Our founder, Lloyd Noble

The Noble Foundation was organized in 1945 by Lloyd Noble, a southern Oklahoma native and successful oil man. He named the organization to honor his father, Samuel Roberts Noble, a generous and charitable pioneer who established a hardware business in Ardmore a century ago.

The Foundation began with the underlying goal of helping farmers and ranchers make wiser and more productive use of their land. That goal continues today through the research, education and consultation efforts of the Agricultural Division.

The Biomedical Division, established in 1952, helped pioneer many of the treatments now being utilized in the battle against cancer. In 1993 the Biomedical Division relocated to the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation in Oklahoma City.

The Plant Biology Division was established in 1987. Its mission is to perform both fundamental and applied research on plant-microbe interactions and genetically modify plants for improved disease resistance and production potential. Collaborative efforts with the Agricultural Division provide a unique opportunity to see the fruits of cutting-edge molecular research reach the nation's farmers and ranchers.

The Forage Improvement Division was established in 1997 to develop improved forage varieties that farmers and ranchers can use to decrease livestock production costs.