John R. Block facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John R. Block
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| 21st United States Secretary of Agriculture | |
| In office January 23, 1981 – February 14, 1986 |
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| President | Ronald Reagan |
| Preceded by | Robert Bergland |
| Succeeded by | Richard E. Lyng |
| Illinois Director of Agriculture | |
| In office February 3, 1977 – January 22, 1981 |
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| Governor | James R. Thompson |
| Preceded by | Pud Williams |
| Succeeded by | Larry Werries |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 15, 1935 Galesburg, Illinois, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Susan Rathje "Sue" Block |
| Children | Hans Block Cynthia Block Christine Block |
| Alma mater | U.S. Military Academy |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | United States Army |
| Unit | 101st Airborne |
John Rusling Block (born February 15, 1935) is an American farmer and politician. He served as the United States Secretary of Agriculture under President Ronald Reagan. After his time in government, he became involved in business and worked to help global food programs.
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Early Life and Military Service
John Block was born in Galesburg, Illinois, on February 15, 1935. His family lived in a rural area and came from German descent. He grew up without electricity in his home.
He attended the West Point and graduated in 1957. After graduation, he served in the 101st Airborne Division of the U.S. Army. Later, he became very successful in the farming business, known as agribusiness.
Public Service in Agriculture
John Block was a member of the Republican Party. His success in farming led him to become the Director of Agriculture for the state of Illinois. This important role prepared him for an even bigger job.
In 1981, President Ronald Reagan chose John Block to be the United States Secretary of Agriculture. As Secretary, he was in charge of farming and food policies for the entire country.
Supporting Farmers and Education
During his time as Secretary, many farmers faced tough times. A court ruling helped make sure that farmers were given proper information about ways to manage their farm debts. This led to new laws that helped farmers reorganize their finances.
Secretary Block also started an important program called "Agriculture in the Classroom." In 1981, he brought together leaders to discuss how to teach people about farming. This led to a plan to help coordinate efforts to educate students about agriculture.
The "Declaration of Principle" for this program was announced in 1983. It explained the goals of "Agriculture in the Classroom." Today, this program exists in every U.S. state and many U.S. territories. Other countries, like Canada, have also started similar programs.
After Government Service
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After leaving his government role, John Block continued to work in the food and agriculture industries. He became an executive at John Deere, a company that makes farm machinery. He also served as President of Food Distributors International.
In 1992, he received the Horatio Alger Award. This award honors people who have achieved success despite facing challenges. He has also been active in global programs that work to solve hunger around the world.
John Block has served on the boards of several companies and non-profit organizations. This includes "Digital Angel" and Friends of the World Food Program (now called World Food Program USA). This non-profit group supports the UN World Food Program, which aims to end hunger globally. He also works as a Senior Policy Adviser at a law and lobbying firm in Washington.
Personal Life
John Block married Suzanne Rathje "Sue" Block. They had one son, Hans, and two daughters, Cynthia and Christine. He was a very large farmer near Knoxville, Illinois. His children attended public school there. He later had another daughter, Savannah, with his second wife. They live in Dunn Loring, Virginia.
