In Memoriam: 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 was an inspirational leader and the driving force behind one of the most successful agricultural media organizations in the U.S. for 70 years. Meister, a key figure in the conception and development of Greenhouse Grower®, 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. From a single monthly publication serving U.S. fruit growers, Meister Media grew to service 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 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 made its mark on what was then American Fruit Grower Publishing Company.
Dick served as Editor of the company’s original flagship, American Fruit Grower®, 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 and 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. Understand strengths and weaknesses. Don’t be afraid to be critical or challenging.”
Hard Work and Market Growth
In 1953, the brothers acquired Commercial Vegetable Grower magazine, renaming it American Vegetable 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 Western Fruit Grower®.
One of Dick’s keenest insights was recognizing the coming boom in bedding plants and greenhouse production. His work with industry leaders including Will Carlson at Michigan State University and others helped lead to the launch of Greenhouse Grower® in 1983. Expansion into 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 world traveler with wife Lila, who everyone knew as “Brick.” 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 proponent of the Land Grant University system, forever touting its innovations that are the bedrock of our agricultural system today. He encouraged those efforts, starting an internship program with Cornell to help 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 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 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 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, 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 to eNewsletter
