Since 1974, the Texas Food Processors Association (TFPA) has paid tribute to excellence by recognizing those individuals who have made major contributions to the food industry in Texas.

Candidates are selected by the Board of Directors and previous Hall of Fame inductees before narrowing the selection down to the one who is chosen to receive this most coveted recognition. Awards are given only in years when the committee feels there is a viable candidate.

The first recipient to receive the award was R. J. (Red) Lewallen of Texas Wholesale Grocer’s Association in 1974.

Dr. RANZELL "NICK" NICKELSON, II is our 2008 Hall of Fame winner. Dr. Nickelson is currently the chief executive for science and health at Standard Meat Company in Fort Worth. He serves on several boards including the TFPA and Southwest Meat Association and served as a member of the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods and as Coordinator, Blue Ribbon Task Force on E. coli 0157:H7 for the National Live Stock and Meat Board. He has been recognized for his many contributions and breakthroughs including the dramatic reduction in the incidence of Listeria monocytogenes in cooked ready-to-eat meats. Dr. Nickelson holds a B.S. in Animal Science, an M.S. in Food Technology and a PhD in Microbiology from Texas A & M University.