The Egg Industry Center (EIC) recognized Dr. Richard S. Gates as the 2024 LeggACY Maker Award recipient during the 2024 Egg Industry Issues Forum in Baltimore, MD. This prestigious award, established in 2021 under Dr. Gates' leadership, recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to advancing the egg industry and supporting the mission of the EIC.
Gates' remarkable career spans impactful tenures at the University of Kentucky, the University of Illinois, and Iowa State University. His expertise in livestock production, environmental control systems, and precision livestock farming has permanently impacted the industry. Known for his visionary work, Gates has been instrumental in numerous advancements, including updating heat and moisture production rate information for livestock and poultry systems, which has become foundational for engineering practice standards globally.
During his career, Gates:
Mentored over 110 students worldwide,
Secured over $30 million in research funding,
Published over 550 research publications, including 210 journal articles and nine book chapters,
Delivered countless presentations and workshops, and
Held eight patents related to environmental control systems, such as the Time Integrated Variable (TIV) environment controller, co-invented with Michael Timmons at Cornell, which has been adopted worldwide by livestock, poultry, and greenhouse industries.
During his tenure at the EIC, Gates achieved significant milestones, including:
Commissioning the second U.S. Egg Industry Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
Developing emergency depopulation procedures for HPAI outbreaks
Securing funds to transform complex calculations into a useable tool for egg farmers to use during emergencies
Overseeing research on EPA's draft air emission models
Advancing work on thermal perches for egg-laying hens
Contributing to numerous research studies, reports, and fundraising initiatives for the Center
Gates' passion for the industry and EIC was evident in his work. While he will be greatly missed by many, his legacy will continue through his students, patents, and research discoveries.
Dr. Brett Ramirez, EIC Interim Director and former student of Gates, accepted his award posthumously on his behalf.
The Egg Industry Center invites you to celebrate Richard S. Gates as the Center's 2024 LeggACY Maker.
