Agriculture Loses a Champion and Friend in Richard T. Meister
March 16, 2020 
Richard T. (Dick) Meister of Meister Media Worldwide recently passed away at age 100. His leadership and vision helped build a foundation for the company to empower global agriculture throughout the years and well into the future.
Richard T. (Dick) Meister, long-time Editorial Director of American Fruit Grower®, Western Fruit Grower®, American Vegetable Grower®, and Florida Grower® was an inspirational leader and the driving force behind one of the most successful agricultural media organizations in the U.S. for more than 70 years. Meister passed away peacefully on January 28, 2020; he was 100 years old.
From the 1940s through the early 2000s, Dick helped build Meister Media Worldwide, a business dedicated to helping growers, agricultural retailers, and their supply chain partners feed, clothe, and beautify the world around us. From a single monthly publication serving U.S. fruit growers, Meister Media grew to service multiple specialty crop markets, the U.S. input distribution channel, and cotton and crop protection markets around the world.
Born and raised in Cleveland, OH, Dick earned a B.S. from Cornell University, College of Agriculture, and his M.B.A. from Harvard Business School. He also served his country during World War II, arriving in France just a month after D-Day.
In 1946, he joined the family business started by his father, EGK Meister, as Editorial Director. Along with his brother, Edward, handling sales, this second generation of family ownership began making its mark on what was then the American Fruit Grower Publishing Company.
Dick served as Editor of the company’s original flagship publication, American Fruit Grower, for 40 years, traveling the country covering the latest developments in the science of fruit production. Dick believed editors should get to know their readers — literally. Get out of the office, meet them in person, and truly understand their challenges.
He reminded his editorial staff often: “Don’t say, ‘Growers should. …’ Say, ‘You should…’ because you should identify with your readers. Be aware of strengths and weaknesses. And don’t be afraid to be critical or challenging.”
Hard Work and Market Growth
In 1953, the brothers acquired Commercial Vegetable Grower magazine, immediately renaming it American Vegetable Grower as a sister publication to American Fruit Grower. In the 1960s, and ’70s the company’s portfolio added Farm Chemicals (now CropLife®), Cotton Trade Journal (now Cotton Grower®), Farm Chemicals Handbook™, and American Fruit Grower’s sister publication, Western Fruit Grower.
Dick’s recognition of the coming boom in bedding plants and greenhouse production led to increased coverage in American Vegetable Grower, and eventually the launch of Greenhouse Grower® in 1983. Expansion into the important Southeastern U.S. citrus, vegetable, and nursery markets soon followed as well with the acquisition of Florida Grower & Rancher (now Florida Grower) and Ornamental Outlook™ in 1995.
Dick was a frequent world traveler with wife Lila, who everyone knew as “Brick,” at his side. They visited agricultural markets around the globe, meeting with presidents, prime ministers, and dignitaries. These trips paved the way for the company to build coverage of world agriculture with Cotton International™ in the 1960s and Farm Chemicals International™ (now Agribusiness Global™) two decades later.
Dick was a strong proponent of the Land Grant University system, forever touting its innumerable innovations that are the bedrock of our agricultural system today. He particularly identified with Cornell and Michigan State University, supporting their efforts, and started an internship program with Cornell to develop students in ag communications. His support for the next generation of agricultural leaders was also recognized with the establishment of the Richard T. Meister Scholarship Fund, endowed at the American Floral Endowment for students interested in horticulture and floriculture.
That same commitment was evident at home. Dick was skilled in developing young editors, encouraging, involving, supporting, and helping them to grow as journalists and people. He was forthright with constructive feedback, and always quick with a sincere compliment.
Away from the office, Dick was a talented golfer, and continued his competitive career with the U.S. Seniors Golf Association well into his 90s. He was a passionate advocate and student of the sport throughout his lifetime, believing that golf teaches us some of life’s most valuable lessons: humility, honesty, patience, respect, focus, determination, and acceptance.
Meister Media Worldwide is today under the third-generation leadership of sons-in-law Chairman and CEO Gary T. Fitzgerald and Vice Chairman William J. Miller II. Dick was proud that the fourth generation of the Meister family is now actively involved in the company as well, ensuring his commitment to our nation’s growers and agriculture around the world will continue for years to come.
Contributions can be made in Dick’s name to the Richard T. Meister Scholarship Fund at the American Floral Endowment (Endowment.org/donate), 1001 North Fairfax St. #201, Alexandria, VA 22314.
If you have any fond memories or like to share a story about Mr. Meister, please leave a reader comment below.
Subscribe Today For
