Earl Henry Hostetler was born on December 12, 1890, in rural Illinois near the town of Arcola. He was raised on a farm in Texas, and attended Kansas State College, graduating in 1914. After graduation he went to work at North Carolina State College as an Assistant in Animal Husbandry on the College Experimental Farm. In 1917 Hostetler married Mildred Anderson. The couple had two children, Elizabeth and Charles. Hostetler served as a consultant to the Bureau of Animal Industry on several research projects, and in 1920 became the Supervisor of the Animal Husbandry Farm at the North Carolina State College. In 1928 Hostetler received the Masters of Science in Agriculture degree, and was appointed Professor, and Head of the North Carolina State College Animal Husbandry Section.

Professor Hostetler concentrated his energies on the development of a successful commercial livestock industry in the state of North Carolina. He encouraged the use of scientific stock farming methods, and used innovative field and classroom instruction techniques to inform his staff and students. Hostetler worked to create healthy relationships between the farming community, the academic world, and corporate marketers of agricultural products. Among his many achievements was the successful promotion of the use of cotton crop by-products as a nutritious and economical livestock feed supplement.

Professor Hostetler maintained an active involvement in civic affairs along with his duties as a university department head. He worked closely with the Raleigh Kiwanis Chapter, eventually becoming chapter president. He found time to work with the local Red Cross, the Community Chest, and the Raleigh Chamber of Commerce. He maintained ties with his academic fraternity, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, and during WWII served as the head of the Raleigh Civilian Defense Corp.

Hostetler retired from his postion with North Carolina State College in 1953. After retirement Professor Hostetler continued his active involvement in public affairs. For several years he worked in broadcasting as the Farm Director for WPTF Radio in Raleigh. In 1963 he ran for office, and was elected to the Raleigh City Council. He served as a City Councilman and had been selected to serve in the capacity of Mayor Pro Tem when he died in April of 1968. Throughout his life Earl Henry Hostetler was exemplary in his effort to model good citizenship. His was a life of service, with personal and professional endeavors focused always on creating a prosperous, safe, and balanced learning and living environment for the students of NC State, the citizens of Raleigh, and the people of North Carolina.