James O. Reagan

The AMSA Signal Service Award was established in 1956 and is given to members in recognition of devoted service and lasting contributions to the meat industry and to the association. All Signal Service Award winners--current, past and future--are granted Fellow status in the American Meat Science Association.

The 2007 AMSA Signal Service Awards are sponsored by Keystone Foods, West Conshohocke, Pennsylvania; Johnsonville Sausage, Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin; and Elanco Animal Health, Indianapolis, Indiana.

Dr. James O. Reagan grew up on a cattle and sheep ranch near Lampasas, Texas. He received a B.S. degree in Animal Science from Texas A&M University in 1968, and remained at that institution to complete his Master’s and Doctoral degrees in Meat Science.

Following receipt of his Ph.D. degree in 1974, Dr. Reagan joined the faculty of the University of Georgia as an assistant professor. He rose to the rank of professor in only ten years. His responsibilities included teaching introductory and advanced meat science courses, serving as coordinator for the meat judging program and conducting ongoing research projects.

 

Dr. Reagan and his co-workers at the University of Georgia solved several perplexing problems encountered by the meat processing industry, especially those associated with the hot processing of beef and pork. Dr. Reagan has also developed a collagen index for sausage raw materials that allows sausage processors to optimize the use of high collagen meats in least cost formulations.

Bo authored or co-authored over 125 scientific publications in the areas of food microbiology and beef and pork quality. He was the recipient of the UGA’s “Creative Research” Award presented by the Vice President of Research as well as the AMSA’s Meat Processing Award. Dr. Reagan has also received the “Outstanding Research Faculty” award from Sigma Chi. as well as an award for the “Top Ten” grant recipients in the College of Agriculture. In 1983, he was selected by OICD/USDA to establish a cooperative research program with the Federal Center for Meat Research, Kulmbach, West Germany.

In 1991, he joined the National Live Stock & Meat Board as a Director of Research with responsibilities in the areas of product enhancement and beef safety. He served as the staff coordinator for the industry’s Blue Ribbon Task Force, which was charged with developing an industry blueprint for addressing the issues associated with E. coli O157:H7.

Upon the formation of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, Dr. Reagan was named Executive Director of Science & Technology. In 2002, he was named the Vice President for Research Knowledge and Management and currently oversees the national research programs in the areas of beef safety, market research, product technology and human nutrition research. At NCBA, Dr. Reagan was instrumental in establishing the Beef Industry Food Safety Council (BIFSCO), which is recognized internationally for its role in leading the beef industry in the safety arena.

From 1980-82, Dr. Reagan served on AMSA’s Board of Directors. He has been an advocate for the association’s activities, particularly the Intercollegiate Meat Judging Program and the Reciprocal Meat Conference.

In 1998, he led a partnership between NCBA and AMSA to conduct a conference and work session on microbiological sampling methods for fresh beef production systems. The resulting publication has been widely used by beef processors around the world.

In 2005, the American Meat Science Association with a Special Recognition Award honored Bo for his work in supporting association programs.

Bo chairs the annual NCBA Memorial Golf Tournament. Last year, over $55,000 was raised through that activity to support charitable causes.

Bo is married to married to Marietta Buyck. He has two children, James and Taylor.