News Release 6-3-2002 |
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AGRICULTURE & FORESTRY HALL OF FAME DINNER SET FOR JULY 6
Tickets are $20 per person, and can be purchased from a variety of sources: West Virginia Farm Bureau (472-2080), West Virginia Forestry Association (372-1955), West Virginia Cooperative Extension Service (293-5691), WVU’s Davis College of Agriculture and Forestry (293-2395) and the West Virginia Department of Agriculture (558-2201). This year’s inductees are: Earl Lemley Core, Ph.D., namesake of the Core Arboretum in Morgantown, was born in Core, W.Va., January 20, 1902. Now deceased, he was a member of West Virginia University’s Biology Department for 44 years, served as the Department’s chairman for 18 years, and was curator of the WVU Herbarium for 40 years. He was the author of countless scholarly books and articles, the recipient of numerous awards and honors, and held many civic offices, including city council member and mayor of Morgantown. He was also a member of the Monongalia County Board of Education and president of the Kiwanis Club of Morgantown. In addition to his work in the sciences, he was an amateur historian who wrote a history of his home community, a history of the First Christian Church of Morgantown, and a five-volume history of Monongalia County, completed shortly before his death in 1984. “Dr. Core was one of the best scholars West Virginia University ever produced,” wrote a former student shortly after Core’s death, “and I have no doubt that he will be remembered in history as one of West Virginia’s outstanding native sons.” Another colleague called him "the most famous botanist who ever worked in West Virginia." John W. Crites of Petersburg was born in Buckhannon, W.Va., July 30, 1940, and graduated from Buckhannon-Upshur High School in 1958. He earned a B.S. Degree in Forest Management from West Virginia University in 1963 and an M.S. in Forest Management from the University of Montana in 1965. In 1973, he sold his home, borrowed money from friends and family and founded Allegheny Wood Products (AWP). Still a family-run operation, AWP has grown from one sawmill with 11 employees to four sawmills, three dry kilns and more than 500 employees. An offshoot company, Allegheny Dimension, employs 100 more manufacturing semi-finished furniture and stair components. Besides his work in the timber industry, Crites is a strong supporter of forestry education and public outreach, and is one of the state’s leading promoters of modern forestry. This year, Crites was selected as the Outstanding WVU Forestry Alumnus by his alma mater. In 1996, he was chosen as Entrepreneur of the Year by the WVU College of Business and Economics, and he received the National Hardwood Lumber Association’s Forest Stewardship Award. Howard T. Knotts was a 35-year veteran of the West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA). At the WVDA, he served as director of both the Rural Resources Division and Publications Division, and was chairman of the WVDA’s division directors. During that time, he designed and supervised construction of the Charleston Farmers’ Market. He represented the WVDA in numerous organizations and associations, including the West Virginia Agriculture and Forestry Hall of Fame, Mountain State Art and Craft Fair, Woodland Owners Association and Coyote Control Committee. He was on the board of directors of the West Virginia Poultry Association, Agricultural Industries Association and Future Farmers of America Alumni Association. He was elected national president of the Communications Officers of State Departments of Agriculture. He also moderated WVDA’s “Today in Agriculture,” a weekly television show. A native of Clay County, he helped found and served as president of the Clay County Farm Bureau, Clay County Parks Project, Clay County Agriculture Youth Fair and the Big Otter Senior Center. After his death, Commissioner of Agriculture Gus Douglass said that, “Howard was one of those rare people who was always in your corner. For the many years he worked to improve West Virginia’s agriculture, he developed a reputation as a man of his word and a dedicated worker who got the job done.” Marjorie and Billy Burke. Few couples have led lives as intimately tied to agriculture as Marjorie and Billy Burke. The two currently own and operate a 1,000-acre, 100-head beef cattle operation near Sand Fork. Both began their lives in agriculture at an early age, and both were strong advocates for agriculture in the West Virginia Legislature. He took over his grandfather’s farm at age 14. There, he cared for all the farm’s livestock, including eight milk cows, which he milked by hand. The farm had no motor vehicles, no electricity and no natural gas. In later years, he worked as the state executive director of the Farm Service Agency and Soil Conservation Service. He received the USDA Distinguished Service Award in 2000 and is a life member of the WVU Davis College of Agriculture, Forestry and Consumer Science Alumni Association. Billy served in the West Virginia House of Delegates from 1962-1977, providing a strong voice for agricultural issues. Marjorie also served in the House of Delegates between 1978 and 1996. She, too, grew up working on the family farm, and remains active in many state and local agricultural organizations. She is especially dedicated to fostering an interest in agriculture among the youth of the Mountain State. She is a member of the Jackson’s Mill Advisory Committee, and was recently appointed to the Task Force on Extension by WVU President David Hardesty. She was named an honorary member of WVU’s Davis College of Agriculture, Forestry and Consumer Sciences, and received the Friend of 4-H Award in 1983 and in 2000. She is associate chair of the State Democratic Executive Committee and secretary/treasurer of the Central WV Livestock Marketing Association. Marion and LaVonne Goff of Harrisville have maintained a family heritage of top-quality beef cattle genetics. Goff Polled Herefords, established in 1910, is the oldest continuous family purebred Polled Hereford operation in the country. They will hold their 49th annual production sale this year. Marion has served as chairman of the American Polled Hereford Association (APHA) Education and Research committee, and was national director of the organization between 1991 and 1995. During that period, he helped manage the merger of APHA and American Hereford Association. He is on the West Virginia Farm Bureau Board of Directors and is director of the Ritchey County 4-H Developmental Council. Lavonne is the Ritchie County Farm Bureau president, a 4-H All-Star and the recipient of the 4-H Leader of the Year Award. She helped organize Katie’s Homemakers’ Club, and held many offices in the Homemakers’ organization. She was elected vice president of the Parkersburg District Mission Team, and is on the District Crossroads Camp Committee. She organized and is a charter member of the Poll-ettes, an organization for the wives of Polled Hereford breeders, and is in her second term as region 6 chairperson of the West Virginia Farm Bureau Women’s Committee. She was Ritchie County Farm Bureau Women’s Chairperson from 1985-1992.
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