Glen Curtis Pulver, emeritus professor of agricultural economics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, died unexpectedly Monday, Dec. 4 at University Hospital in Madison. He was 71 years old.

Pulver was born in Wyocena, Wis. He earned a bachelor”s degree in agricultural education at the UW-Madison, served in the Marine Corps for two years, and returned to the UW-Madison to earn M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in agricultural economics. He joined the Department of Agricultural Economics in 1955.

From 1961 to 1963 Pulver served as visiting professor at the University of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. He was instrumental in starting a rural social sciences graduate program in Brazil, and he initiated the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences” exchange program with the University of Rio Grande do Sul.

Following two years as assistant director of the Indiana Cooperative Extension Service, Pulver returned to the UW-Madison in 1966. Serving as a dean of UW-Extension, he helped to create a statewide network of UW-Extension county community development agents. After returning to the agricultural economics department in 1974, his research focused on community economic development policy and capital markets for new and developing businesses. In his extension efforts he worked with community resource development agents and state and local leaders on economic analysis issues.

Pulver wrote or co-wrote at least 23 journal articles, 21 book chapters, and a variety of other publications on community development topics. He was instrumental in developing community economics as a field of study. His 1979 article, “A Theoretical Framework for the Analysis of Community Economic Development Policy Options,” provided the framework for all later community economic development work in the United States. He was a founding member, director and president of the Community Development Society of America, and a frequent advisor and speaker on community economics.

Pulver is survived by his wife, Joan, of Middleton; daughters Julie Prestegard and Jodi Draper, grandchildren, a great-grandchild, brothers and sisters, and nieces and nephews. His funeral was Dec. 8 in Madison. Memorials may be made to the Glen Pulver Community Economic Development Fund at the University of Wisconsin Foundation, 1848 University Avenue, Madison, WI 53708; or the Glen Pulver Pheasant Branch Memorial Fund.