Leo Olson, a former NIU journalism professor and DeKalb AgResearch communications director for 40 years, died July 25 in Kishwaukee Community Hospital at age 76.

Olson was a part of the advertising team which developed the now world-famous DeKalb “winged ear of corn” logo for DeKalbAg. Tom Milton, vice president of marketing for DeKalb Pfizer Genetics, said the symbol was developed during the Great Depression of the 1930s. “The idea that Mr. Olson and his colleagues came up with was, ‘Let DeKalb hybrids lift your mortgage,'” Milton said. DeKalbAg Research has since been merged with DeKalb Pfizer Genetics.

After retiring from DeKalbAg in 1977, Olson taught at Kishwaukee Community College for one year. He moved on to NIU in 1978, where he taught advertising in the journalism department for eight years.

Donald Brod, department chairman, said, “Dr. Olson certainly was a strength for that (advertising) program.” Brod said he was impressed with the number of students who declared advertising majors after being taught by Olson for only one class.

Olson was the recipient of many awards and belonged to numerous civic and professional organizations.

He also was a director of the Boy Scouts of America and served on the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce from 1966 to 1968.

Funeral services for Olson were July 27 at the First Lutheran Church of DeKalb.