RIO VERDE, AZ—Neal E. Harlan, retired executive and present-day board member of The Scoular Company, died Feb. 14. He was 71 years old.

A native of Hickman, Nebraska, Mr. Harlan began his grain industry career in 1956 with West Central Cooperative in Omaha. In 1969, he joined the company then known as Scoular-Bishop as vice president of grain merchandising and storage. At the time of Mr. Harlan’s hiring, Scoular was in the midst of a transformation, having been sold by the Scoular family in 1967 to the present ownership.

As a member of the company’s new executive team and later named its President and Chief Operating Officer in 1983, Mr. Harlan was instrumental in the company’s growth. During his tenure, Scoular became one of the prominent grain merchandising and storage companies in the Midwest. He retired as an active employee in 1989, but he continued to provide leadership to Scoular as a member of the company’s board of directors for the past 14 years.

An alumni of the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, he was an avid supporter of several of the university’s programs. He also was active in a wide range of organizations, including the Nebraska Methodist Hospital Foundation, the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and his church.

Mr. Harlan is survived by his wife Leone. They resided in Valley, Nebraska and spent the winter months in Rio Verde.

Also surviving are his daughter Stephanie Skrupa and her husband Frank of Omaha, and his brother Dale Harlan of Hickman.

Services were held Feb. 15 in Rio Verde. A second service is planned for Feb. 22 in Omaha. In lieu of flowers, the family suggested memorial contributions to the University of Nebraska Foundation for the Neal E. & Leone Harlan Vice Chancellorship for the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources Fund.