Rancher Richard Duncan walks toward a herd of his cattle that are mob grazing.
  1. Annual Report
  2. 2020

2020 Institutional Governance

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Role of the Member/Manager

The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation serves as the sole member/manager of Noble Research Institute, LLC, an Oklahoma, nonprofit single-member limited liability company.

The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation provides the leadership for Noble Research Institute to carry out its charitable purposes, act as a good steward of its resources, and conduct and support its activities in accordance with the vision of founder Lloyd Noble. The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation further directs management to formalize and implement Noble Research Institute’s strategic plan. 

The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation and the employees of Noble Research Institute acknowledge and agree that the following principles apply to our association with and the activities we conduct on behalf of Noble Research Institute:

  1. Noble Research Institute exists because of the vision and generosity of our founder,
    Lloyd Noble.
  2. We are stewards of the resources and the vision of Lloyd Noble.
  3. Our conduct will be fair and honest, and our activities will adhere to the purposes for which Noble Research Institute was established.

Corporate Documents

The organization’s current articles of organization and operating agreement can be found at noble.org/about/governance.

Annual Internal Revenue Service Informational Return

Noble Research Institute, LLC annually files a 990-PF informational return with the Internal Revenue Service. Noble Research Institute’s current 990-PF may be downloaded at noble.org/about/governance. Historical returns for Noble Research Institute are available at guidestar.org.


Leadership Team

Steve Rhines
President and Chief Executive Officer

Christina Adcox
Director of Advancement and Strategic Partnerships

Elizabeth Aldridge
Corporate Secretary and Executive Assistant to the President

Hugh Aljoe
Director of Producer Relations

J. Adam Calaway
Director of Communications
and Public Relations

Charlie Canny
Director of Facilities

Melanie Davis
Director of Enterprise Systems and Informatics

Gayle Donica
Director of Human Resources

Jeff Moen
General Counsel and Director of Government Affairs

A. Jill Wallace
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer


Governing Body — The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation

The governing body acts and carries out its duties and responsibilities through its board of directors:

D. Randolph Brown, Jr., M.D.
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Susan Brown, Chair
Dallas, Texas

James Day
Fort Worth, Texas

Sam DuBose*
Atlanta, Georgia

Vivian Noble DuBose
Atlanta, Georgia

Bill Goddard
Ardmore, Oklahoma

Ginger Heckman
Atlanta, Georgia

Jessie Nance
Ardmore, Oklahoma

Cody Noble
Ardmore, Oklahoma

Russell Noble
Ardmore, Oklahoma

Kate Parker*
Ardmore, Oklahoma

Marianne Rooney
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Lars Noble*
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Patrick Rooney*
Tulsa, Oklahoma

Jack Waldo
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Stephen F. Young
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

*Advisory member


A special thank you to our donors

We are grateful for your invaluable support and willingness to walk alongside farmers and ranchers taking the regenerative journey. Together, we can rebuild the soil and unleash its power.

Major Donors ($1,000 and up)

Michael Cawley

Churchill Cattle Co.

Jim Colvin

Tim Jones

Lorenzo Lasater

Chad Murnin

Steven and Debbie Rhines

W.D. Hoard and Sons

Craig Watson

Brooks and Elizabeth Zimmerman

It is only through the generous support of The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation that Noble Research Institute can carry out its mission to support farmers and ranchers. The Noble Foundation provides grant funding for Noble Research Institute to carry out its charitable purposes, act as a good steward of its resources, and conduct and support its activities in accordance with the vision of founder Lloyd Noble.