Former Council of Advisors member Robert McNamara dies at age 93

  The former U.S. Secretary of Defense served on council for 15 years

Robert McNamara at a 1996 World Food Prize event in Washington, DC

July 6, 2009 - - Former U.S. Secretary of Defense and World Bank President Robert McNamara, who served as a member of the World Food Prize Council of Advisors for nearly 15 years, has died at age 93.

McNamara served as Secretary of Defense from was the longest serving Secretary of Defense since the creation of the position, according to the Associated Press.

Following his time at the Pentagon, McNamara served as the president of the World Bank for 12 years.

In June 1992, McNamara accepted an invitation from World Food Prize Chairman Emeritus John Ruan to serve as a member of the World Food Prize Council of Advisors. He remained on the Council until April 2007.

"Mr. McNamara was an active member of the Council for many years and played an important role in helping the Prize develop into the foremost international award for combating hunger and uplifting the lives of people around the world," said Ambassador Kenneth Quinn, president of the World Food Prize Foundation. "On behalf of Norman Borlaug, John Ruan, and the Ruan family, the World Food Prize expresses its condolences to the McNamara family."