I. Harvey Hull (1884 - 1972)

Inducted: 1976

Harvey Hull built the Indiana Farm Bureau Cooperative Association from a bankrupt organization into one of the leading U.S. farm cooperatives. He later helped to create United Cooperatives, Inc., which together now constitute Universal Cooperatives. He was active in organizing and promoting the first rural credit unions, and was a pioneer in rural electrification efforts. Due largely to Hull’s efforts, in fact, the first rural electric cooperative in the United States was in Boone County, Indiana. This came about because Hull introduced a bill to the Indiana State Legislature authorizing the organization of rural electric cooperatives. This statute was passed two months prior to the national Rural Electrification Act. He was also a board member of the National Cooperative Business Association from 1935 to 1950.