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Hans Becherer: Former Deere CEO Dies

Provided by Deere and Company

A former chairman and CEO of Deere and Company has died. Tuesday, Deere announced the death of Hans Becherer, who led the Moline-based company during a "time of significant growth" in the 1990s.

A native of Detroit, Becherer was first hired by Deere in 1962, and elected chairman and CEO in 1990. He spent most of his time in Europe, and is credited with expanding Deere's international operations. Under his leadership, lawn-and-garden equipment sales topped $1 billion for the first time.

Before his retirement in 2000, Becherer helped Deere create a long-term relationship with the Professional Golfer's Association. In 1997, the company began sponsoring the John Deere Classic, and became the PGA tour's official golf course equipment supplier.

That same year, Moline opened the John Deere Pavilion downtown.

Becherer was also a member of the Board of Trustees for Rivermont Collegiate in Bettendorf. The school named Becherer Hall after him in 2001. 

Becherer died last week in Colorado, at the age of 81.