business. He sold the seed business in 1963 and joined the Farm Equipment Product Planning Group of International Harvester, Chicago, Illinois, as Eastern Region representative. In 1972, he became Product Research Manager, Agricultural Equipment Division and in 1979, Manager of Research, Corporate Advanced Harvesting Systems.
Kent Borghoffs interest in International Harvester began at an early age. The son of William Borghoff, a longtime IH engineer, Kent grew up in the company environment. IH family friends, company picnics, and childhood visits to the Engineering Center and Farmall Works helped produce his lasting impressions of a proud company. Kent became interested in research and writing as a undergraduate at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Upon receiving his bachelors degree in history, Kent began his career as a high school teacher at John Hershey High School in Arlington Heights, Illinois. In addition to teaching, Kent is currently pursuing a masters degree at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. His work on this book represents a culmination of interests in history, writing, and most importantly, the company itself.