Curtis Kastner papers

Curtis Lynn Kastner was born on September 21, 1944 in Altus, Oklahoma to Alma Darlene (Shield) and Carlus Kastner. He attended Altus Junior High School and Altus High School, graduating in 1962. On August 6, 1966, Kastner married Rebecca Jon Diltz in Altus, Oklahoma and they had two sons, Jason Lynn (born April 4, 1972) and Justin John (born March 21, 1975).
Kastner attended Oklahoma State University (OSU) in Stillwater, Oklahoma where he received a Bachelor’s of Science in Hotel and Restaurant Administration in 1967, a Master’s of Science in Food Science-Meat Science in 1969, and a Doctorate of Philosophy in Food Science-Meat Science in 1972. Kastner worked as a graduate research assistant at OSU in the food science-meat science department from 1967 to 1972 while obtaining his master’s and doctoral degrees. He then went on to teach as an assistant professor in Food Science and Technology at Washington State University from 1972-1975. Kastner was hired as an assistant professor in the Department of Animal Sciences and Industry (ASI) at Kansas State University (KSU) in 1975. In 1977, he was promoted to associate professor and in 1982 to professor - a role he held until 2003.<emph render='italic'> </emph>He served nine years in the Army reserves and was honorably discharged in 1980 as a captain. Kastner was the chairman of the Undergraduate Food Science and Industry program for 5 years during his time at KSU, he was a research coordinator within ASI from 1987-2001, and the associate department head for ASI from 1998-2001. He was instrumental in the development of the Food Science Institute at Kansas State and was the first director of FSI from 2001 to his retirement in July of 2016.
Kastner has published over 100 articles, 8 of which he is the primary investigator and several more as a co-primary. Specifically, he was the principal investigator on the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Department of Homeland Security initiatives focused on food safety and defense. The funding for Kastner’s research came from varied sources throughout his career. Some primary supporters include the United State Department of Agriculture, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, the Grain Sorghum Commission, the American Meat Institute Foundation, and the National Food Safety Institute.
Kastner has received numerous honors include the Outstanding Faculty Award, 1982; Phi Kappa Phi Scholar Award, 1986; Phi Tau Sigma Outstanding Food Scientist Award, 1993; Gamma Sigma Delta Research Award of Merit, 1996; and Distinguished Faculty Award, 2000. He also was named a National Association of Colleges and Teacher of Agriculture fellow in 1985; received the Advanced Degree Graduate of Distinction Award at Oklahoma State University in 2000; the Faculty Service Award from the University of Continuing Education Association in 2006; Gamma Sigma Delta National Award, Distinguished Achievement in Agriculture for 2008-2009; and K-State chapter of Gamma Sigma Delta, Distinguished Achievement in Agriculture Award in 2009. He is a member of the American Society of Animal Science, the American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists, the Institute of Food Technologists, Society of the Sigma Xi, Gamma Sigma Delta, Phi Kappa Phi, Phi Tau Sigma, Council for Agricultural Science and Technology and the American Meat Science Association.