Henry P. Rusk

Henry Perly Rusk (July 18, 1884 – January 9, 1954) was an American academic, administrator, and agronomist. He was the dean of the College of Agriculture at the University of Illinois. He was a founder of FarmHouse fraternity and served as its national president.

Early life Rusk was born on July 18, 1884, on a farm in Champaign County, Illinois in 1884. His family moved to Valparaiso, Indiana when he was a child. He was head of the Department of Animal Sciences from 1922 to 1939 and also served as dean of the College of Agriculture for thirteen years, starting in 1939 until his retirement. He was the secretary of the Illinois Cattle Feeders' Association. He was also a cattle judge, known for officiating the American Royal and North American International Livestock Expo. The American Farm Bureau Federation gave Rusk its gold medal in 1947 for distinguished service. He also received honorary degrees from the Illinois Wesleyan University and Purdue University. He was buried in Mount Hope Cemetery in Champaign, Illinois, adjacent to the University of Illinois campus.