Floyd Andre Award
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Established in 1978 to honor an Iowa State University alumnus who has made an outstanding contribution to production agriculture, agricultural business, or is in a position to have a significant influence on Iowa agriculture

Roger C. Underwood

BS Agricultural Business ’80
Ames, Iowa

Roger C. Underwood co-founded Becker Underwood with Jeff Becker in Ames in 1982. Today, Becker Underwood is a $130 million international specialty chemical company that provides products to the agricultural, seed treatment, golf, horticulture, forestry, and aquatic markets. The company has nine offices in seven countries. After 23 years as CEO, Underwood stepped down from the daily operations in January 2006 but continues to offer support to the company. He is described as an organized, engaging, and insightful leader, and he volunteers time to many organizations in the community.

In 2000, Underwood was named an Order of the Knoll Outstanding Young Alumnus. A member on the ISU Foundation Board of Governors, Underwood currently chairs Campaign Iowa State: With Pride and Purpose, the university’s $800 million fundraising campaign. 

Underwood makes regular presentations to the agricultural ethics class at ISU about the importance of caring for stakeholders, employees, customers, shareholders, and the community when making business decisions. He and his wife, Connie, provided a $1.5 million gift to establish an entrepreneurship program for students in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences in 2005.

The Underwoods have two sons: Andrew, a sophomore at Iowa State, and William. The Underwoods are Order of the Knoll members, Cyclone Club members, and lifetime members of the ISU Alumni Association.