The State Legislature named Oct. 16 “Dr. Norman E. Borlaug World Food Prize Day” after a former University professor, student and wrestler for his 90th birthday Thursday.

Borlaug earned a bachelor’s degree in forestry in 1937 and a master’s and a doctoral degree in plant pathology in 1939 and 1942, respectively. He went on to travel the world and used plant pathology to help solve mass starvation.

Borlaug received the Nobel Prize in 1970 for his “Green Revolution” work in reversing food shortages in India and Pakistan during the 1960s.

The plant pathology department building on the St. Paul campus was named Borlaug Hall in 1970 in honor of his accomplishments.