With a global reputation for his work in swine nutrition and management and his unparalleled ability to engage students, Charles Maxwell was a professor with a fan club.

Maxwell, professor of animal science at the U of A System Division of Agriculture and the U of A in Fayetteville, dedicated nearly six decades into his work. He passed away May 12, aged 83.

Before coming to Fayetteville in 1996, Maxwell developed a widely recognized research and teaching program in his 28 years at Oklahoma State University. In Arkansas, he conducted research and taught classes with the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station and the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences.

A Georgia native, Maxwell earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in animal science from the University of Georgia and a doctorate in animal science, biochemistry and physiology from the University of Wisconsin.

"Dr. Maxwell was passionate about research and teaching throughout his almost 60-year professional career," said Michael Looper, professor and head of the Animal Science Department for the Division of Agriculture and the U of A.

"As a giant in the field of nutrition and immunology of swine, he challenged us all to stay current with the scientific literature," Looper said. "Dr. Maxwell enthusiastically loved to talk science with anyone, and with his sense of humor, was engaging to the most timid person."

Maxwell's career included invited presentations in Brazil, Canada, Hungary, South Korea, Mexico and the United States.

"Dr. Maxwell's passing is a great loss to the swine nutrition scientific community and the Division of Agriculture," said Jean-François Meullenet, director of the experiment station. "He is greatly respected in the industry for his vast scientific knowledge in animal nutrition, and he will be missed deeply by all in the Agricultural Experiment Station."

Maxwell honored with endowment

Maxwell's Arkansas colleagues are honoring his memory with the Dr. Charles Maxwell Endowment. Created by his former students and colleagues, the endowment will support the operations, maintenance and continued advancement of the Division of Agriculture's Swine Facility — a place deeply connected to Maxwell's work.

"By investing in this facility, the endowment ensures that his passion for swine research and hands-on teaching lives on through future generations," said Dan Miller, director of development and external relations for Bumpers College. "Dr. Maxwell's influence will continue to be felt through the students and researchers who benefit from the very facility he helped build and shape throughout his extraordinary career."

To say Maxwell was well-regarded by colleagues is an understatement. Among his career recognitions:

• Alltech Inc. Medal of Excellence in Bioscience for the Feed Industry, 2004
• Oklahoma Pork Council Hall of Fame, February 2007
• Animal Management Award, American Society of Animal Science, 2007
• AFIA Nonruminant Nutrition Research Award, American Society of Animal Science, 2009
• Received the Fellow Award of the American Society of Animal Science recognizing distinguished service to animal science and the livestock industry over a long period of time, 2010

Fan club

"We started the Charles Maxwell Appreciation Club about seven years ago," Looper said. "He has trained so many people who are now in influential roles. We are sure going to miss him."

The fan club raises money to fund a speaker on early pig health or nutrition at the American Society of Animal Science Midwest Meetings.

Laxmi Yeruva, Ph.D., research leader at the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Microbiome and Metabolism Research Unit, is this year's recipient.

"I am deeply honored and grateful to be the recipient of the 2025 Maxwell Lecturer Award of the American Society of Animal Science Foundation," she said.  

"This award recognizes the research done by our team over the last several years and further encourages me to pursue innovative solutions with even more enthusiasm, dedication and commitment while engaging in mentoring and supporting the next generation of trainees," she said. "I am grateful for all the team members of the past and present and many collaborators and mentors who supported me in this journey." 

Jerry Masters, executive director of the Arkansas Pork Producers Association, said that "Dr. Maxwell was a wonderful individual who represented and supported the pork industry. He will be missed by all."

Amy Brainard, chief development officer for the American Society of Animal Science, said Maxwell's "legacy will continue to inspire generations of animal scientists."

Maxwell is survived by his wife, Gayle Maxwell; son, Charles Vick Maxwell III, and his wife, Christine of Springdale; daughter, Melissa Maxwell of Portland, Oregon; brother, Alan Maxwell and his wife, Faye, of Hinsonton, Georgia; five grandchildren, Carter, Cara, Connor, Phillip and Ethan Maxwell; and a host of extended family.

A visitation is scheduled for 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, May 21, at Heritage Funeral Home in Springdale.

​To learn more about the Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website. Follow us on 𝕏 at @ArkAgResearch, subscribe to the Food, Farms and Forests podcast and sign up for our monthly newsletter, the Arkansas Agricultural Research Report. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit uada.edu. Follow us on 𝕏 at @AgInArk. To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit uaex.uada.edu.

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About the Division of Agriculture: The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture's mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation's historic land grant education system. The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on three campuses. Pursuant to 7 CFR § 15.3, the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services (including employment) without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, sexual preference, pregnancy or any other legally protected status, and is an equal opportunity institution.