J. Walt McCarty, age 84, died Saturday, October 14, 2006, in Pine River, Minnesota. Funeral services will be held 2:00 P.M. Tuesday, October 17, 2006, at First United Methodist Church in Brookings, South Dakota, with interment in Greenwood Cemetery at Brookings. Visitations will be from 6-9 P.M. Monday at Eidsness Funeral Home in Brookings. Memorials may be directed to First United Methodist Church in Brookings, Union Congregational UCC Church in Hackensack, Minnesota, or the South Dakota State University Foundation. Walt was born in Brookings, South Dakota, on June 12, 1922, to Mary (Walters) and George McCarty. He attended Brookings schools and graduated from Brookings High School in 1940. He began his studies in agriculture at South Dakota State College, then served in the U.S. Army in the European Theater during World War II. He was a member of the 44 Kings. He completed his bachelors degree at SDSC in 1947, then subsequently earned his masters degree from the University of Minnesota in 1948. On June 24, 1949, Walt married Mary Elise Sherwood. They made their home in Brookings and raised three children. Mary passed away in October 1996. Walt taught and did research in animal breeding in the Animal Science Department at SDSU from 1948 until 1986, and was named Professor Emeritus. From 1979 until 1984 he was Director of International Programs for the US Aid for International Development Project in Botswana, Africa. He was a charter member and Director of Brookings Barbershop Chorus and sang in a barbershop quartet for many years. Walt married Judy (Ruth June) Macklin on October 19, 2003. They had a number of good years living in Pine River, Minnesota. He is survived by his wife, Judy Macklin, of Pine River, Minnesota. His children and grandchildren are: Gregg McCarty and Karen Henell and their son Finn of Portland, Oregon; Ellen and Phil Kohl of Albert Lea, Minnesota, and their children Louis of San Francisco and Erin of Minneapolis; and Kent and Patty McCarty and their daughter Sarah of Portland, Oregon. He is also survived by his siblings: Gene (Harold) Oxsen of Santa Rosa, California, Marge (Rex) Hauser of Rome, Georgia, and Gordon (LaDonna) McCarty of Hood River, Oregon, and their children and grandchildren.