Fort Scott in Bourbon County, Kansas — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
The Man Who Saved a Billion Lives
Norman Borlaug (1914-2009)
| — | Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes | — |
Photographed by Jason Voigt, September 21, 2026
1. The Man Who Saved a Billion Lives Marker
As a beacon of hope to starving populations around the world, Unsung Hero Norman Borlaug played an important role in the inception of the "Green Revolution." His decades of research and development in the area of efficient crop production helped to reduce world hunger.
Born in Iowa in 1914, Norman Borlaug graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in forestry. He joined a project with the Rockefeller Foundation and the Mexican government, designed to help Mexico increase wheat production and become self-sufficient. These efforts became the foundation of the Green Revolution.
As the Mexican program's plant pathologist, Borlaug identified stem rust disease as the limiting factor in progress for struggling local farmers. After several years of experimenting, Borlaug's team developed a dwarf wheat plant that would resist rust and would not break when chemical fertilizers were applied. Based on Borlaug's findings, local farmers received training in the scientific and administrative aspects of farming. Norman Borlaug served as a role model for all seeking his consultation and established working relationships
this page online
Following success in Mexico, Norman worked with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. This enabled him to take his innovative practices to Pakistan and India, countries struggling to keep up with the nutritional needs of growing populations. Utilization of Borlaug's methods generated unbelievable advances in India. The digging of 70,000 wells in 1969-70 led to an additional 1.4 million hectares of usable land, with increases in machinery production and overall employment opportunities.
A statue in Washington D.C.'s National Statuary Hall honors Norman Borlaug, noting that he was a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom (1977), the National Medal of Science (2004), and the Congressional Gold Medal (2006). Despite those prestigious honors, Borlaug's name remains unsung for most people. However, the inscription on the side of his statue gives testament to his profound impact in the world, "The Man Who Saved A Billion Lives." This unsung hero laid the foundation for advances in agriculture that continue to provide the world's food supply today. As a role model for all, Borlaug used his experiences
Photographed by Jason Voigt, September 21, 2026
2. The Man Who Saved a Billion Lives Marker
Marker is on the far left.
"Food is the moral right of all who are born into this world."
Norman Borlaug
Erected by Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Agriculture. A significant historical year for this entry is 1914.
Location. 37° 50.484′ N, 94° 42.362′ W. Marker is in Fort Scott, Kansas, in Bourbon County. It can be reached from South Main Street south of East Wall Street. Marker is located in the courtyard behind the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 7 S Main St, Fort Scott KS 66701, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Eastern Kansas and specifically in Bleeding Kansas Border War Country. It is also in the American Midwest, in the Corn Belt, on the prairies, and on the Southern Plains. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Louisiana Purchase.
Other nearby markers. At
Photographed by Jason Voigt, September 21, 2026
3. Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes
Also see . . .
1. Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes (official website). (Submitted on October 12, 2026, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.)
2. Norman Borlaug on Wikipedia. Borlaug is the one of seven people who has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal. (Submitted on October 12, 2026, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.)
Credits. This page was last revised on October 12, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 12, 2026, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. This page has been viewed 5 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 12, 2026, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.
